Hoop + Loop + Line

Thursday, December 28, 2017

I really look forward to the Curated Quilts mini quilt challenge every few months. The challenge provides a broad theme, limited color palette, size restrictions (10-16" square), and a short turnaround time.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts


This quarter's challenge theme was "minimal" and had a color palette of light gray, leaf green, gray, orchid pink, blue gray, and black. (Mini quilts must be linked up by January 10th - so there's still time to enter your own!) I actually had every color in my stash! The fabrics are a mix of brands. The only ones I know for sure are Kona Cactus and Kona Black.


Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts color palette



I chose gray and black for my background, then the green and pink for my focal colors.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



I made 1/2" bias tape from the color strips, then sewed the ends together to make circles. Pressing the circles around a plate or paper circle are all that's needed to get the circles to have a "memory" of the shape you want.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



After sewing the gray and black pieces together along a 45 degree angle, I pin basted the top, back, and batting together on my dining room table. I used a fat quarter of a colorful chevron fabric from my stash and 80/20 cotton batting by The Warm Co.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts
Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



After basting, I pinned the bias tape circles in place. I used a plate as a guide to make the large circle and a roll of tape for the small circle.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



I started quilting by stitching just inside both edges of the circles. I used 50wt Aurifil in Shining Green #5017 and Light Magenta #2588.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts
Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



Next I used my walking foot to quilt straight lines using 50wt Aurifil in Black on the black fabric, perpendicular to the gray/black seam. I used the edge of the walking foot as a spacing guide so they are a little less than 1/2" apart. I know the "right" way is to bury all the threads when I stop/start in the middle of the quilt top, but....I'm impatient! Instead, I just backstitched a couple stitches each time to lock the stitches in place. The stitches don't always lock well, and it usually creates a bit of a bird nest on the back, but for a mini quilt that likely won't get washed, it works well enough.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts
Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



I used 50wt Aurifil Grey #2605 to quilt straight lines on the gray fabric, this time parallel to the gray/black seam.



Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts


Once quilted, I trimmed up the threads and trimmed the quilt to 16" square.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



I considered using both gray and black binding to match the background, but then my impatience won, and I just used black. I cut 2 1/4" strips and machine stitched it on using black thread.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



I love how the quilting looks on the back of the mini quilt too.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



I'm naming my mini Hoop + Loop + Line.

Now I just wait to see if it will be accepted to be in Curated Quilts Issue 3! My linear mini quilt was in issue 1, but my log cabin mini quilt was not accepted for issue 2 (but I will have a 72" square quilt pattern in that issue!).

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



Have you subscribed to Curated Quilts yet? It's much more "art journal" than "magazine," and I am honored to be included among the many talented artists and quilters in the first two issues.

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts



This is my 50th quilt finish for 2017! Think I can get two more before the 31st to hit my unofficial 52 quilts in 52 weeks goal?? I'm sure going to try!

Minimal mini quilt for Curated Quilts




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15 comments:

  1. Love it! Thanks for sharing your process as well.

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  2. Very nice, Laura! I just saw the Curated Quilts announcement and that you were mentioned as a contributor on Instagram; very exciting. :) I have a feeling you have plans and will pull off 52 quilts for the year.

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  3. Really interesting to follow our planning process. Your mini looks great. Good luck.

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  4. This is so cool! I liked reading about the process too! Good luck with finishing 52 quilts!

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  5. If this isn't accepted, something's terribly wrong. It's a great mini quilt in its simplicity and design. And congrats on a Quilt A Week for 2017!

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  6. Love it! I'd call it "with this ring" . . . looks like a pink diamond ring!

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  7. I love the way your ideas translate to fabric. It is a cool pattern and I hope it is accepted. 50 quilts in a year is truly fantastic. I look forward to reading about many more of these projects. Good luck on being accepted into the magazine.

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  8. I really like this design, very minimal and striking!

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  9. Wow, what an awesome mini-quilt! So very graphic; I think it is a beautiful example of minimal. Thanks for sharing

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  10. What a fun little quilt. Fantastic quilting.

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  11. This is really very appealing - surely it will be included. :) How's it going on making that 52 goal? If you've been able to get sewing time, I'm sure you're making it.

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  12. I love this mini and the challenge. I think I will put these on my watch list - beginning of the year is a little booked so not committing to anything new just yet. I love the way you quilted it and it is so much fun to see the back! You are one busy quilter!

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  13. I LOVE this... and I really should do more of the curated quilts challenges, they are really amazing. I hope yours gets in the next issue!

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  14. I was wondering how you got your circles so perfect, very clever.

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  15. Great design. The quilting lines were a great addition to the overall design.

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