May Flower: Mini Quilt #21

May 28, 2015

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.

May Flower front view

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.

May Flower back view

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.

May Flower front detail

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.

May Flower back detail

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

Quilt 21 / 50

Quilt 21 / 50

Goal #7 is Finished!

Goal #7 is Finished!

 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

  • Reply
    Kamila@ Work-With-Patches
    May 28, 2015 at 5:40 am

    Great mini quilt 🙂 ! I love your two colors quilting 🙂
    Greetings from Poland
    Kamila

  • Reply
    Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl
    May 28, 2015 at 9:36 am

    I 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!

  • Reply
    Rochelle
    May 28, 2015 at 12:09 pm

    This 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.

  • Reply
    Nicole
    May 28, 2015 at 12:16 pm

    Lovely! I especially like the overlay of the yellow thread in the background.

  • Reply
    Carla
    May 28, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    It 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!

  • Reply
    Kate Yates
    May 29, 2015 at 7:58 pm

    This 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

  • Reply
    Barb N
    June 2, 2015 at 8:42 am

    I love how your improvisational creativity resulted in such a great piece – awesome!

  • Reply
    Crafty Ashley B
    June 4, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    Very cute mini! Love that quilting!

  • Reply
    Mini Quilt Mania 2015 | The (not so) Dramatic Life
    June 27, 2015 at 8:38 pm

    […] May Flower: Mini Quilt #21 […]

  • Reply
    Kirsten
    July 10, 2015 at 4:23 am

    This is really beautiful and your quilting is just amazing!
    *Visiting as a member of the official 2015 Finish-Along cheerleading squad.*

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