So you’ve finished all your blocks from segment 1 but now what are you going to make with them?! Well, the Partners in Design team thought we would come up with some project ideas to help you decide!
Perhaps you don’t have time to commit to making all thirteen blocks or you may not need yet another quilt, so this year we’ve decided to offer quick project suggestions so you can join in the fun without having to commit the time needed to a full size quilt.
I’m delighted to show you my quilt project ideas . . .
Mug Rug
I have a bit of a thing about mug rugs and Block 2 seemed to be crying out to become one! 12 1/2″ seemed a fraction large to me, so I trimmed 1/2″ off all the way round the block then sandwiched and bound the quilt as normal. You will need a 50″ binding strip at 2 1/2″ width to recreate the mug rug I made.
I quilted 1″ grid lines inside the central rectangle of the mug and loose swirls around the background.
I used a gorgeous, textured sage green linen for the back of the mug rug, unfortunately the colour is washed out in the photo and you cannot see the green tinge. I’m very fond of this fabric as it came from my twin sister. She doesn’t quilt (I know! Shocking! How can we be twins?) but a while ago she wanted to try and bought some fabrics. Life got in the way and she never did take up quilting so she ended up giving me the fabrics she had purchased and this lovely linen mix was one of them.
Wall Hanging
Here is my wall hanging, waiting patiently to be quilted. My poor ninety year old mother-in-law fell and dislocated her hip so we had an unexpected trip to Sligo and I haven’t caught up with my quilting yet.
I used the remains of a Stof Fabrics panel from their ‘Hand Made with Love‘ collection to complete this quilt. (I used the rest of the panel on my sewing mat project from Sherri Noel’s ‘Text It!’ book.) While the panel is no longer listed on the Stof website, there are still a few on the market websites if you want to get your hands on one!
I added a 1/2″ inner border in a deep red around the sewing machine block then I cut out a choppy, scrappy border incorporating the panel pieces. This was more time consuming than I expected as the different motifs were not of a standard size and some were not printed completely straight on the fabric!
The side borders are 5″ wide (not including seam allowances). The top and bottom are 4 1/2″ wide (without seam allowances).
I love all the little details in the panel pieces and I’m looking forward to completing the wall hanging. When this quilt is finished I’m going to hang it in my studio, right above my sewing table!
Table Topper
My final project idea is a table topper. I really like how these blocks look together as they all have a lot of fine detail so I think they complement each other well.
I added 1/2″ wide sashing in a blue grey blender print which separated out the blocks without competing with them! At 39″, the final size of the table runner is just perfect for my dresser top! The quilt was bound with a 1/2″ binding (a 2 1/2″ by 109″ binding strip) which picked up the navy and teal colours in the blocks themselves.
I kept the quilting really simple with stitch-in-the-ditch quilting in all three blocks as I wanted the block designs to take centre stage. I outline quilted around the numbers in the Ruler block.
My daughter loves the butterflies on this quilt and took this photo, I was quite impressed!
I added a ghostly chimney and some smoke to my quilter’s cottage! If I was doing this again, I think I would applique on the chimney and just stitch in the smoke.
I’d love to know what you intend to do with your blocks, will you make small projects or are you planning to make the full quilt? Which of the small project ideas is your favourite? As a designer, I love to hear your thoughts on these things so I can design more of what you want!
Hosts
The following Segment 1 hosts also have project ideas for quick makes:
Abbie @Sparkle On
Jennifer @the Inquiring Quilting
Karen @Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Kathleen @Kathleen McMusing
Sandy @SandyStar Designs
The rest of the ‘Partners in Design’ team have done Segment 1 wrap-up posts:
April @JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca @Pretty Piney Quilts
Bobbi @Snowy Days Quilting
Sherry @Powered by Quilting
Linky Party
All the details of the giveaway are available on my introductory post.
If you’d like to enter the giveaway through the linky party, upload your photos to the linky below!
I love your projects and they are all so much fun. I especially love the table topper and look forward to seeing how you finish the machine. The border is looking terrific (and I could see how much work). Hope your MIL is doing better. Fun to know you have a twin – I don’t think I ever caught that before!
Thanks, Kathleen, for your kind words. My MIL is doing really well and is due to get the cast of her leg in a couple of weeks. My twin lives in London so I don’t get to see her as much as I would like.
Great ideas…thanks!
I’m delighted you find the ideas helpful!
I love seeing all the different small projects! Yours turned out great!
Thank you! Small projects are much more my thing. I’ve only made one full-size quilt in my life. If it’s too involved, I tend to get bored of the project before it’s finished, especially if the block pattern is repeated. I need a new quilt for my sofa though so I might be inspired to tackle something big again!
Sandra, I’m so impressed with your projects and your quilting. The chimney is a brilliant idea 🙂 Your sewing machine block is a perfect wall hanging.
I wish your mother in law a fast recovery
Thanks, Abbie, for your lovely words. Fortunately, my MIL is doing recovering really well.
Sandra, love ALL your projects. The butterfly really makes your table topper super special. Haven’t decided yet on a quilt top or projects yet. I’m waiting till segment two is done to decide.
Thank you, Kathy! Segment 2 is going to be loads of fun, there’s some great designs waiting to be released!