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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McCall's Quick Quilts - Against the Grain

Introducing Against The Grain, available now in the August/September issue of McCall's Quick Quilts. 

This pattern is made from one block and three colors.

I love this cover! Find it in stores now. OR! Scroll down to enter for a chance to win a copy.

Find more information on this pattern HERE.

As an added bonus I have a little miniature pattern for you. There are a lot of trimmed HST pieces left from these blocks. Go HERE to see how I trim my HST units. These trim nicely to 1 1/2" squares.

Using leftovers from the top you will need:

Twenty-four 1 1/2" HST units

From yellow:

Four 2 1/2" squares

Four 1 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangles

From grey:

Two 2 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Two 2 1/2 x 10 1/2"

Backing and Batting:

One 12 3/4" square each

Binding:

 One 2" x 56" strip

To make a hanging strip for your mini go HERE.

Ready to win a copy of the August/September 2017 issue of McCall's Quick Quilts?  Simply leave a comment sharing your favorite quilt size to make. A winner will be announced Wednesday, July 5th. Please leave an email address, many commentors are "no-reply" and that means I cant tell you if you are a winner. Good luck!

Happy Stitching!

Jen

If this is your first time visiting you might like to check out the Beginner's Unite! Series as well as the Muggamo Quilt Along, which has a new pattern coming on Sat!

WINNER!

Congratulations to Angie&Gary Short!!  

A look back at 2016

The end of 2016 is drawing near and it's the perfect time to sit back and evaluate, as well as give yourself credit for the things you have accomplished.

I am going to share with you a few things that really helped 2016 feel like a growing year for me. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, the year goes by fast and tends to blur, so sit back, grab a cup of coffee (or wine, it's 5 o' clock somewhere) and lets take a look back.

I'll start with Valentine. This was a Picked By Jen post. You can find all of them here. This little project sat un-quilted for 2 years. I challenge you to go pick out something small and finish it. It is quite motivating!

Next, my way of making a miniature hanging sleeve. Putting together a tutorial is a little intimidating. There are different ways to do the same thing, so I always question if the way I do it is the correct way. I think I've gotten to the point where I can say, it's my way, and that's ok. This is, however, the only tutorial I have, so maybe I'm not that brave. Ha! 

After doing a tutorial the next step was another free pattern.  This one is quite simply, The Picnic Quilt.  It was fun to do a little photo shoot with my daughter. This was a quick and simple quilt that was just fun to make.

Having Criss Crossing published in a magazine was a highlight of the year. I still get goosebumps when I pick up that issue. 

I was a part of the 2016 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop. That was such a great experience and so helpful. It was great being able to connect with other new bloggers as well as get help from them. 

Joining the Cloud 9 New Block Blog Hop was so fun, and a bit nerve wracking. Those fabrics were to die for, and making that first cut had me almost dying. Too soft and pretty to ruin with a missed cut! 

I have to share this one, because it still makes me giggle. The only cute mosquito there is!

. 

I was asked to take a class, Understanding Value from CraftU, and give my thoughts on it. This was a first for me and it was an honor and a thrill. Plus, it was also educational. :)

I will end with Seaside Steps. My second magazine published pattern, again with McCalls Quick Quilts. I hope the thrill of seeing my patterns all shiny and in print never grows old. If I'm having an off day, or can't seem to get motivated, I pull this out and it energizes me.

Thank you for taking a trip down 2016 memory lane. Thank you for reading, thank you for (hopefully) laughing with me, and thank you for commenting and being a part of Patterns By Jen. Have a blessed last few days of 2016. Bring on 2017!

Happy Stitching!

Jen