Quilts and Home Decor, Tutorials, Uncategorized

Tutorial: Planetary Mini Quilt

Thank you so much to Jennifer from Ellison Lane Quilts for having me guest post on her blog! This post is part of the Modern Mini Challenge! Jennifer has really organized an outstanding event, with lots of guest posts to show you some inspiration mini quilts. If you have made a mini quilt for the challenge, don’t forget to go back to her blog on March 5th to enter! There are some *phenomenal* prizes to be had!!

I really enjoyed making this mini quilt. The background fabric is Alexander Henry Light Bright in black (which I have had for over 5 years and was super-excited to finally use), and the Kona solids are turquoise, chartreuse, and purple. While I was piecing the blocks, I thought maybe the background might be a bit overpowering for the solids, but as I finished, I was really happy with the choice. This mini will go up as a wall hanging.

I was also able to use Aurifil Threads for the first time. I received some Aurifil Threads in the fall right before we moved, but I still have 3 sewing boxes packed up, so I’m not sure where my threads are. My friend Kim, because she knows everything that I need, sent me some thread colors that I needed, including pink and this blue wool Aurifil thread that I used to quilt my mini. The Aurifil threads are just so smooth…the blue was a perfect color match, and the wool was so nice and thick. Just love it. Must get more Aurifil!!

Today’s tutorial for the Planetary Mini Quilt can be made using an Accuquilt GO! fabric cutting machine, or the templates attached here.

ALL SEAMS WILL BE SEWN USING A 1/4″ SEAM ALLOWANCE.
PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE BEGINNING.

Finished size: 28″ x 28″
 

SUPPLIES


– 1-1/4 yards background fabric
– 1/3 yard each of 3 different main fabrics
– 1/4 yard Pellon #725 Wonder Under
– 1 yard fabric for backing
– 1 yard quilt batting (I used Pellon #TP971F Fusible Thermolam Plus)
– coordinating thread


STEP 1 ~ CUT OUT YOUR FABRICS


1a. Cut your background fabric into 8 strips along the width of the fabric, with each strip measuring 4.5″. Cut the strips again into 4.5″ x 4.5″ squares. You will need 64 squares.


1b. Cut the remainder of the background fabric into 1 strip along the width of the fabric, measuring 4.5″. Cut the strip again into 4.5″ x 4.5″ squares (keep these separate from Step 1a.). You will need 8 squares.


1c. Cut each of your main fabrics into strips along the width of the fabric, with each strip measuring 3.5″. Cut 3 strips each fabric. You will need 22 squares of each of the 3 fabrics.


1d. Cut your Pellon Wonder Under into 4.5″ strips, then again into 4.5″ x 4.5″ squares. You will need 64 squares.

1e. Either using an Accuquilt 3.5″ Drunkard’s Path die or the printable pattern pieces, cut your fabric according to the following:
– Fabric from Step 1c.: Use your pie-shaped die or Pattern Piece B, to cut Main Pieces.           – Fabric from Step 1a.: Use the large-shaped die or Pattern Piece A, to cut Large Background Pieces.     
– Fabric from Step 1b and 1d.: Use Pattern Piece C (if you have an Accuquilt, you will still use Pattern Piece C), to cut Small Background Pieces. You will be able to cut 2 from each




STEP 2 ~ PIECE THE CURVED BLOCKS

2a. Take 1 Large Background Piece and 1 Main Piece. Sew them right sides together. To do this, pin the start, finish, and end of the small curved piece. Also place 2 additional pins, as shown in the picture (I used 5 pins total).


2b. Sew along the curved edge. Be sure to ease and smooth the fabrics as you sew, to avoid puckers or bunching.



2c. Press the seam toward the background fabric.


2d. Repeat Steps 2a. through 2c. to assemble 64 units.




STEP 3 ~ ASSEMBLE THE BLOCKS

3a. Sew together same-fabric blocks in groups of 2. For example, I sewed my purple block to another purple block, etc. Make sure to line up the seams. Repeat until all the blocks have been joined in pairs.


3b. Fuse your Pellon Wonder Under pieces to the wrong side of each fabric piece C, following manufacturer instructions.


3c. Choose 16 of your joined blocks. I divided mine up between my 3 main fabrics. Take 1 of these blocks, and center your fabric piece C in the middle of the main fabric; raw edges should be even. Remove the paper backing from the Wonder Under and fuse.

3d. Stitch your fabric C down to the block using a tight zig-zag or a blanket stitch. Repeat for all 16 joined blocks.


3e. Now lay out your blocks. You will match 1 applique unit with 1 solid unit, to create 4-square units. There will be 4 rows across and 4 columns down.




STEP 4 ~ QUILT AND BIND

4a. Quilt your mini using coordinating thread. I quilted 1/2″ away from each of the curved edges.


Since my mini quilt will be a wall hanging, I used a beautiful blue Aurifil Thread.


4b. Bind.


Congratulations, you’re finished!! 



Thanks for following along! Don’t forget to check my tutorial page for other free sewing patterns, including several bags! You can also join my Flickr Group for help with any of my projects!

As seen on CraftGossip.com

Related Posts

22 thoughts on “Tutorial: Planetary Mini Quilt

  1. Carla says:

    Wow! Very graphic and it looks so awesome! Thanks for the tutorial!

  2. Katy Cameron says:

    Ooh, love all the circles and part circles etc, thanks for the tute too :o)

  3. What a cool idea to applique half-circles on top! Looks very planetary. 🙂

  4. Sallie says:

    What a cool quilt!

  5. beaquilter says:

    what a cool quilt and it’s easy once you read it…..

  6. VickiT says:

    What a great looking mini quilt. LOVE the color combination too. Of course, my absolute favorite two colors to use together are purple and blue so it’s no surprise to me your quilt would catch my eye very quickly.

  7. Such a cool quilt Sara! I love it. Thanks for doing a tutorial too. Sending people your way tomorrow. 🙂

  8. Kim says:

    Sara, I LOVE your use of COLOR!!!!!! That would be fab in a bigger quilt too!!!!

  9. I love this, Sara! Great job!

  10. Jennie P. says:

    I love the colors! So bright and very “planetary” looking. Awesome!

  11. Great job! Thanks for the tutorial.

  12. Courtney says:

    Wow, that design is so cool & I love your color palette!

  13. danih03 says:

    Great Mini! It for sure reminded me of planets! I have a question. I had to piece a half circle for my mini design. Never did this.it was total guesswork. I cut the inner and outer circle pieces at the same time( placed one on top of another making them the same size. It didn’t work. it wouldn’t lie flat. Ripped it out and started again, this time, making the half circle 1/4 bigger all the way around than the other piece. It seemed to work. Is this the correct way? I hope this makes sense.

  14. Helen L says:

    Love your quilt!! It does look like the planets in the sky!! Beautiful job!! 🙂

  15. felicity says:

    Wow! That is a stunning quilt! Love it!

  16. Kersten says:

    very appropriately named and great tut!

  17. What a great idea for a mini quilt! Beautiful!

  18. Anonymous says:

    Just saw this quilt on “Favequilts”. Love it!! Thanks for sharing your tut and photos.

Comments make my day and I love to reply!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.