Tips for Textural Mini Quilts
By Nikki Wheeler
If you are anything like me, you have a ton of scraps. Many of mine are from bits trimmed from a finished quilt, so they are already quilted. I like to use these to make mini 2" x 3" quilts which I sell through Art-O-Mat.
When deciding which bits and pieces to save, my only requirements are that the pieces are heavily quilted so they don't fall apart and they are at least 1/2" in one direction so I don't sew through my fingers. The designs can be planned or, more often than not, allowed to develop as I sew away.
Materials
- Fabric scraps trimmed from quilts
- Rotary cutter or scissors
- Sewing machine
Optional: fabric paper, paints, craft metal sheets
1. To make one of these mini quilts, gather your quilted scraps. If you don't have any, layer some small pieces of fabric on batting, add a backing and free-motion quilt away. You can practice different motifs and go as wild as you like. They don't have to be perfect because you will only be using small pieces.
2. At this point I also find it fun to paint the quilted fabrics with diluted acrylic, textile, or metallic paints. Have fun if you have the paints, but don't worry if you don't.
3. Trim any extra batting away from your scraps. You can begin by cutting larger pieces into strips or just sew the larger pieces and cut after you have joined them.
4. Set your machine to a medium width zigzag and short stitch length. Butt 2 pieces together and join them with the zigzag. I usually stitch over them at least 2 times to ensure they are well joined. Experiment with different threads - try matching, contrasting, black or metallic threads.
5. Next grab your rotary cutter or scissors and slice through your piece. Add another scrap or just rotate the one you just cut off and join those pieces together. Continue slicing and joining until you have a pleasing composition. Trim to your desired size and zigzag around the edges.
6. I often like to add bits of fabric paper or metal shim. You can then embellish your mini quilt with bits of ribbon, yarn, beads, brads, or about anything that can be sewn or glued down.
These mini quilts are great used on the front of a greeting card, as ATCs or framed in a small frame.
Make Your Own Contemporary Quilts
