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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

MiniLove with Island Batik

Do you love mini quilts? If so, this is the month for you!






Introducing Lemon Lime!




I chose to use the red/pink/cream Valentine's fat quarter bundle that Island Batik sent as part of the box for the ambassadors.  This of course changed the look of the mini and she's neither lemony or limey, but she's still pretty!




I found the binding fabric in one of the rolls of the stash builders also sent. This was perfect, because my mini finishes at 14" square and while I had to piece 2 binding strips that were the width of the fabric, it was easier than cutting multiple strips from one of the fat quarters.




While the fabric requirements are given in yardage amounts, a fat quarter works well for all three colors. For the background I simply folded the fat quarter in half the long way (20") and there was plenty of fabric.


Tips for piecing minis




Accurate piecing begins with using a sharp needle. If you can't remember the last time you changed your needle, now is a good time.




I chose to make the pieced units over sized and then trim them down, this also helps with keeping your small points pointy.  I have found that using pins adds too much bulk when piecing the units together. These pieces are small enough that you can butt those seams together, not pin, and they do not shift.




While I have given pressing instructions to help nest seems, you don't have to worry about them once the 4 patch units are pieced, so spin those seams!




When piecing my long strips I pin once in the middle and once at the end. These strips are cut to size, and we aren't trimming them, so we want them to match up on both ends evenly.




I do that when adding the last strip as well.




Pin that baby and quilt! I simply did stitch in the ditch. I had planned on doing hearts in the Square in a Square units, but this little thing fought me all the way and it was time to finish and move on. Have you ever had one of those?



In all her pink and red glory. See how to make a miniature hanging sleeve HERE

Grab Lemon Lime HERE.

(Page down a little more and find the rest of the Island Batik Ambassadors. They will all be sharing minis this month! Thank you to Pamela from Pamela Quilts for the full list!)

Happy Stitching!
Jen

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8 comments:

  1. Super cute! Love that Mini quilts really don't need much quilting - sorry this one was fighting you...

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  2. So cute, thanks for the reminder about the needle.

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  3. Sweet mini! Making mini's with Batiks are easier I think:)

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  4. Thanks for the cute pattern! Yours is so cute! I understand to just want to finish and get the easy quilting done. I have several WIPs that I need to just quilt and be finished.

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  5. Thank you for the free pattern. It is a sweet mini.

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  6. It's a cute quilt. Unfortunately, when I click on the Lemon Lime link it takes me to Craftsy and I can't find the pattern there.
    Susan 14 the money at duck dot com

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for the heads up! I've fixed the link.

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