Summer 2021 Mini Quilt Challenge Wrap Up
- vafibrearts
- Sep 20, 2021
- 8 min read
Hello Friends and Welcome Back!
With the onset of cooler weather and the changing of the leaves, today marks the end of my Summer Mini Quilt Challenge!
As you may already be aware, I've spent the last few months working my way through this challenge; experimenting with different prompts, researching exciting new techniques, and designing projects to go along with them. And while I'm sad it's coming to an end, I'm excited for the opportunity to continue working on my ongoing projects, and to embrace some new ones!
But before we move into the other projects this fall will bring, I'd like to share a final look at this summer's mini quilts and the lessons I've learned from them!
The Summer Mini Quilt Challenge
For those of you who don't already know, the Summer 2021 Mini Quilt Challenge is a self-imposed quilt making challenge focused on learning new skills!
There are so many different finishing techniques, piecing styles, quilting methods, and genres of quilt that exist in the world, and I would love to try them all! Obviously, mastering these skills takes a lot of time and practice, but learning the basics can be done fairly easily with a little research and experimentation!
I began the summer by laying out the prompts and guidelines I would be following while making my experimental mini quilts. Each of the prompts represented a different quilt making technique that I was interested to try or which I wanted to practice, while the guidelines offered a few simple restrictions which encouraged me to think creatively about my use of materials and space within the design of the quilt!
Check out the original Challenge Announcement post for a full outline of both the prompts and guidelines!
Mini Quilts Summary
Throughout the summer, I made eleven unique quilts in response to the challenge prompts. I had a lot of fun working on each of them, and learned quite a few new techniques I'm excited to continue experimenting with!
Here are all of my completed quilts, as well as links to each of their individual posts for more information:
VA, Wholecloth Mini Quilt, 2021, 11 ¼" x 11 ¼", muslin, cotton thread, and poly-cotton batting.
VA, Pride Mini Quilts, 2021, 7¾” x 11¾”, cotton fabric, cotton thread, and poly-cotton batting.
VA, Postcard Mini Quilt, 2021, 4" x 6", cotton, denim, and muslin.
VA, English Paper Pieced and Hand Quilted Mini, 2021, 10” x 11¼”, cotton fabric, cotton thread, poly-cotton batting.
VA, Improv Mini Quilt, 2021, 13¾” x 11¼”, cotton thread and fabric, poly-cotton batting.
VA, Mug Rug Mini Quilt, 2021, 6½” x 7½”, Cotton fabric, cotton thread, poly cotton batting.
VA, Free Motion Quilted Mini Quilt, 2021, 5¼" x 22", cotton fabric and thread, poly-cotton batting.
Hand Finished Binding Mini Quilt, featuring Odd Angles:
VA, Hand Finished Binding, Hexagonal Mini Quilt, 2021, 10⅜” x 11⅞”, cotton thread and fabric, poly-cotton batting.
VA, Needle Turn Applique Mini Quilt, 2021, 8¾" x 8¾", cotton thread and fabric, poly-cotton batting.
VA, Bagged Out Mini Quilt, 2021, 7¾" x 7¾", cotton thread and fabric, poly-cotton batting.
I learned so much from my quilt making experiments, both about the techniques, and about my own personal preferences!
I fully intend to continue experimenting with some of these techniques, including hand quilting, English paper piecing, and creating oddly shaped projects like the hand finished binding project. I found that all of these techniques aligned with my interests as a creator and I'm really excited to see where I go with them!
There were some techniques that I learned I need some more practice with, but I'm interested to pursue! Those included wholecloth projects, which will be exceptionally complicated on a larger scale, and free motion quilting, which takes a lot of practice.
From my improv research in week six, I learned that improv is a mentality and an approach to quilt making. It is a desire to create adaptably, to embrace changes along the way, and find your own unique path to a finished project. This was a really beautiful lesson I wasn't expecting to learn, but I hope to carry into my future projects nonetheless!
On the other end of the creative spectrum, I learned of a few techniques that I don't prefer.
Specifically, I learned that I don't particularly enjoy needle turn applique. Before this challenge, I unknowingly taught myself a method known as prepared edge applique, and I find it suits me much better! Nonetheless, should a time come when needle turn is the better method, I now know how to use it and will be prepared for that day!
The same can be said of folded edge finishes like bagging out and facings. I learned I prefer the stability and aesthetic addition of traditional binding, but knowing how to employ these other methods offers me so many options for my projects moving forward!
Before we move into the next section of the post, I wanted to share a few final mini quilts. But these quilts weren't made by me, they were made by my Mother!
During week eight, Mom responded to the mug rug prompt along with me and made three mini quilts!
She used raw edge fusible applique to create a variety of fun accent shapes and outlined them with a simple quilted motif. My favourite detail is the hand stitching securing the applique patches!
Feel free to let my Mom know how amazing her mini quilts are in the comments below!
Leftover Prompts
After completing eleven of the prompts for this challenge, I'm now left with a few I didn't have the chance to try. Some of these ended up being a little too complicated for the timeline of the challenge, some I have already experimented with a little in the past, and others were simply not as interesting to me as the weeks came and went.
Regardless of the reasons I passed them over, I would still like to share what little I know about these remaining techniques!
I should note that I haven't conducted any additional research for this post. All of the information to follow was pulled from my past knowledge. If you notice something that is not correct, or want to share some of the tips you know in relation to any of the following prompts, feel free to leave me a comment below!
Miniature Quilts: Miniature quilts are scaled down versions of larger, bed sized quilts. They include the same number of individual pieces and blocks, but in a much smaller size.
The miniature quilt genre differs from the general family of mini quilts in that mini quilts are defined only by size (smaller than 24" or 60cm at the widest point) while miniature quilts are often smaller reproductions of larger projects.
I have made one past attempt at a miniature quilt, a smaller version of my Rainbow Railfence pattern, shown here before binding. However, this quilt isn't a true miniature because it has significantly fewer blocks and a totally different border. Making this quilt prompted my desire to make a proper miniature quilt, but the weekly schedule of the mini quilt challenge didn't offer enough time.
Wearable Quilt: Flat quilts that have been transformed or resewn into something new, like a garment or bag, are often known as wearable quilts. Decoratively pieced and quilted jackets are one of the most popular quilted garments I've seen recently, but historically, quilted petticoats and shirts were a fairly common part of people's wardrobes.
To create a wearable quilt, piece together a quilt top, sandwich it with batting and backing, then quilt as usual. Rather than squaring off and binding the quilt, use a commercial or self-drafted pattern to cut the quilted panel into the necessary pieces for whatever type of garment or project you would like to make. Assemble the pieces following the pattern instructions to create a totally unique wearable quilt!
Given the size restrictions of the challenge, I would have been limited to making a face mask, or some kind of bag or pouch. I decided to save wearable quilt projects for another day, when I have time to make a larger garment, following a more intentional, thought out design!
Foundation Paper Piecing: Foundation paper piecing is a method of machine piecing that uses a paper pattern both as a stabilizer and guide for seam placement. Fabric patches are sewn together through the paper guide, following the marked lines of the pattern. Piecing projects in this way allows quilt makers to create very precise and detailed designs with relative ease!
Although I didn't use foundation paper piecing as the main prompt for any of these projects, I did use it when making my free motion quilted mini quilt, and have used it in the past to make my Rainy Day Friends quilt for the 2021 TrendTex challenge!
Patchwork Piecing: Patchwork piecing is the standard, flat pieced method most quilt makers first learn when starting out. It can be done using machine or hand sewn stitching, depending on the maker's preference, and can be used to craft a near infinite variety of unique quilt blocks!
I have a lot of experience with this method, virtually all of the quilt tops I've made have been patchwork pieced, so I never intended to follow this prompt. But, I wanted to include it for the benefit of any beginners who may have wanted to participate in this challenge with me!
Straight Line Walking Foot Quilting: Walking foot quilting is a method of domestic machine quilting that uses an even feed foot, also known as a walking foot, to feed the layers of the quilt smoothly through the machine. The bulk of the foot makes it best for straight lines and gentle curves, but not so good for highly detailed motifs with lots of points, turns, and tiny details.
Walking foot quilting is the method I have the most experience with. I've done research on this technique in the past, which you can check out by reading my Walking Foot Quilting Designs and Tips for Walking Foot Quilting posts. Several of this summer's mini quilts have used this technique as well, including the mug rug, faced, and odd angle binding mini quilts.
Thread Painting: Thread painting is a decorative style of quilting used by many art quilters to add detail to projects. While the finished effect is much like embroidery, the actual method used is more in line with free motion quilting.
This technique is most commonly used when making representational quilts. A variety of thread colours are used to blend adjacent fabric patches and reduce the harsh effect of the seamlines. Thread painting can also be used to create realistic textures and fine lines, adding even more detail to a quilt.
With the challenge guidelines limiting me to work using materials I already own, I didn't have many different thread colours available. I decided to leave thread painting for another day when I have more free motion experience and more colours to work with!
Machine Sewn Binding: The final unused prompt was machine sewn binding. This technique involves sewing the binding to the front of a quilt as usual, folding it around the edge to the back, then topstitching through the layers of the quilt to secure it in place.
The benefit of machine sewn binding is that it is much faster to complete than hand finished binding. However, the visible stitching on the finished project is off putting to some makers.
As someone who enjoys hand sewing, I actually find the process of hand finishing binding very relaxing and enjoyable. In fact, the more mini quilts I finished throughout the challenge, the more I found myself looking forward to this final hand sewn step! I may still experiment with machine finished binding in the future, but for now, I'm happy to continue using the hand finished method.
Even though the Summer Mini Quilt Challenge is coming to an end, there are still many opportunities to continue learning! If there’s a particular technique you’d like to experiment with, there are many free options available online in the form of blog posts and video tutorials, or you could take a course with an experienced quilt maker!
If you’re diving into a new project this fall, I would love to hear about it! Please share stories and photos in the comments below!
I’ll continue learning and experimenting into the fall with a few projects of my own! I’m particularly looking forward to completing the machine quilting on Simply Woven, beginning to hand quilt Changing Pace, and starting a brand new BoM mystery quilt project, hosted by my guild! If you'd like to keep up with those projects as I work on them, visit me on Instagram @vafibrearts where I share photos of all of my ongoing projects!
Friends, thank you all so much for joining me for the Summer Mini Quilt Challenge! I had so much fun experimenting with different techniques, learning new skills, and growing my collection of mini quilts! I’m now more excited than ever to get started on my fall projects and I can’t wait to share them with you!
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