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!