quilting

Ring of Fire Mini Quilt

August 25, 2021

I had so much fun making this Ring of Fire mini quilt. It was another of those projects where everything else gets pushed aside and this one comes out to play, so I’ll be linking this to Sandra’s (mmmQuilts) DrEAMi linky party in a few days. I’ve had more than a few this month! 

It all started with the arrival of this fun book, Scrappy Improv Quilting by Kelly Young of My Quilt Infatuation. The book just released this week, and if you enjoy small projects and want to learn a little improv, you need to grab yourself a copy. You can order it online or buy it directly from My Quilt Infatuation’s Etsy Shop. 

Paging through the book, I found a pattern that made me think of another blogging friend, Barbara of Cat Patches, who has an amazing crop of sunflowers this year. Her favorite is the Ring of Fire, and you can see it along with many of her other beautiful flowers in this post. 

I remembered that earlier this year I had purchased a pretty red/orange gradient from Vicki Welsh, and I knew what I wanted to do. Wilbs was happy to help with a little sneak peek, but let’s see the full mini quilt, shall we? This is my Ring of Fire mini quilt, my version of the Face the Sun pattern in Scrappy Improv Quilting. 

Ring of Fire, my version of Face the Sun, a pattern from Scrappy Improv Quilts by Kelly Young - piecefulthoughts.com

I had to take a glam shot on my deck with my rooster and my overgrown greens. Looks right at home, doesn’t it? 

Ring of Fire, my version of Face the Sun, pattern from Scrappy Improv Quilting by Kelly Young - piecefulthoughts.com

I wanted to see if I could create a Ring of Fire sunflower using the gradient fabric from Vicky Welsh. The center of the flower is another fabric from my stash, but the rest of the sunflower is the gradient fabric. All the greens in the background are from my scrap bin! 

If you are interested in improv, this is an easy way to start. Kelly takes you through the process of creating the improv units in clear, easy steps. 

Detail shot of my Ring of Fire Mini Quilt using the Face the Sun pattern from Scrappy Improv Quilting by Kelly Young - piecefulthoughts.com

Once the top was finished, I added batting and backing (and forgot to take a photo). I decided to use wavy organic lines on the diagonal using my walking foot and Aurifil 40wt thread in Cinnamon Toast (#2390). The mini quilt finishes at 18″ square. 

This little Ring of Fire mini quilt was so much fun to make. Thanks to Barbara for the inspiration from her beautiful flowers, and thank you, Kelly, for another great book! 

Linking up with: 

Wendy

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28 Comments

  • Helen
    August 25, 2021 at 7:47 am Reply

    I love this one. The sunflower is such a happy flower, don’t you think? As I look closer, I like the green background as much as the flower itself.

  • Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
    August 25, 2021 at 8:29 am Reply

    Wendy, that is gorgeous! You should be in the book launch blog hop – it doesn’t even start until September! (You might have already guessed I’m making Botanics. Top is done, getting it ready to quilt!) I love the way you used the orange gradient fabric for the flower, and all the improv in the greens. Perfect name for it, too – I’ve seen those sunflowers on Barbara’s blog. Great finish!

  • Cindy Berry
    August 25, 2021 at 9:00 am Reply

    That is just radiant! Oh I want to make one too! Look forward to seeing this book on a blog hop – will you be posting a link to get to it? Have a great Wednesday!

  • Rochelle Summers
    August 25, 2021 at 9:45 am Reply

    What a beautiful quilt and the photography is stunning. I love the oranges and the green background using your scraps really sets it off. And Wilbs’ tail fits right in, too. Congratulations.

  • texasquiltgal
    August 25, 2021 at 10:33 am Reply

    You made a beautiful sunflower! That shot with the rooster and greens is money shot #2 (Wilbs’ tail = money shot #1). I love the organic wavies for quilting and that gradient fabric is gorgeous.

  • Sandra Walker
    August 25, 2021 at 7:52 pm Reply

    What a terrific quilt Wendy and no surprise that you absolutely nailed it! I am part of Kelly’s blog hop making the hot air balloon quilt and I can’t wait to get going on it as well as just about every other quilt in the book! Vicki’s fabric worked so well in this and yay for yet another Drop Everything And Make it!

  • TextileRanger
    August 25, 2021 at 8:59 pm Reply

    It is awesome!
    Did you have any trouble using the improv fabric for your half square triangles? It certainly doesn’t look like you did, but I am just wondering about all the extra seam lines meeting, making it more bulky, etc. I think I would have issues. 🙂

  • Quilting is in my Blood
    August 26, 2021 at 6:55 am Reply

    What a great mini quilt. I love the variation and texture added from the green improv units. I also have a lovely crop of sunflowers this year. They make me happy with their somewhat wild and carefree spirit.

  • Louise Hornor
    August 26, 2021 at 8:08 pm Reply

    What a wonderful sunflower! I love the scrappy background, like a riot of greenery in the garden 🙂

  • scottishmichelle
    August 27, 2021 at 4:40 am Reply

    Love the quilt, love the wavy line quilting, love the book – another thing that Sandra W ‘forced’ me to buy! Not made anything from the book – although I have just completed one from Kelly’s first book. Sigh – always behind. Top of my llama block is made – you were right they take on their own character – I can see a few more being made. Sorry back to the book and the quilt. Love that they are all quite small and I think the varigated (sp?) fabric is perfect for the sunflower.

  • Velda
    August 27, 2021 at 5:38 am Reply

    Wow that’s a beautiful Ring Of Fire. I am starting to think Improv may have a place in my quilting studio.

  • rl2b2017
    August 27, 2021 at 4:07 pm Reply

    WOWEE, Wendy!!! This is just gorgeous. Those fabrics!!! Can you say perfect for this project. Perfect! Look at that cute little tail . . . aww, Wilbs, I love you! {{Hugs}} Great job. ~smile~ Roseanne

  • JanineMarie
    August 28, 2021 at 2:54 pm Reply

    What a neat use for a gradient fabric! This is lovely, and a great quilt to make for this time of year. I like that it is a combination of improv and structured piecing. Or is that flower really improv pieced? Cinnamon Toast? Really? Did it make you want to take a break for a yummy snack?

  • karenfae
    September 2, 2021 at 6:48 am Reply

    I like that! I had put in for the book giveaway on Instagram and cover was shown and I thought that pattern was the one I would like the best. I like it done in orange

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