The fun of Mini Quilts – Series - Introduction
Designer: Daisi Toegel
Instagram: @daisitoegel
Website: www.flowersew.com
Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/daisiflowersew
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Mini quilts are a modern way of decorating, either it be your home or your office. They can be an actual modern design or simply traditional. The joy of having these mini arts around starts by choosing the pattern, making it, and after displaying it keeps on giving every time someone comments about how happy, bright and inspiring a mini quilt is.
In this introduction post, I will show you some of my mini quilts that cover the walls in every room of my house! But make no mistake, I don’t limit them to the walls, I use my minis literally everywhere!
Sizes
Mini quilts can go from very small to large sizes, and to characterize it under the mini quilt section it must be under 30 inches square, or a total perimeter of 120 inches, at least this is the most common rule of thumb.
Square is the most often used shape but rectangle, circle and on point blocks (diagonal) are other commonly used shapes to mention as non-traditional. In the case of a non-traditional mini quilt, it’s important to keep the total perimeter under 120 inches.
In the picture above you can see the 5 designs for the “Tile Series” I released in 2022. These are examples of traditional square blocks.
I generally make mini quilts that range from 8 to 24 inches square, but they can change shape and I try keeping it at a total perimeter of 100 inches. In the pictures below, you can see my dining room décor, I absolutely love filling the walls with all these colors and shapes!
Techniques
Making a mini quilt is no different than making a regular quilt, except for the size. The work sometimes can take even longer depending on the technique used to construct the block or quilting.
I love adding extra love to the mini quilts I make, as an example, I like adding a little hand quilting or making a matching binding.
The techniques are endless, and by being small it allows much more freedom to create details. The use of different and sometimes even uncommon materials adds an exquisite touch to the art piece, but most often I make traditional pieced blocks.
In the photos below I used curved piecing blocks and heavy hand quilting techniques. I played with the binding to make it scrappy but matching the colors of the quilt top. This mini quilt makes a great addition to my living room décor.
Care
Cleaning and washing mini quilts will depend on the technique used, different from a regular quilt that should always be able to be washed, a mini quilt sometimes can be a spot-clean only type of art.
The mini quilt below is a “3D Flowers” technique I taught on my blog and it’s perfect for any size mini. This technique is a good example of what a spot-clean only type of mini quilt is.
Other than the technique, it will also depend on how and where you display the mini.
Most of my minis are displayed on the wall held by push pins. I find it easier to put them up like this because I basically have a mini per week fresh out of my machine. I enjoy making them so much, I needed to find a quick and easy way to hang them up so push pins it is! Since they’re displayed on the wall and can get dusty and accumulate cat hair (I have 3 fuzzy angels!) I throw my minis in the washer every other month: delicate mode and low tumble dry then good as new and back to the walls.
Other uses
I like making mini quilts to use as table centerpieces, or to ornament counters and furniture. It will all depend on your style and creativity.
Mini quilts make great gifts to anyone, especially to quilters! Who wouldn’t love to combine the things they love with such fascinating art as a mini quilt!?
Stay tuned!
In this series I will share with you 3 different mini quilts using 3 techniques: simple and traditional, curved piecing, and foundation paper piecing. You don’t want to miss these! Stay tuned to OLFA Blog! See you soon!
Created by Daisi Toegel