Suitcase Block Center - The Mini Quilt

 I spent a little time (about an hour and a half) cutting and piecing the center mini quilt for the suitcase block last night. The seams aren't as perfect but I found it was a little harder to press those seams open. For the triangle squares, I did press the seams open, but when piecing the hourglass blocks together, I pressed to the side.

The main seam down the middle is pressed open on the back as well to help reduce bulk.

The brown strips are not sewn on, I wanted to see what it would look like so I laid them along the edges (some of the triangles look cut off, but thankfully I haven't sewn those strips on).


I want to use a different brown fabric - maybe a tone-on-tone floral. This one is just a sample for now, I may change my mind and do different colors for the mini quilt.

The dimensions in my previous post are correct, the center will finish 3" by 4-1/2", so I'm sure the rest of the 8" block will sew together easily. It's hard not to get too carried away when you see it coming together!

Happy sewing!

Suitcase Challenge – Quilt #1: My Journey Begins: Suitcase in the Middle

So, I played around in EQ5 on Sunday and came up with a small quilt design which incorporates an 8” suitcase block in the center, and is bordered by different 4” blocks around the center. It will measure approximately 16” finished size.

The border is completed with four 4-patch variation blocks which remind me somewhat of Trip Around the World quilts, and Flying Dutchman (or Flying Geese Variation) blocks in each corner. You can choose to use a variety 4” blocks for the border if you want – I played around with choices before settling on one that was easier on the eye (and easier to piece!).


I’m not settled on the colors I have in the mock up – I was really trying to get an idea of the pattern as a whole.
I should also note that I will likely revise the look of the pattern a bit so you don't see as many lines in the mock up. The sizes will be the same though.

The obvious starting point is the suitcase block in the center. It has a mini quilt made from 24 triangle squares set into an Hourglass setting, which is what I’ll sew together first. The triangle squares measure 3/4" finished, with the Hourglass unit (4 triangle squares sewn together) measuring 1-1/2” finished. The mini quilt, when fully pieced, measures 4-1/2” x 3” finished.

For the triangle squares, use your favorite method for making them. I like Marsha McCloskey’s method of bias strip piecing and trimming, but here are a few online instructions as well:

Thimble Pleasures has a tutorial on three techniques:


http://www.thimblepleasures.com/weblog/?p=945

At about.com, using squares sewn on the diagonal:


http://quilting.about.com/od/quickpiecingtechniques/ss/halfsquaretria.htm

I’m still working on the block sewing details, but for now here are fabric cutting instructions, not including the triangle squares. You may want to wait to see how my block turns out first, if you want to make one of them. (Disclaimer: the cutting instructions haven’t been tested yet!!)

For brown pieces of the suitcase you will need one strip of brown fabric cut 1-1/2” width of fabric (40”). From the strip, subcut:


(2) 1-1/2” x 6-1/2” strips (suitcase top and bottom)
(2) 1-1/4” x 3-1/2” strips (suitcase sides)
(2) 3/4” x 1-1/2” strips (suitcase handle sides)
(1) 3/4" x 2-1/2” strip (suitcase handle top)

For the block background you will need one strip of fabric cut 1-1/2” width of fabric (40”). From the strip, subcut:


(2) 1-1/2” x 5-1/2” strips (sides)
(2) 1-1/2” x 8-1/2” strips (top and bottom)
(2) 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” strips (either side of the handle)

For the corners on the handle and the outside of the block, you will need additional:

(2) 3/4” squares of background fabric. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of each.
(4) 1-1/2” squares that match the quilt border fabric. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of each.

Here’s the drawing of the suitcase block up close. There are some lines appearing here that are not seam lines – they just make it easier to build the block in EQ5. I’ll post a colorized version in my next post but this will give you an idea of the piecing. If you click on the image you'll enlarge it to view it better.

Feel free to submit comments if you have questions! Would love to hear your thoughts on color choices.

Happy sewing ~

Quilt Show in a Suitcase Challenge!

Are you ready for a new challenge? I have been busy with several customer projects, but have wanted to get back into sewing small projects (and completing them!) for myself. My latest brainstorm: the Quilt Show in a Suitcase Challenge! The objective is to take you out of your comfort zone and create quilts in sizes you wouldn't normally make.

 

Just the idea of it is energizing me, and creating small quilts that will fill a (small) suitcase seems like a manageable challenge. If you'd like to join along, feel free to copy the smaller challenge image on my blog sidebar. And, if you already enjoy making mini quilts, feel free to join, too - just to see how many you can fit into a suitcase by the end of next year.

Here's how this simple challenge works:

1. You need a suitcase. My ideal suitcase (which I'm still searching for, but you may have one in your closet) measures about 16" by 20" so it's not too large or deep. Keep in mind you want to fill it with as many small quilts as you can. Any type of suitcase goes - I'd prefer a vintage one, but they're getting hard to find.

2. You will create small quilts to fill it. I don't have a specific goal - maybe 100 quilts? The challenge is to see how many quilts you can make to put into it. 

3. The challenge ends on December 31, 2011.

Every challenge has rules, so here they are:

• At least 30 % of the quilts you make for the suitcase should measure 10 inches or smaller
• At least 30% of the quilts you make should measure between 10 inches and 20 inches (but no more than 40% of your quilt total)
• At least 20% of the quilts you make should measure between 20 inches and 30 inches - no larger (and no more than 30% of your quilt total)

Okay, so if you're not an analyst or numbers person, in simple terms this means for every 10 quilts:

• 3 should be 10 inches or smaller
• 4 can be between 10 - 20 inches, and
• 3 can be between 20 - 30 inches.

You could change the ratios and have 4 quilts that are 10 inches or smaller, 4 that are between 10 - 20 inches, and 2 that are between 20 - 30 inches.

If your quilt measures more than 10 inches on any side, it falls in the 10 - 20 inch size. If it measures more than 20 inches on any side, it falls in the 20 - 30 inch size. Anything 10 inches or smaller is in the smallest group. (For example, if you have a quilt that is 9" x 12" it's in the middle group.)

There are so many styles and patterns to choose from for mini quilts. I compiled a list to help keep me focused. This may help you get ideas for making quilts of your own, in a variety of styles.

Square in a square

Hourglass or Pinwheels

Log Cabin or Pineapple

Sampler (maybe a medallion quilt)

Star quilts (Ohio, Evening, Feathered, etc.)

Hexagon or Grandmother's Garden

Paper pieced

Sunbonnet Sue or other folk art applique

Drunkards Path

Irish Chain

Crossed Canoes

Amish Bars

Flying Geese

Artsy or contemporary quilts

Journal quilts

Pictoral, cats, dogs, houses, sailboats

Basket quilt

Bow Tie quilt

I have thought of several others. The fun part of having a long list to choose from is that there will always be something I can pick to make that's different. Get a book on miniature quilts from your local library, borrow from a friend, look online for free patterns...I also like looking through some old issues of Miniature Quilts magazine.

A printable version of the challenge rules is here.

If you don't have a suitcase just yet, you can still get started with the challenge. I will start by making a medallion quilt with a suitcase block in the center. I'm still working on the pattern, but once I have started I can post it here for those of you working on the challenge, if you'd like one for your own suitcase.

I'm looking forward to posting my success each week. The last few months of the year will be crazy with holidays and customer work, but I'm going to carve out an hour or two each week in order to work on a mini quilt. I hope you'll join me!

Happy sewing!