Week Three Mini Quilt SewALong

Check out week three over at Fresh Lemons..

Not the best photos..I will switch them out when the sun shines.

I have a confession...Have you ever made something for a swap...sent it off...and then really wished you had been able to keep it.....WELL...
Goal #1: Recreate a mini version of the Red Pepper Full Size Quilt...
This week I have recreated the mini quilt I made for the Doll Quilt Swap 11.. I had bunches of fabrics left over and so I sewed....

Here it is..This is a mini version of a quilt pattern from Red Pepper Quilts.. I have another confession..the quilt that I sent to my swap partner had one little funky quirk..I extended a sashing that was not extended on the original pattern.. In my quilt I made an exact duplicate only much much smaller... Instead of repeated my process I am going to link you to my posts in which I made the original quilt....and third confession...I don't have the binding nor the quilting finished and if I don't post this...I will not make the deadline...



 Here is my "From Fear to Finish Link"
And This is the link to DS11 Finished...

Week Two...Mini Quilt SewALong

My mini quilt for this week is a true true mini... I was part of the Fabric PostCard Swap and, due to major time crunching...decided to meld the two together..I have made two of these mini quilts...one that has gone off to my partner and one that is hanging on my sewing room wall. I have to tell you all that this is a project I started in week one and have finally finished in week two...My hopes are that by week 4, all projects are complete and all new learning goals have been attempted. This weeks finished project is also referenced in my Flicker space.

I thought about what my new learnings should be this week and came up with this list:

1.Try a new project I have not done before; A Fabric Post Card. How many of you have ever tried this new medium..I didn't realize tat it existed until I was searching Flickr for mini quilts to add to my favorites photostream. Next I began checking fabric postcards out all across the internet, there are many many amazing creations out there..I found that they are even for sale on Etsy.... How did I ever miss these little jewels..
And so...... Mini mini is the catch word for this week..A fabric postcard is just that, postcard size, your blank canvas is just 4" X 6". The challenge is to accomplish within those confines your message, but not loose all of the detail. Quilted Post Cards by Cheryl Haynes, Barbara Cooley and Beth Davis  provided me with the basic structure and qualifications for the post card. This little book  had some very nice, very basic design elements already  at a post card size. Pencil in hand, graph paper to the side, I started drawing... to complicated....to small..to large... AND THEN...just right...

2. Bargello style was the goal for quilting technique.  

Ah..hah!!! Finally a design that works....This is a "wonky" bargello "style" background..I happened upon this technique when I was checking out my flickr friends photostreams. I say, wonky, because this is a new technique for me and I wasn't really sure of how to adhere it to the backing. After sewing strips together and cutting 1/2" strips from that, I attempted to sew and flip each of the mini strips to the backing. Maybe not such a good idea...they began to get a bit"wonky" and were difficult to hold the size....but I do think for this project it makes the perfect background...wonkiness and all. As always when I try something new... I have learned a couple of things to not do!!!! and a couple I need to do!!! I really need some more practice with bargello....

My challenge for the swap was to design a summer postcard. Does this background bring summer to your mind? Does it bring a summer garden, a summer ocean or a summer beach???

The background needed a focus that shouted "summer". I found some perfect summer colors, cut out those flower petals and then stopped...OOOPS... How should I outline the iron on pieces? I di a lot of experimenting with a variety of ways to use the  stitches on my old faithful Janome. The leaves have just a basic vein free-motion stitching...The background was free-motion stitched in a wonky pattern leaving the light blue..skyline...empty of quilting...The flowers were stitched with a variety of patterns... blanket stitch, close overcast and filled with tiny x's.. I think it was the perfect embellishment for a fabric postcard going to California.

3. The reverse side of the fabric postcard required a certain framework. I needed to print on fabric and then adhere it to the reverse side.

I found this part a bit of a challenge. I had been experimenting with Wonder Under ironed to the base fabric and then put through the printer (IT WORKS!!!)..But then I wanted to highlight the address, write a note and place a return address...Yikes...spacing is a challenge..(The addresses have been erased to protect us innocence.) leaving the smudge appearance in the photo. Better spacing, better photo next time..

4. Final goal was to figure out how to mail a fabric psotcard.
That was simple...go to the post office...ask for a postcard stamp...adhere...drop of and in several days it finds its home...Honestly, I thought the postman would laugh at me....even in the teeny tiny post office at Coopers Mills they have mailed fabric postcards before...

Check out mini number 2 that I also created this week. A Halloween card that uses this mosaic design process using  a tutorial from Kerry's website. I love this process.  I have used it when making a purse for the PLPS (Pretty Little Purse Swap). Please come join us Round Three will be starting soon.

#1 Final project 4" X6" stamped, mailed, arrived!!

#2. The ad that states,"You can't eat just one."   WELL...You can't just make one...Halloween Postcard ready to mail out...

Pop on over to Fresh Lemons to check out all of the wonderful week two projects!!!!

Week One....Mini Quilt Monday SewAlong

Afternoon everyone... I spent a bit to much time deciding on a project and then choosing fabric. I am afraid I have the beginnings of a mini quilt but not a finished project...YET!!!!.
I thought and thought about what my new learnings should be this week and came up with this list:

1.   Redraft a full size quilt to mini quilt size I had attempted this with  Red Pepper Quilt pattern for my DQS11 quilt. It was painful, after many many trials and errors I was able to make a quilt that fit within the size requirements and maintained the patterns design elements. I decided to try this again with this project, only on a simpler scale. The DQS 11 quilt had 5 different design elements to deal with. YIKES..... The Practical Guide to Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman  was just what I needed. Two cups of coffee, breakfast, lunch and America's Got Talent later. I found a suitable challenge.  The pattern for the Rain or Shine Quilt was simple in style and yet, it made a huge statement......It was perfect for my redraft....

2. Creating a paper piecing template.  I have had great luck with  graph paper as of late... I wanted to try my luck at creating a template. I had learned a number of tricks from my previous quilt. I love adding extra spaces for the sashings. I always have a bit of trouble getting those straight... Adding the width of the sash plus two seam allowances gives the opportunity to make a connected piece.  My template at the left shows my coded squares and a bottom sash piece connecting to the next square... It worked!!!!!!

3. Try a quilt pattern I have never worked with.  Rain or Shine is a basic pinwheel design. I have been brainstorming many other colorways and uses for a single block.. I even thought of varying the block sizes..Check out my mini pinwheels... I have 12 complete, 8 more to go until I can think of quilting....BUT WAIT...I have adjusted this pattern enough for now..I just need to choose fabrics....



4. Use a fabric line I was unfamiliar with. I have been hearing about the Denise Schmidt fabrics sold at Joann's... Several weeks ago my curiosity was peaked when a DS Mini Guilt Swap was opened up on Flickr. I purchased some sample fabrics and fell in love with the designs. The nostalgia, remembering many of the projects my grammie Rice had on her sewing table. I pulled out the Picnic and Fairground fabrics and began piecing...My little practice squares (checking for size..... turned into scrappy pincushions(This would make a great little tutorial, maybe)....Oh yes...
The pattern calls for a yoyo in the center...How cute, can't wait to get to that stage...

5. Try out controlled free-motion (Is that an oxymoron?) stitching. I have several books that provide detailed instruction for this technique... I hope I can find a suitable pattern for this little mini quilt when I finish the top.

That was it for week #1, five goals. I completed all (but the quilt) and the quilting. Next Monday I will show you the completed quilt and ...hopefully week twos project.

Check out all of the beautiful week one projects over at Fresh  Lemon Quilts.....