Sea Turtle Quilt Finish
The Sea Turtle Quilt is finished, and soon it will be on its way to my daughter. The baby shower for her friend is just a week away, so it should get there on time.
I was hoping to take it outside for some better photos, but our weather has been less than cooperative and wet, so indoor photos will have to do.
Fabrics: Aloha Sea Turtles by Josephine Kimberling for Blend Fabrics; Moda Grunge in aqua and dark blue; tan batik; Minky in aqua
Batting: Quilters Dream Cotton Select. It gives the quilt a nice weight but keeps it cuddly and soft.
Thread: Aurifil Dove, 50 wt.
Dimensions: 36″ x 40″
I kept the quilting very simple, just a wavy line stitch pattern on my machine. I was a bit nervous about quilting Minky, so keeping it simple was less stressful. Several of you gave me some great tips and encouragement for working with it, so I want to share those tips here.
- To get rid of the fuzzies after cutting, put the Minky into the dryer and tumble on No Heat for 2-3 minutes.
- When cutting Minky, use blue masking tape to mark your line and catch those fuzzies.
- Minky has a definite stretch in one direction. Quilting with the non-stretch direction is much easier and less prone to distortion.
- Minky also has a nap, so be aware of that when putting the quilt sandwich together.
- Spray basting works well, with patience. Since it cannot be ironed or pressed. I just made sure it was smoothed the best I could. It held well and didn’t shift around.
- Once the quilting was finished, I stitched around the edges of the quilt before I cut off the excess batting and Minky. It made it easier to cut the excess fabric off, and also helps when stitching on the binding.
If you have other tips for working with Minky, leave me a comment. I would enjoy hearing your experience.
Carolina Hurricane Project – Block Request
While visiting my brother and sister-in-law, I made a few blocks for the Carolina Hurricane Project. Carole of From My Carolina Home is planning to make 5 quilts and is asking for blocks. For more information and to join in and download the free block pattern, you can go here. Since the blocks don’t need to be sent in until later this month, I hope to make a few more. They are very simple, go together quickly, and use up scraps.
Fireburst Mystery Quilt
The Fireburst Mystery Quilt hosted by Tish of TishnWonderland is coming along. We are almost done! This step was a fun one to put together.
Moda Blockheads 2
The latest blocks each week have been coming in sets of 2 or 3, all finishing at 6″. The appliqué block went together easily. The little plus block has 52 pieces! Those little pluses are really cute though.
Quilt Room Organization Update
Well, no pictures of organizing to show you, but I did get some of my dresser and floor cleaned up. You’ll just have to take my word for it. While organizing, I found this little project tucked away in a drawer. About a year ago(!), I took a class with Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts making these little spools. I was one of the slowest in the class, so I think I tucked this project away out of embarrassment. Today they were calling to me, so I decided to make a few. So far I have six little spools. I’m not sure how many I will make, but I think I have enough fabric to make enough for a small lap quilt.
So, what about you? What’s been keeping you busy this week? (And don’t forget those Minky tips!)
Linking up today with
- Midweek Makers with Susan of Quilt Fabrication
- Let’s Bee Social with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts
- Wait Loss Wednesday with Jennifer at Inquiring Quilter
- Needle and Thread Thursday with Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation
Wendy
23 Comments
Sandra Healy
Thanks for sharing the minky tips, Wendy, they will be useful for any fabric that sheds alot. I made a project with yellow fake fur once and was knee deep in yellow fluff by the time I’d finished! Your little spool blocks are super cute, what size are they? x
Carole @ From My Carolina Home
Your Carolina Hurricane blocks look fantastic! Thank you for helping to spread the word.
Tracie
Thanks for the Minky tips! The baby quilt is adorable — great fabric design color.
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! I have been avoiding Minky but I sure do appreciate all the tips you shared. I think Baby Girl may just draw me into making something using it, so at some point I’ll have to jump in. Really cute finish! And I just LOVE how your Fireburst block came together. Very cool. ~smile~ Roseanne
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Your baby quilt came out cute! And sounds like you have every Minkee tip in the book! Fifty-two pieces in that plus block?!! It’s adorable. And the spool blocks. Everyone was probably feeling like you. They will make a cute lap quilt.
Vicki in MN
Glad the minky worked out ok for you:) Cute, cute, cute plus blocks, and those spools-oooh I like a lot!
catpatches
Looks like you’ve been busy in the sewing room. I’ve never sewn with Minky, but I know a lot of people like it.
Preeti Harris
The turtles are adorable. Beautiful colors. That is one lucky baby to get a darling quilt from you. Love your spool blocks. If you have a few extra, they will make excellent mug rugs for Christmas gifts. Ahem 🙂 Yes, the ground has been much too soggy. I slipped and dipped into the mud trying to take pictures in my backyard. Hope you are staying dry and safe.
Rebecca Grace
Love that baby quilt! Quick but effective gift idea that shows the cute sea turtle print off nicely, and Minky makes such a fabulous, snuggly baby quilt! Your tips are great. The only other tip is that, instead of just running a straight stitch around the edges of a Minky backed quilt before binding, I do a wide serger overcast stitch around the edge of the quilted top before binding it. That flattens out and stabilizes the area that needs to be inside the binding and prevents the Minky edge from curling on me. I usually use prepackaged satin binding on my Minky backed baby quilts, too, but that’s because I like to torment myself… 😉 No, it’s really because I love watching the babies rub satin binding on their sweet little noses!
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
The Sea Turtle quilt has such pretty colors! Perfect for a baby! Thanks for the minky tips, too – I’ve never sewn with it, but have friends who have been frustrated with it, so I’ll pass your post along to them.
inquiringquilter
That baby quilt is adorable, and so soft and yummy with the Minky on the back. You have so many projects underway, and you’re making such great progress. Thanks for sharing and inspiring us on Wednesday Wait Loss!
Jayne
Pretty pretty colors and quilt! I have never used minky and most likely never will. But I love reading about those who do and have used it. Your tips are good and I’m sure there are plenty of people who are very happy you shared them! I’m sure your daughters friend is going to love this little beauty!
Jocelyn Thurston
Hi Wendy, what a lovely piecer you are! You have some beautiful blocks there and I’m captivated by your Laundry Basket spools. Such pretty shades. Happy Stitching!
Kathleen McCormick
All these pictures just make me smile. There are so many good projects going on here – the spools, sea turtle, blockheads and on and on! You are one busy cookie and everything is just looking so great. I hope to stitch tonight after some quilt show set up!
Sandra Walker
Ha! I wish I had a ‘one year!’ (only) UFO to finish up! i can’t wait to get my studio organized and sorted and bigger and brighter. All in good time. The sea turtle quilt (perfect colour of Minky backing) turned out great! I read somewhere about using MInky as binding, now that would be extra-soft wouldn’t it?
laughinggasquilts
That sea turtle quilt is adorable, and will certainly get lots of cuddles. Thanks for the minky tips, particularly the one about sewing on the binding before trimming. I’ll have to try it the next time.
piecefulwendy
I might have worded it incorrectly (will check). I didn’t see the binding on before trimming. I sewed around the edges of the quilt before trimming. It keeps the minky from shifting when you attach the binding. 😊
somethingrosemade14
I don’t know how I missed this post, sometimes I think I spend time in the Twilight Zone and don’t realize it. I’ve been using Minky for backing lately and would you believe I did not know any of these tips although I pin baste and don’t spray even though I have several cans on my shelf. I love using Minky for backing and find that these quilts are the ones used the most. Love the colors, I need to supplement my Minky stash with some aqua and teals now.
piecefulwendy
Oh! I have some Minky strips I could send you! 😊😉
somethingrosemade14
And another thing, you’ve done a lot this week. Are my squirrels visiting you?
piecefulwendy
So that’s where they came from!!
Susan
Nice finish, and lots of pretty blocks too! Haven’t worked with Minky yet, and really have no desire, though I’m sure it makes for a super cuddly quilt.
smilesfromkate
I do like the bay quilt, gorgeous fabrics and looks so soft and cuddly. I’ve never used minky, is it the same thing as fleece? Not that I’ve used that either, yet. Thank you for the tips.