Very cool. Nothing like a quickie. I've used that blue fabric around the bottom-right square in several projects.

Oh, I love that one too, Jean! It's actually going to be the backing for the big quilt.

This mini-quilt was made with the left over fabrics from the big quilt, which means the fabrics I didn't use as much in it. I didn't use all the blue circles because I knew it would be the backing and I didn't want to overuse it. Some of the others didn't get used because they're just not my favorites of the bunch. So the mini-quilt is by no means my favorite fabrics or favorite combinations, but it's what I had. And still, I think it's cute as a button!

Good lesson! My very first thought, though, is that this will make just an excellent matching dolly quilt for wee one's dolls/stuffed animals.

That's a great idea, Nancy! I was thinking of hanging it in my little teeny sewing area (anything bigger would never fit!), but it would be so cute as a dolly blanket. Maybe I can make myself something I like even more to hang in my sewing area.

If I had the time or the space, I'd totally run out and sign up for a quilting class. You're so inspiring!

I hope the pics help some of you thinking about quilting to give it a try. I was imagining it to be mega-fiddly with sewing together a bazillion little tiny squares, but all these strip-piecing and chain-piecing techniques really make it manageable and fun! Give it a try!

If you want more fabric, please let me know. I love seeing all of this worked up, but I don't think I will get to the point of actually doing any quilting myself.

I love your quilts! I was thinking of trying the one in Bend the Rules. I made a quilt top about 8 years ago but failed miserably when I tried to machine quilt it. :( You have inspired me to try again. Thanks.

Awesome! I need to try that chain-piecing technique. I have a quilt I'm planning... I did one square, but sewed then ironed each seam one after the other. It took forever! (Plus it came out the wrong size, but that's another matter.)

That is adorable - I love it, and I love that measuring tape material. I didn't know you had a Bernina - which one? How do you like it?
I'm eyeing an Activa 230QE for my "evil" sewing and quilting (hopefully shortly) purposes....

I started quilting heavily (hehe, like drinking, get it?) when I was 16. I love chain and machine piecing, but I always hand quilt. You're stirring up the old juices... I have a fabric stash bigger than my yarn stash, I think. No time though, I have 34 days before my wedding and nothing is ready (we just moved it up two months because of the Army)!

When I was little my dad always said, 'Open the door and see all the monkeys!' Instead of people. It was always good for getting a 2-6 year old howling with laugher. Aww, memories.

All this quilting on your blog is very inspiring. Makes me want to drag out the sewing machine and make quilts.

I was wondering if you have a quilting attachment on your sewing machine (the bluish surface that the fabric rests on), or is that just your machine?

Look at you go! Hopefully I'll be able to sew some cool things out of the LMQG book soon :)

So nice to see you having fun with quilting! Piecing is fun, but the machine quilting is my favorite part. Enjoy!

Melina, the blue thing is just a teeny plastic surface that you can slide on so the fabric can rest on it. The sewing machine itself is only about an inch wider on each side than the needle plate. This is the "table" that came with the machine and it makes it a little easier on the hands since you don't have to be holding the fabric right before it goes up to the needle. But it's not a special quilting attachment or anything. I should probably buy a bigger one. I did go buy some special presser feet for quilting though, as my machine is just a basic Bernina for general sewing. The QE version of the newer Activas will have things like that included. (Amanda, my machine is an Activa 125 and I LOVE it - Bernina goooooooood).

So glad to hear you love the quilting, Jen. I am really looking forward to trying it out tonight! :)

Ooooo--I love that brown and orange border fabric.

Nice fabrics you chose! Fine! And with the brown border the mini looks great.
My actual quilt today lies under a longarm - quilting - machine ;-).
I�m curious about your next, the quilt- step ...
Jana

Wow! You're quilting is coming along nicely...I am just starting to take it up on a smaller level since the guilt of having a nice sewing machine and not using it was working on me....So I started to share my time between my love of yarn and love of sewing! Thanks for the inspiration!

That's very cute! I started quilting 22 years ago and have taken a couple of 2-year breaks in that time, and took a 3-year dive in knitting, but I'm now back as of last year. Quilting AND knitting, quilting and knitting. Just yesterday a friend and I (both empty-nesters) spend the day sewing/quilting together. It was so FUN, just like it was the first day.