This mini quilt is one of the most fun I have ever done! May Flower is my first attempt at a quilt which is pieced entirely using bias improvisation. The light teal center of each petal was cut free hand with the intention that they would each be different. Then strips of bias were added around the shape until it became large enough to cut a 45 degree wedge from each segment. When assembled, this also created my first quilt that finishes as an octagon.
For the quilting of this piece, I used a walking foot to echo quilt each petal in teal Wonderfil thread. Then I free motion quilted the center of each petal with a feather motif, and switched to a variegated thread for the pebble quilting surrounding the design.
For the center of the flower I made yellow and yellow-orange yo-yos with glass beads in the center to catch the light. Since the petals of the flower are placed in a somewhat random manner, I also placed the center pieces randomly.
I had not yet attempted binding corners that are not 90 degree angles, so this was a first. I was pleasantly surprised that it was not as difficult to do as I feared. As I approached each corner, I would check that if I were to pivot at that point the edge of my piecing foot would line up properly with the next edge. If it did, I would lock in the stitching and turn the bias just like I would on a corner with a right angle.
Quilt Stats
Title: May Flower
Size: 15″x15″
Techniques: Bias Improvisational Piecing, fabric yo-yos with beading
Quilting: Echo quilting using a walking foot on a Bernina 1008, Free motion quilting feathers and pebbles.
Fabric: Assorted cotton low volume, teal and yellow prints
Batting: Warm and White cotton batting
Thread: Wonderfil 50wt cotton quilting thread in teal and variegated yellow-orange
Binding: Teal cotton matching the exterior petal color, cut on the bias in 2″ wide strips, machine stitched to the front of the quilt, hand stitched to the back
What was new?
Octagonal quilt shape
An entire quilt using bias improvisational piecing
I am linking this post up with Mini Quilt Monday at Modern Cozy and Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts. Please stop in to see all of the wonderful quilts being made!
10 Comments
Kamila@ Work-With-Patches
May 28, 2015 at 5:40 amGreat mini quilt 🙂 ! I love your two colors quilting 🙂
Greetings from Poland
Kamila
Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl
May 28, 2015 at 9:36 amI really like how the center yo-yos are randomly placed. My eye was immediately drawn to them and it took me longer to see the organic shapes of the petals!
Rochelle
May 28, 2015 at 12:09 pmThis is a beautiful little quilt with a lot of detail. I love the description of how you made it and quilted it. I really like that you are challenging yourself to do one a week. I need to challenge myself more.
Nicole
May 28, 2015 at 12:16 pmLovely! I especially like the overlay of the yellow thread in the background.
Carla
May 28, 2015 at 10:00 pmIt makes me think of wattle (acacia), if I interpret the petals as leaves and the yellow centres as the flowers. I love it, and it looks like fun to make.
Binding other shapes is the same as squares, really, isn’t it!
Kate Yates
May 29, 2015 at 7:58 pmThis is fantastic! I really like the different petals, and how the quilting looks on the back! I will have to try an octagon quilt sometime
Barb N
June 2, 2015 at 8:42 amI love how your improvisational creativity resulted in such a great piece – awesome!
Crafty Ashley B
June 4, 2015 at 2:28 pmVery cute mini! Love that quilting!
Mini Quilt Mania 2015 | The (not so) Dramatic Life
June 27, 2015 at 8:38 pm[…] May Flower: Mini Quilt #21 […]
Kirsten
July 10, 2015 at 4:23 amThis is really beautiful and your quilting is just amazing!
*Visiting as a member of the official 2015 Finish-Along cheerleading squad.*