Are Mini Quilts Easy?

by Nicole

Don’t be fooled by their small size. Minis are not easy!

I’ve had an idea for the Modern Mini challenge for a couple of weeks now. I started working on it right after finishing Starburst, but midway through it, I got stuck. With time running out, I decided to try another idea that I’ve had for a while. But then I realized it was way too complicated to finish in a couple of days. So after a whole lot of deliberating, I went the improv route and came up with this.

I’m calling it “Stepping Stones.” The way the rectangles are arranged remind me of steps.

I had no plan when I first started Stepping Stones other than the colors. I started with green, orange, and yellow. As I was sewing, I felt like blue was missing, so I threw in a few dark blue pieces. I varied the widths and lengths of the pieces and added white for contrast.  Unlike my other improv quilts, I felt like this one needed straight edges.

I quilted with straight lines about 1/4″ apart for the center portion and 1/8″ apart for the side borders.

It measures 12.5″ x 20.5.”

After a couple of false starts and much deliberating, I’m so glad to get this one done! And just in time to link up to the Modern Mini Challenge, Sew Modern Monday, and Little Quilt Monday.

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31 comments

Debbie March 6, 2012 - 1:32 am

oh I like it, Nicole!! Perfect binding & love your quilting as always! Please show us your original idea too & what didn't work….

Heather D. March 6, 2012 - 1:40 am

Love it Nicole! And really like how you did the quilting, it really adds to the overall look and texture of the quilt.

regan March 6, 2012 - 1:42 am

This is fabulous! I've been wanting to make a couple of mug rugs for some friends, and they are totally modern-type gals! My civil war repros would just not be to their liking…..but THIS will work! They would love it! And the quilting on it is perfect, too! I really needed to see this today! Thanks for the inspiration!

teaginny March 6, 2012 - 1:57 am

love the composition of this. So great! I love that you went for a print on the binding. Nice touch!

rachael March 6, 2012 - 2:18 am

thanks for stopping by my blog 🙂 i love this!! the binding is perfection and the colors are so great together. nice work.

Marjorie's Busy Corner March 6, 2012 - 2:37 am

I really love this quilt…great job on the colours and the quilting….

CityHouseStudio March 6, 2012 - 2:47 am

This is absolutely fabulous! I love the colors and the way you arranged the steps. And as always, I LOVE your quilting.

Valerie March 6, 2012 - 3:27 am

Hi Nicole! I love how this turned out! That green pezzy print is the perfect binding. I have so enjoyed seeing your work at the guild meetings, and glad to see you online too!

B Greene March 6, 2012 - 3:29 am

I love your mini!! The precision matched with the improv is just wonderful!!!!

Heidi Staples March 6, 2012 - 3:33 am

Love it, Nicole. The colors are fantastic…especially those greens, and I love the binding. Beautiful job as always!

sewkatiedid March 6, 2012 - 4:47 am

It is so lovely!

Kati March 6, 2012 - 5:20 am

Love the colors and design! This would be such a great throw quilt too. Adding it to the inspiration list….

iluvmybugs March 6, 2012 - 5:47 am

What a great mini…love the colors and your choice of fabric for binding!!! TFS
~Terry~

Dree March 6, 2012 - 6:08 am

I really really love the texture you created, especially on the sides. I'm not brave enough to use white (or all solids, for that matter LOL), but the white really shows texture so well. Absolutely lovely.

Simone de Klerk March 6, 2012 - 8:42 am

Beautiful, Nicole! Love the binding you added to it.

Kelly March 6, 2012 - 11:43 am

Love this Nicole! I think Minis are probably harder as I tend to try the stuff I wouldn't normally attempt on a bigger quilt.

Katy Cameron March 6, 2012 - 12:44 pm

It looks great, and love the splashes of blue. I think minis are ideal for trying out new things, which probably makes them harder than a big quilt (after all, after 20+ blocks, you can probably do them in your sleep!)

Jenny March 6, 2012 - 1:19 pm

What a wonderful design- very striking!I love the texture created by the quilting.
I had a hard time choosing a design for the Modern Mini challenge too. I started working on something over the weekend, and then decided I wouldn't have time to finish it and set it down Sunday evening. Then I thought about it all day at work on Monday and rushed home to finish it last night!

Aunt Marti March 6, 2012 - 1:21 pm

Hey Nicole, love your mini quilts! Just wanted to let you know I wrote a tutorial on the "Keeping Track of your Quilt Pieces" in response to your Feb. 27 blog post: http://52quiltsin52weeks.blogspot.com/2012/03/tuesday-tute-keep-track-of-your-quilt.html

Lisa Lisa March 6, 2012 - 2:12 pm

I love it! Love the colors…Love the design!

Amy March 6, 2012 - 2:44 pm

I adore it! The design is so clean and the colors just pop!

karen March 6, 2012 - 3:08 pm

Really beautiful– great design Nicole!!!

Becky March 6, 2012 - 5:00 pm

Love it! Great job!

Paige March 6, 2012 - 8:14 pm

Your decision about the straight line quilting totally makes this mini for me! I love it! The binding is awesome as well. Good work! http://www.paperstarfish.prettyposies.com

Cherie March 6, 2012 - 9:18 pm

Love the quilt. The colours work so well together!! The quilting is amazing. The binding is soo cute! Good luck in the challenge!!

heartsease54 March 6, 2012 - 9:31 pm

I love this, the quilting is amazing and really makes the design shine.

Kirsten N March 7, 2012 - 12:32 am

Beautiful colours – and I love the quilting on this!

shelitha2 March 7, 2012 - 1:51 am

Standing ovation this is very good! I love the colors and creativity.

Julia March 7, 2012 - 4:12 pm

I love your Stepping Stones quilt. It turned out great!

Eileen March 10, 2012 - 1:57 pm

I love this mini quilt, the colors are fantastic!I think this would be stunning as a larger quilt. Again I really like the quilting!

Kim March 11, 2012 - 4:07 pm

Ahhhh so crisp and clean looking, and of course the inventive way you used that binding just wraps it all up perfectly.
Nicely done!

Happy Sewing

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