Hello Modern Mini blog hop friends, welcome to my little corner of blog world! I was super honored that Jennifer asked me to share some of my miniquilts with you all today to inspire you to enter the Modern Mini Challenge. The contest opens up in just a few short weeks, on March 5th and you can link up your entry at Ellison Lane Quilts. I hope that you might just see something that will inspire you today, and if you do, I'd love to hear about it!
I love making minis, and I've surrounded myself with them in my sewing room, both made by me and by my friends. One of the things I adore most about minis is that it allows you to try something new on a small scale, without committing lots of time and fabric to an idea you're might just be unsure about. I also use minis to practice things I want to get better at doing, like hand-finishing binding and hand-quilting.
Another super fun thing about minis is that they can be really fast to make. Sometimes quiltmaking can be a very slow process, but minis speed up that process a boatload thanks to their size. I also love the lack of rules and guidelines for minis - they can be whatever you want them to be! Want to make a 9" mini quilt? Great! Prefer something larger, more like 18" x 24"? Go for it!
Here's what I've made to enter: the Friendship Hexagon Mini, a twist on a traditional Friendship Star block. I worked on improving my hand-stitching, hand-binding and even tried out some new batting. Did you know Pellon makes batting now?? Yes, the kings of interfacing have started to make batting and they've got a zillion varieties available. I tried out their natural cotton batting, which is comparable to Warm & Natural, and really enjoyed working with it. The hand and drape of it is just fantastic and it was so easy to sew with!! I definitely recommend it if you come across it in your travels to your local quilt shop or Jo-Ann's.
Here's what I've made to enter: the Friendship Hexagon Mini, a twist on a traditional Friendship Star block. I worked on improving my hand-stitching, hand-binding and even tried out some new batting. Did you know Pellon makes batting now?? Yes, the kings of interfacing have started to make batting and they've got a zillion varieties available. I tried out their natural cotton batting, which is comparable to Warm & Natural, and really enjoyed working with it. The hand and drape of it is just fantastic and it was so easy to sew with!! I definitely recommend it if you come across it in your travels to your local quilt shop or Jo-Ann's.
Want to make your own Friendship Hexagon block? Here's a super easy tutorial to follow for a 12.5" unfinished block.
FRIENDSHIP HEXAGON BLOCK
12.5" unfinished
all seams are 1/4" unless otherwise noted
mini note: Want to make a mini block? Divide all of the measurements in half to create a 6 1/4" unfinished block!
12.5" unfinished
all seams are 1/4" unless otherwise noted
mini note: Want to make a mini block? Divide all of the measurements in half to create a 6 1/4" unfinished block!
1. Cut your fabric as follows:
Yellow (accent fabric) - one 7 1/4" square
Dark blue - one 7 1/4" squares
Medium blue - one 7 1/4" squares
Light blue (star) - one 7 1/4" square and one 4 1/2"
2. Pair one yellow square with one medium blue square and sew 1/4" all the way around. Repeat with one medium blue square and one dark blue square.
3. Bring your sewn pairs to your cutting table and make two diagonal cuts across the corners of each pair as shown below.
4. Press your new HSTs. I press with seams open, but do what works best for you here.
5. Trim your HSTs to a uniform 4 1/2".
6. Lay out your HSTs with your one remaining light blue square and sew together in rows to complete your block. Press well.
Still need some more inspiration? I've made a lot of minis over the last two years, here's a few of my personal favorites:
Have I convinced you to make a mini for the challenge yet? I sure hope so :)
Mark your calendar! Here's how the challenge is going down...
2/6/12 - 2/19/12
Weeks 1 & 2 - Inspiration Weeks - Modern Mini Challenge Blog Hop
Bloggers share their modern minis and kick-start your creativity. Get inspired, get creative, get those ideas flowing!
2/20/12 - 3/4/12
Weeks 3 & 4 - Sew. Sew. Sew!
Work on those minis and create your Modern Mini Challenge piece.
3/5/12 - 3/9/12
Week 5: Enter the Contest!
Link up your Modern Mini Challenge piece at Ellison Lane Quilts. Voting begins that week and winners are announced on February 9th!
Get out your sketch book - you don't want to miss your chance to win one of the 5 fabulous prizes.
A BIG THANKS goes out to Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop for generously sponsoring all five of our fabulous prizes.
The five winners will be chosen as follows:
James’ choice (my husband chooses his favorite)
Viewer’s choice Mug Rugs
Viewer’s choice Mini Quilts
(mug rugs and mini quilts- the viewers choose from a selection chosen by myself and three other bloggers)
Luck of the Draw (Random Number Generator chooses 2 winners)
So what are those fabulous five prizes? Hold on to your hats!
Both Viewer’s Choice Winners will receive a fat quarter bundle of the FULL LINE of Flea Market Fancy reprint by Denyse Schmidt. James’ Choice Winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop. Both Luck of the Draw Winners will receive a $75 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop
2/6: Stitchery Dickory Dock
2/8: Lily's Quilts
2/9: Patchwork Notes
2/12: Freshly Pieced
2/13: From the Blue Chair & Poppy Makes
2/15: Mon Petit Lyons & Felicity Quilts
2/17: Life's Rich Pattern & Twin Fibers
2/18: Cut to Pieces & Sew Sweetness
2/19: Swim Bike Quilt
For more contest details, visit Ellison Lane Quilts for the nitty gritty details!
Super cute Elizabeth - I am such a fan of everything you make
ReplyDeleteI love your mini! It is really cute!
ReplyDeleteI have not ever seen HST made this way! Awesome. Thanks for the great tip.
ReplyDeleteIts awesome Elizabeth! I love the perle :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, what an awesome block. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat is a happy mini. Thank you for the tutorial and the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteSuper cute mini! I love the colors! Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteso so awesome Elizabeth! Love the mini, and your hand quilting is great! Love the alternating blue and yellow stitches around the outside :-)
ReplyDeleteLove that block! I'll have to pin it and give it a try! =) Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYour mini is beautiful! It has kind of a Starry Starry Night feel to it. Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteLove this block and your fabric choices, and the hand stitching looks great!
ReplyDeletethe shape in your block has eight sides though (making it an octagon), and a hexagon only has six sides :P
Beautiful. And I love your book minis!!!
ReplyDeleteI love all your mini's especially the books. My mom will Love that!
ReplyDeleteCute! You have such a fun collection. This mini quilt blog hop has really got me excited about making more. I just finished mine last night. I agree that it's the perfect way to try out new ideas on a small scale.
ReplyDeleteLove all those minis, and thanks for the tute. I'm hoping to have a play with a mini that's been brewing in my mind over the weekend, but I've come down with tonsillitis, so we'll see how cruddy I feel :o/
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love the one's that come across as book shelves I can feel an idea a happening for the future - thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou know I am a huge fan of your creativity. I never get tired of looking at the bookshelves.
ReplyDeleteCool! I pinned your friendly hexagon.
ReplyDeleteYour minis are amazing! I love the book ones - so clever and fun!
ReplyDeleteLove this, E! Your hand stitching is perfecto.
ReplyDeleteYou have made some absolute beauties!
ReplyDeleteWell done Elizabeth. What a great mini pattern to put two great designs together. My favorite the hexagon with a basic friendship star pattern.
ReplyDeleteI also love the colors you have used. Have a great holiday with your family and Lee and her family.
I love all your minis. I'd love to give a few of them a try. Also I have not seen that "trick/shortcut" before about sewing all around the square of fabric, cutting in a "X" to make 4 HST. Cool ! Thanks for all the info and sharing your minis with us.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely!! Thanks for a great tutorial.
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Thanks for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteI love all your minis. The hand quilting on the friendship hexagon looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous mini as are all your pieces of work!
ReplyDeletepretty cool! I would hang the mini here immediately. Thanks for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteLove your tutorial! Can you make me one now? ha! j/k
ReplyDeleteGorgeous min Elizabeth, love your fabric choices too. The hand quilting just makes it!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful collection of minis and thanks for sharing the tutorial. I shall have to add it to the bucket list!
ReplyDeleteI love your bookshelf ones. I am definitely going to have to make one of these for myself. I think I might make a long one with bookends to hang in my new sewing room. Thanks for the great blog!!! and ideas.
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your minis!!!
Love this tutorial!! Can't wait to try it!
ReplyDelete