Miniature Antique Blues

Kari's Pieced Miniature Antique Blues Quilt created in 2009

Today I took a trip down memory lane.

Back in 2009, I was part of a Jo's Little Women's Group at Four Season Quilts (my favorite local quilt shop). 

​During our meetings, members would bring in antique quilts they found along with quilts they created inspired by their "found" quilts.

At that time, EQ6 was the current version.

I enjoyed drafting some of the quilts shared during our meetings. 

I also began experimenting with writing simple patterns for my designs.  The only software used with Electric Quilt 6 and Word. 

​I didn't charge for my patterns, but shared them with the Jo's Little Women's group.

The quilt I am sharing today is from one of those designs..

Using EQ8, I will walk you through the process of drafting the block and playing with Symmetry on the quilt worktable for a variety of quilt options.

I will also share with you my pattern (from 2009).  Just to show you that you don't need a lot of extra software to get starting writing your own patterns. 

Drafting the Miniature Antique Blues Quilt

Miniature Antique Blues 3 x 3 Block

The block was drafted at 3" x 3" with snaps set at 4 x 4.  This meant I set the snaps every 3/4 of an inch.

I colored the block using Jo's Little Women fabrics.  During the time, they were being printed by Andover. 

​In coloring the design, I tried to match the fabrics used in my finished quilt (as close as I could find).

The quilt was created using a Horizontal Layout.

The number of blocks were 6 horizontal and 8 vertical.

The size of blocks was 3" x 3".

​The only border was 1/2" mitered -- reflecting the binding in my finished quilt.

Layout Tab Set Up

Using Symmetry on the Quilt Worktable

After setting the block in the quilt (on the design tab), use Symmetry to experiment with different rotations of the block.

Each click of the mouse will automatically rotate and flip all the blocks in the quilt.

Sixteen variations are possible.

Click  Add to Sketchbook to save any variations you like.

Here were the Symmetry versions I chose to save.

Miniature Antique Blues Option 1

Miniature Antique Blues Option 2

Miniature Antique Blues Option 3

I decided on Option 3 for my pieced quilt.  Which one do you prefer?

Here is the video.

You could also create a different variation by changing the coloring of the quilt.  I look forward to seeing what you do with the block.

​Please share photos on the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Antique Blues Miniature Quilt Learning EQ Facebook Group Post

Miniature Antique Blues Pattern

The pattern is pretty basic -- but it does provide instructions for piecing the Miniature Antique Blues quilt. 

​I hope this serves as encouragement for those that want to write their own patterns.   Just get started and use software that you already know how to use. 

This pattern was never sold -- but was provided to those in a quilt group I participated in.

Here was my pieced miniature quilt.

Miniature Antique Blues by Kari Schell

Favorite Tech Know Quilter Projects

Here are some recently completed EQ8 projects from Tech Know Quilter members. 

Tech Know Quilters is a membership of Electric Quilt 8 owners who are mastering Electric Quilt through online training.  At the end of each month, they were encouraged to apply what they learned and to share a favorite quilt or picture.

If you are interested in joining Tech Know Quilters, please send me a note.

Curryanne Hostetler This is a quilt I designed for the May EQ challenge. I designed a nine patch with large center which I merged a star.

Julie Pedersen I took the Masters Miniature Quilts class. I adapted blocks from the lessons and set them in an on point quilt. One of our lessons was for a basket quilt. I modified a basket and some of our star blocks to create this bright beauty.

Mary Groesbeck got through my Facebook Mystery Quilt-Along for people who love paper-piecing and cats. The most important thing I learned was to get more "backup" files. The very last block was in a corrupt file (copying it to a back-up would not have helped). Then the technical problems started. But we got through it. Here's the final design, which was released once a week for 12 weeks. The blocks they showed me were magnificent.

Zdenka Nemethova - This one was my favourite in April Masters Miniature Quilts class.

Tech Know Quilters Masters Miniature Quilts Showcase

The class for more advanced (Masters) members in March was Miniature Quilts.  

The American Quilt Study group hosts a Biennial Quilt Study for its members. They note “It is a great way to combine the creativity of quilt making with learning about a particular quilt, its maker (if known), style, and technique.”

The selected reproduction quilts become part of a traveling exhibit hosted a museums around the country.  I went to an exhibit of Star quilts when it was in Minnesota and was completely enthralled with the miniature quilt collection along with being able to look at pictures of the original quilt to see their inspiration.
 
For this miniatures series, I decided to take their seven topics, and challenged the Masters members to draft a miniature from our selected inspiration quilt. 

​Here were some of the student projects from the series.

Helen Hicks Colonial Revival Miniature

Zdenka Nemethova Colonial Revival Miniature

Kristy Goodin Soard Copp Family Medallion Miniature

Roxanna Khoury Copp Family Medallion Miniature

Linda Carlson Mary Willsey 19th Century Blues

Edith Craig Mary Willsey 19th Century Blues

Katherine Martin 19th Century Baskets

Ann Cornett Horsley 19th Century Baskets

Terry McCaskey 200 Years of Solid Color

Fran Heisey 200 Years of Solid Color

Edith Craig Jane Stickle Civil War Triangles

Loronda Schuler Jane Stickle Civil War Triangles

Dianna Carter 19th Century Stars - Dinsmore Star

Wanda Smith Hizer 19th Century Stars - Dinsmore Star

Happy quilting.

​Kari

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