Marvelous Minis with Island Batik!

/ quiltinggail

Here is what Island Batik told us: “A Miniature Quilt is a wonderful way to explore a piecing or quilting technique or make a pattern without a huge investment in time and fabric. They are defined as small versions of full sized quilts and range in size between 12 to 24 inches on a side to being no larger than 24 inches square.”

Earlier this year, the Boundary Bay Quilters Guild had Candyce Grisham as a speaker. It was interesting to look at dresden plates in a different light.

Then, at a guild retreat in March, two of the ladies had the book “Dresden Quilt Blocks Reimagined.” Within a very short period of time there were a zillion different dresden plates being made all over the retreat. It was definitely contagious!

This book has great directions to make all sorts of different dresdens … all different sizes, stratas, pointed, curved, notched … with lots of different suggestions for quilts and wall hangings!

The following pictures are from the retreat. SEW much dresden fun!

Fast forward to July, and a few of us got together on a sunny day and made Dresden plates … missing is the host, Linda (she took the picture) and a LOT of the Dresden plates were not shown on the design wall.

I decided to make Dresdens for my August Marvelous Mini Island Batik project. It was a new-to-me technique and a perfect time to experiment with a variety of Island Batik fabrics.

After making a bunch of Dresdens:

  • top left: I laid them out, cut out the centres
  • top right: Extra fabric was removed, then the Dresdens were glued them all in place
  • a picture of the cut-outs
  • the final layout before quilting.

The colourful fabric in the bottom left picture is “Jellybean” and the binding is Bubbles-Periwinkle-B. The rest of the fabrics are scraps left over from various projects or from stash builder bundles.

Quilt Stats:

  • Size: 24″ x 24″
  • Hobbs Batting: Thermore
  • Dresden’s made on a Singer Featherweight, Quilting and Binding done on a Janome M7

Aurifil Thread  used are:

  • 2600 Dove (piecing and quilting)
  • 4225 Eggplant (quilting)
  • 2515 Light Orchid (quilting)
  • 2610 Light Blue Grey (attaching binding)

I don’t have pictures, but I did use a Schmetz needle on my featherweight. Also, I used my Prairie Spirit Alpaca Alpaca/Wool pressing mat after gluing the Dresdens in place! The mat assisted the glue to dry and the Dresdens were lovely and flat and ready for quilting.

We went Redwood Park, to the Fairy forest. This park is here in Surrey and the Fairy Forest is in the park. It’s pretty cool. There are hundreds of birdhouses … all shapes, sizes, colours … and every time we go, there are more and more birdhouses! People just bring them and set them in the forest! It was the perfect location for a photo shoot of my whimsical mini quilt!

Thank you!

Disclosure: The fabrics, batting, thread and needles were generously supplied by the following companies: Thank you, Island Batik  Aurifil Thread  Hobbs Batting  Schmetz Needles and Prairie Spirit Alpacas !!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

20 thoughts on “Marvelous Minis with Island Batik!”

  5. This is beautiful, Gail! What a great variety of Dresden plates–I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many different variations. And that garden looks fantastic! A perfect place for a photo shoot!

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  7. Great job, Gail. I really like how your mini turned out. I also like the plate that looks like it has cogs. Very cool and different look altogether.

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