thread quilt block

Sew Mama Sew and Aurifil had a challenge to design a mini quilt with some of Aurifil’s beautiful thread and I was lucky enough to participate.

aurifil

The thread is a collection of colors put together for Aurifil by Camille Roskelley — so many pretty colors!

aurifil

I matched my thread choices with this print from Alexander Henry (crosshatch).  I love how it looks with the thread.

thread quilt block

I was inspired by the image on the box which happens to be a quilt block from Camille.  I also wanted to really show off the thread and it’s color.

thread quilt block

The finished mini is 20″ x 20″.  The white fabric is KONA white and the binding is Essex in black.  The border fabric was mitered.  I love how the line in the border continues up into the sewn square and also into the binding.

thread quilt block

So here’s how I made it::

First sew the block top together (and miter the corners).

I started with a 14.5″ square of KONA white and three strips of the Alexander Henry border fabric, each 3.5″ wide x 22″ long.

When mitering the corners of a block, take the length of the side of the block you’re bordering, the 14.5″ block, add 2x the seam width of the block bordering it.  (The result is 21.5″) Then add a little bit extra just in case.  (Now we’re up to the 22″ length.) Include seam allowances in the calculations.

On the interior fabric piece (white), mark the fabric at 1/4″ on both sides of the corners.  Do this at all four corners.

thread quilt block

For this project, I’m using a Frixion pen.  I recently learned about these from some friends on a quilting retreat.  The ink disappears with heat so I thought I would test them out on this project.

thread quilt block

Find the center of the block (on all sides) and the center of the strips.  Mark with a small line within the seam allowance.

thread quilt block

Place the border fabric on top of the center fabric (white) lining up the center marks.  Sew together with a 1/4″ seam allowance, starting and stopping 1/4″ in in from the ends.  You can use the marks you made at the corners of the center fabric as a guide.

thread quilt block

Repeat for the other sides of the block, keeping the ends of the block out of the way.

thread quilt block

When all four sides of the border have been added, you can now sew the borders together at the corners.

Begin by folding the fabric at the corners so the borders lay on top of each other and the center block is folded as well.  The center block will look like a triangle now.

thread quilt block
Using a straight edge, draw a line out from the fold of the center line.
thread quilt block
Pin the layers together so they don’t move and sew down your drawn line.
thread quilt block
Trim the extra fabric, roughly 1/4″ from the seam line.
thread quilt block
Open and press flat.  If it puckers a little, you may have over sewn into the seam allowance.  You should see which threads are causing puckers (from the wrong side) and you can simply remove them.
thread quilt block
 
Baste your quilt together and mark your sewing guides.
Next baste together your mini quilt.  I used 505 spray to baste – it’s my favorite way to baste and then I would also have no pins in the way for the next step.
Now add your quilting lines with a fabric soluble pen (or you can try the Frixion pen like I did).
I started with a simple grid and kept drawing following the design I wanted.
thread quilt block
I marked the sections I was filling in with little marks so I knew which section was colored in and what color it was.
thread quilt block
Time to play with thread.
Then I loaded up the first color!
aurifil
I quilted each section by first outlining the shape and then slowly going round and round inside to fill it up.
thread quilt block
It took a while to fill in.
Then came the fun part.
I ironed away the ink.
thread quilt block
Finishing the mini.
On the back I added hanging corners.  The hanging corners are simply squares of fabric folded in half, right sides together and stitched in place.  My binding caught them, so I didn’t have to sew them on by hand.
thread quilt block
Next I added the binding.  The Essex fabric was a bit bulky at the corners for the binding, but it worked.
thread quilt block
Thanks Aurifil and Sew Mama Sew for such a fun challenge!
8 Comments

8 Comments on Thread Block Mini Quilt

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