I am not generally someone who sews from a place of deep thoughts and feelings. I greatly admire the work of those who do, but in my own sewing I tend to focus on color and graphic impact and overall design. So when I started this mini quilt, it was simply going to be my answer to a challenge put for by the Houston MQG to make a black and white (with one accent color) improv-pieced mini quilt. But as I stitched, I found myself feeling motivated, and anxious, and uncomfortable, and reflective, and suddenly I realized this felt like a lot more than “just” a challenge quilt.
There’s a lot poured into this mini that will always remind me of spring 2020. It’s about my 100 day project, and life in the time of covid-19, and the scourge of systemic racism, and reading Lord of the Rings for the first time in 20 years, and trying to do the right thing even when the right thing feels hard or hopeless.
“Farewell Gandalf!” he cried. “Did I not say to you: if you pass the doors of Moria, beware? Alas that I spoke true! What hope have we without you?”
He turned to the Company. “We must do without hope,” he said. “At least we may yet be avenged. Let us gird ourselves and weep no more! Come! We have a long road, and much to do.”
The details:
I made 6 individually pieced and quilted 4″ x 6″ blocks — just like my fabric postcards, but with a fabric backing and no heavy interfacing. I researched several methods for combining this type of quilt-as-you-go blocks, but was ultimately inspired by what I saw Laura Loewen do with a recent project. My blocks are simply butted against each other and stitched together with a tight zig zag stitch. The edges of the mini quilt are finished in the same way, with a zig zag stitch, instead of binding. This construction method was quick, easy, and a great nod to how I finish the edges on each of my postcards.
- Quilt measures 12″ x 12″.
- Fabrics are black, white, and gold solids from my stash. I think the black and white are both Moda Bella (bits that were left over from my guild’s charity quilt). The gold is a shot cotton that was in a small sample pack of fabric I got at QuiltCon or Quilt Festival.
- Backing is white solid.
- Machine quilted with a walking foot using Aurifil 50 wt (white) and 28 wt (gold) thread.
- Finished with Aurifil 50 wt (black) thread to stitch blocks together and finish the edges.
I really like that you chose to zig-zag stitch the pieces together and finish the edges. Those choices really tie it in with your 100 Day project a lot. It would have been harder to see the individual panels had you chosen another method, I think. Much to do indeed. 2020 is going to be a very memorable year.
I don’t know why I didn’t think of it from the start!
An interesting way to attack the challenge that really reflects your recent work!
Thanks Debbie!
This is beautiful. I’d be proud to hang this as art. Perhaps I’ll get up the gumption to try a mini quilt!
Mini quilts are great! Such a fun way to try techniques or designs on a smaller scale without the commitment of a large piece.