I always like it when I can finally do a full reveal of some secret sewing, although it’s had a wee outing on IG, I wanted to look a bit more at the mini I sent for the UK mini swap, because I really loved how it came out – it went all the way to Edinburgh, so maybe I can still get visiting rights ;o)
It all started when I saw the ‘January Block’ by @ladyharvatine on IG. She created it for the LAMQG for their BOM, but the block pattern is available from her shop for the princely sum of $4.
I knew my partner liked rainbows, and while casting around my potential fabric options, I suddenly remembered the bundle of Paint that I bought at Market last spring, and I knew it was meant to be. I made this as my trial block:
Then I moved on to the option with the ‘missing link’ ring part (there’s templates for both options):
And kept going until I had 4 blocks in total, which was just the right size for a mini at 24″ square.
When it came to quilting it, I just couldn’t bring myself to go down the straight line or matchstick route, those circles were calling out to me to be highlighted in some way, so I dusted off my rusty FMQ skills (18 months between projects isn’t too long, right?!), and made myself a couple of paper template that allowed me to mark out the edges of where the circle would have been in the ‘missing link’ sections. I had decided to do a diamond grid in the rings, with FMQ in the centres, but I started with the FMQ in case it all went a bit pear shaped, and needed to grid the whole thing!
Funnily enough, it was the circles round the edge of the flower that nearly killed me here, I started with the flowers, and obviously got a bit cocky, because there were a good 5 sessions of un-quilting a circle or two after something went a wee bit jerky, or it didn’t really look like a circle. I think I got there okay in the end though:
For the wee diamonds between the rings I did a kind of mini flowery thing, trying to echo the shapes I used to make up the flowers, and for the rings, as mentioned before, I did a grid on the diagonal, using a grey thread so that it was cleared on the ‘missing link’ sections of the rings.:
Luckily my lovely friend Rachael at Imagine Gnats had made a few projects for Paint fabric designer Carrie Bloomston for Market, and had sent me her ‘scraps’, which were really quite large bits – enough to use the paint chips for the back, and the fab red with newspaper strips for the binding.
It was definitely a fun project, I now feel a bit of an urge to make more minis or something!
You will have one very happy swap partner. It is truly stunning. And the FMQ amazing. I've also bought the pattern just haven't had the courage to tackle it. But I've an open sewing session at our local quilt trainer next week so maybe I will give it a go.
You will have one very happy swap partner. It is truly stunning. And the FMQ amazing. I've also bought the pattern just haven't had the courage to tackle it. But I've an open sewing session at our local quilt trainer next week so maybe I will give it a go.
That looks great! 🙂
Oh this turned out great! What beautiful quilting! I purchased the block pattern and love it, but haven't gotten up the courage yet.
Awesome quilting on a fab mini – hope it's loved at its new home!
This is so beautiful, Katy. Well done on persisting with the quilting because it really elevates an already lovely block to something extraordinary. You have a very lucky swap partner!
I love this mini! The quilting is beautiful! But I love the graphic pop of the pattern!
LOVE the fabric choices! They flow together beautifully and pull off the rainbow palette without it jumping out at you. I would have never guessed that it had been so long since you had done free motion quilting- the result looks great.
It's beautiful and your FMQ-ing is stunning!!
It's so gorgeous Katy ! I love everything about it- the pattern fabric and the quilting.
It's stunning!
Wonderful quilting Katy, your swap partner will be thrilled with this!
Far out … now that's a mini! Your FMQ skills don't look dusty at all 🙂
its a beauty!
absolutely fan dabby dooozy brilliant Katy. Your quilting is spectacular. I'm just finishing the binding on mine tonight, then will post on Monday.
Holy Schamoley!! check out that quilting! I love it 🙂
and i have to say, that binding just makes my day 🙂 What a lovely mini! Lucky Edinburghian!!
I love this and the quilting is amazing! I bought the pattern after seeing it on IG too! I haven't made it yet…but you have inspired me!
It turned out really well. I liked it since your first in progress photo. Well done!
What a fun quilt, It's fabulous!
Circles/pebbles are HARD I don't care what anyone else says. I am slightly gutted that this isn't mine (OK really gutted) because the quilting is fabulous, I can't believe it's been 18 months!!!
Wow! this is so fantastic! You really did a tremendous job with this one.
Right team, wrong partner 🙁 I've loved this since I first saw it but knew it wasn't for me due to a lot of repins on the partner email day! I really can't believe that you can produce this after 18 months of fmq! Just stunning x