Miniature Quilt for August

The challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors this month was to make a miniature quilt.

I grabbed a bunch of scraps from my recent quilts to create my Marvelous Mini.

Just an FYI, Miniature quilts make a bigger mess than a full size quilt!

I culled from this pile and really picked from the same colors as the last few quilts I have made.

I added a few fabrics from my stash

builder rolls.

Pinks and oranges and purples: my new favorite combo.

I pulled out a book and the fusible from Ten Sisters. This is a grid you add squares to and fuse on before you stitch any of it.

I have the fusible for 1/2" squares. I know, what was I thinking!

I chose to do 4 pieces and create a trip around the world mini quilt.

I cut 1" strips and then 1" squares of a bunch of fabrics. I did not really have any plan. I cut a lot of squares and hoped that would be enough.

I arranged them in piles.

Once started, I realized that I had to finish before I did anything else or the tiny squares would blow away.

While it is fusible, it is advised to glue the squares on first. I got some purple school glue and dabbed and placed my fabrics. I LOVE THIS GLUE. I have never used it before, but I will again!

Once I had the whole panel glued on to the fusible, I ironed it down.

I then did the other 3 panels. I did put each one next to the others so I would have a nice center.

I Ironed gently and carefully with my Oliso Iron.

I used the Schmetz Microtex needles to stitch the panel pieces.

You fold and stitch all one direction first, then the other direction.

It REALLY shrinks up after stitching.

I put the units together and yes its curvy at the one edge, but I ignored that. I was a little bit over it by now as these pieces are a bit fiddly.

I set it all aside for a few weeks to finish.

I decided to quilt it with a design that I quilt often, I just resized it to 20% of the size I would normally quilt. Instead of 14" or 15" I quilted it under 3" height with my HQ Forte and Pro-Stitcher.

I used Hobbs batting, just a leftover piece from another project.

I added a purple binding to finish it.

I even glued it to the back side before I stitched in the ditch on the front to finish the binding.

It may have been a gloomy morning when I did the binding on my Juki straight stitch machine.

And here is the finish. It is 14" by 18"

I really do love it. Funny thing, it is EXACTLY the size of my little side table in my living room. I did not plan it, but it may have to live there.

Disclosure: The products featured here were provided to me free of charge by Island Batik, Oliso Irons , Schmetz Needles and Hobbs heirloom Batting.