Mini Quilt Finishes 2017-2018

This is the fourth in a series of "catching up" posts to bring my blog up to date with projects from the past several years. (See my recent Blogoversary 2020 post for an explanation) I have one more catch-up post planned after this one.

Included in this post are photos of half a dozen mini wall hanging quilts. Most of the patterns were graciously given to me by Material Girl Kris when she was downsizing her collection of quilting fabrics and supplies in 2016. 

I've always said I'm not really a quilter, I'm a sewing enthusiast that likes to try a little bit of everything. Most of these projects were quick and easy to do, since they are all made using raw edge applique. The applique pieces are attached to their background with fusible web, then the raw edges are stitched down with a buttonhole or zig zag stitch. In some cases this stitching is done through all the layers (quilt top, batting and backing) and serves as the "quilting". Bindings are sewn by machine, I do very little hand stitching other than attaching buttons.

2017
Little Blessings - Shamrock Celebrations by Shabby Fabrics

March: I was so impressed by the model of this little quilt when I attended the Quiltfest of New Jersey in 2015 that I couldn't wait to buy the pattern and fabric pack. I started piecing the background a few days later, but I was interrupted by something or other and this project was put away as a UFO for almost 2 years. Most of the pieces were cut out and ready to go, except for the shamrock leaves, because I didn't care for the fabrics in the finishing pack for those pieces. I picked it up again in 2017, got over my indecision on the shamrocks and managed to finish in time for St. Patrick's day. Finished size is about 12 x 18 inches.

I didn't do much quilting on this piece, just stitched around the edge of the hat, added some decorative quilting stitches in the background that look like rows of clover-like flowers, and stitched heart shapes in the bottom pinwheel section that are supposed to resemble shamrocks in each square.

Patch Abilities Monthly Mini MM403 - March - Daffodils

March 2017: This design was a kit from Kris's collection. I used some of the fabrics from the kit, but replaced others with fabric from Kris's fabric destash. This one was also finished before St. Patrick's Day and as March's flower of the month. Finished size is about 12 x 14 inches.

Patch Abilities Monthly Mini MM407 - July - At the Beach

July 2017: Another design and fabric pack from Kris's collection. This one didn't have any special buttons or embellishment, but it looks like it needs something, doesn't it? Finished size is about 12 x 14 inches.

Patch Abilities Monthly Mini MM412 - December - Tinsel Tree

December 2017/January 2018: Another design from Kris's collection, I changed most of the fabrics to use choices from my own stash. A finishing kit included the ornament shaped buttons. Finished size is about 12 x 14 inches.

The project included instructions for making a colorful garland using sequins tied onto a length of metallic embroidery floss. Here is a closeup of garland, before I tacked it in place.

I used my Brother ScanNCut to scan the shapes and then cut out the applique pieces. Each piece of fabric had Pellon Easy Steam fusible applied before cutting.

 

2018
Patch Abilities Monthly Mini MM402 - February - Snow Couple

January: Another kit from Kris's stash, the fabric/finishing pack included the carrot noses, eye and chest buttons, and the snow girl's hat bow. 

I cut the applique pieces using my Brother ScanNCut machine and fused them to the background with Pellon Easy Steam fusible. For better coverage, I cut extra white cotton fabric and fused it to the back of each snowman body to prevent the background from showing through them. 

The snowflake buttons were from my stash and were attached to the heart with glue. The mouths are hand stitched french knots, and the arms are cut twigs from our dogwood tree that were attached with glue. Finished size is about 12 x 14 inches.

Patch Abilities Monthly Mini MM303 - March - Chocolate Bunny

March/April 2018: Who doesn't like a chocolate bunny? This is one more from Kris's stash, the kit included the hanger and a fabric and button pack. 

I changed out most of the fabrics to pieces from my own collection and some I received from Kris. The eye and chest buttons were part of the finishing pack. This is a fun and colorful Spring decoration! Finished size is about 6 x 20 inches.

 

There is at least one more pattern from Kris's collection that I'd like to make this year, Simply Spring by Cottage Creek Quilts. I claimed it from her collection because it's part of the "Backdoor Quilt Series" and I have several finished pieces from that series: Sweet Liberty, Trick or Treat, Be Thankful and Winter Blessings. 

I have all the fabrics ready to go for Simply Spring, I bought them on a shopping trip in 2018 to Sew Jersey in East Hanover. I just need to block out some time, after I finish my other UFOs.

 

See more of my finished wall hangings in my Quilted Banners & Mini's Google Photo Album

On a personal note:  Although I say I'm not really a quilter, I did start one queen size quilt quite a while ago (see my previous posts on Bahama Breeze). I bought the supplies in 2009 at the Quiltfest of New Jersey, but was intimidated by the paper piecing technique, so I took a class and finally started sewing in 2012. I finished half of the blocks in 2012, then worked on them sporadically for the next several years. In 2017 I sewed all the blocks together and in early October 2018 I finally added the border. 

I was in the process of looking for a backing and making plans for quilting the project myself when we lost Keli and I lost all interest in sewing. Last summer I found a suitable backing fabric and thought I might make some progress, but then Penny was diagnosed with her liver disease. Dealing with her special food needs and medications left me too mentally and physically tired to think about quilting such a large piece. Now that I have my own health issues, I'm going to be looking into having a professional quilter finish this project for me.

You can see photos of this project at various stages of progress in my Bahama Breeze Quilt Google photo album