It all started with a Michael Miller mini charm pack of Cotton Couture solids in my QuiltCon 2015 swag bag and inspiration from a quilt hanging in my local quilt shop made from
Denyse Schmidt's pattern, Big Charming. I named this mini quilt, Sew Charmed and here is it hanging on the barn one fall afternoon of October 2015.
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| Sew Charmed by Paige Alexander |
The Michael Miller mini charm pack received in the QuiltCon 2015 swag bag below.
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| Michael Miller Cotton Couture mini charm pack |
And you might think I'm crazy, but here are the mini charms fresh out of the dryer. I'm a prewasher and don't want any surprises down the road.
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| Cotton Couture mini charms out of the dryer |
I pressed them and started laying them out on the design wall.
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| First layout of Cotton Couture mini charm squares |
Then another layout going from warm to cool colors.
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| Second layout of Cotton Couture mini charm squares |
Final layout after trimming to a consistent size, I think 2 1/8".
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| Cotton Couture mini charm squares after trimming |
Next, I had to decide on a background. I auditioned various fabrics by pinning to the design wall and stepping back to take a look. Notice the Hoffman modern batik on the left that I ordered soon after they were on the market and
mentioned in this post.
A few more auditions. I decided on the fabric at the top. I only had a 1/2 yard and knew it was a Windam fabric. But after
posting it on Instagram, Yvonne at
Quilting Jetgirl quickly identified it for me and I ordered what I needed from
Warm Kitty Quilts on Etsy.
The finished top measuring approximately 27" x 20".
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| Sew Charmed quilt top by Paige Alexander |
Now...how to quilt it. I first thought about spiral quilting starting from the center charm and used a quarter at the start of the first circle.
I drew the outline of the quarter and then gradually increased the spacing until the lines were about 1/2" apart. From there I thought I could use the edge of the walking foot as a guide to finish the quilting. But I just wasn't happy. The curves were not smooth and I decided to rip it out.
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| Spiral quilting ultimately ripped out |
I decided to go with uneven concentric circles. And yes, that entailed burying the starts and stops of each circle. I found a
scrap booking circle template at the thrift store and used it to draw the circles. Sometimes I used a previously stitched line and the edge of my walking foot as a guide for the next line.
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| Sew Charmed under the machine |
Now the quilting is finished and I'm about to dunk it in the washing machine to remove the blue water soluble marking lines.
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| Sew charmed before soaking to remove the markings |
My favorite binding is double fold bias and liked the way it contrasted with vertical and horizontal gridded lines in the background fabric.
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| Sew Charmed by Paige Alexander |
Another view on the barn...
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| Sew Charmed by Paige Alexander on the barn |
And a view on the gate where you can see a little of the fall color.
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| Sew Charmed by Paige Alexander hanging on the gate |
Quilt Stats:
- Finished size: 27" x 20"
- Pattern: Inspired by Big Charming by Denyse Schmidt
- Binding: 1/4" double fold bias binding from 2" strips and sewn down by hand
- Fabrics: Michael Miller Cotton Couture mini charm squares; background: Grid by Bye Bye Birdie from Windham Fabrics
- Thread: Aurifil for piecing and quilting
- Batting: 100% Cotton Warm & White by the Warm Company
- Completed: October 30, 2015
Sew Charmed was a fun little quilt to make. So far, it has been my most liked
picture on Instagram and
most viewed on Flickr.
I didn't go back too far back in my quilty past to show you this one and am linking to
Throwback Thursday with Jen at
A Quarter Inch from the Edge.
Hooray for reverse image search in Google Images! I'm glad I could help you find the material you needed; this is a very fun quilt and I enjoyed getting to know more of its story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a contemporary and colorful quilt. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt Paige. I can see why it is so popular on instagram. I have some 5 inch charms that would look wonderful in a larger version. This is making me think. You did a really good job with the quilting and I'm glad to see the washable maker washed out.
ReplyDeleteRecently I experienced a "surprise" and now I've become a pre-washer as well. Great background choice here and I really love how you quilted this. I'm also a fan of the bias binding decision. Gee, I guess it's not surprising this quilt has lots of views!
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely lovely Paige. I love the background fabric, and a great mix of focal squares. You nailed the concentric circles and like Lisa, I'd love to make a slightly bigger one. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteThis quilt makes me fall instantly in love with it Paige. Every detail of your design decisions and stitching is so perfectly done! I really love the warm to cool layout of the squares and the way you quilted concentric rings instead of spirals.
ReplyDeleteI had to smile, because I'm a dedicated prewasher and I wash charm packs too. It's amazing how differently each fabric shrinks, even in the same collection. I don't want that happening in my final quilt either. I just prewashed a few jelly roll strips yesterday, but I wouldn't want to untangle a hole roll of them. Do you ever attempt prewashing 2.5" strips?
What a pretty quilt! It really makes me want to try something similar. Those circles are just perfect!
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ReplyDeleteArranging the colors by temperature is such a fantastic idea! I never would have thought of doing that. This is and excellent use of swag bag goodies!! :)
ReplyDeletePaige, thanks for sharing the story behind this charming little quilt. I am a prewasher, also, but I confess that I don't usually wash charm squares. I love the way your bias binding looks in this crosshatch fabric!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a neat little quilt! And I enjoyed watching the process...thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteI love circular quilting. Such a beautiful quilt, Paige!!
ReplyDelete-Soma
Yvonne saves the day! Glad she was able to help you identify the background fabric because it was the perfect fabric for this mini. I love the circle quilting as well, I love how it contrasts the sharp lines of the squares. Beautiful mini, Paige!
ReplyDeleteI was searching pinterest the other day for ideas for a mini quilt and this one popped p and grabbed my attention. I had no idea it was yours Paige. I love the circles you quilted, it provides so much interesting movement to the quilt. I cant wait to find the perfect project to try quilting circles, I love the look of them. This is a wonderful quilt!
ReplyDeleteNow that's a first for me seeing all those washed mini charms. Did you wash them in a lingerie bag? I'm consistently a prewasher, and maybe that's why I've stayed away from precuts for the most part all these years. That really worked out for you! I love the quilt in the sunshine with that quarter sized circle jumping right off the center of the pieced square.
ReplyDeleteIt's really such an eye-catching picture! And when you loom close up at the detail, it's even greater - the bias binding touch is an exquisite detail. Must try circular quilting one day...
ReplyDeleteI too love circular quilting. Actually need to get back to a small quilt I started a couple of years ago with concentric circles and then didn't finish. I'm also considering spiral quilting for a QuiltCon entry but haven't tried that yet. I understand the beginning can be a challenge.
ReplyDeleteThis is far and away the most modern quilt linked up with TBT... perhaps ever! I love the quilting and the negative space. Lovely! Thanks for linking up with Throwback Thursday @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge!
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