Strutt Mini Quilting: 35 modern projects

Quick-to-make hand- and machine-sewing designs to use up fabric from your stash
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-80065-439-6
Verlag: CICO Books
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 128 Seiten

Discover the flourishing craft of QUILTING with these 35 BEAUTIFUL and INNOVATIVE mini projects that are an ECO-FRIENDLY way to use up scraps of fabric. Designed by expert crafter LAURA STRUTT, this collection is packed with STUNNING homewares, bags, wall hangings, gifts for kids and more. As well as being quick and fun to sew, these mini quilting projects are the perfect way to try out different techniques. They're ideal for beginners as well as experienced quilters who are looking for new ideas. Start out with extra-small makes, perfect for sewing swaps, from a beautiful gadget sleeve to a cute bookmark and a pen holder. For your home, sew a lightning bolt wall hanging, a striking lampshade and a plant-pot cover. Learn how to make stylish bags and purses including a box pouch, a mini wallet and an on-the-go sewing bag. There's also a chapter of adorable gifts for kids, such as an appliqué baby book and a dinosaur taggie quilt. The projects introduce you to a wide range of techniques including hand- and machine-piecing. There's also a guide to fabrics and tools, as well as step-by-step instructions for all the skills you'll need.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Strutt, Laura

Leseproben

chapter 1

extra-mini makes

lanyard and key fob

Whether you use it for holding a work pass or an entry ticket to a quilt expo, this colorful lanyard will help you stand out from the crowd. Plus, you can use the same method to create a matching key fob with a handy loop that makes it easy to find in your bag or purse.

FABRIC AND MATERIALS

Cotton fabric scraps in a selection of prints, each minimum size 3 × 18in (7.5 × 46cm)

Medium-weight non-woven fusible interlining, Vlieseline H250, 3 × 46in (7.5 × 117cm)

Coordinating thread

KAM snap or snap fastening, ½in (1.2cm) wide

Lanyard hardware, 13/16in (3cm) wide

Key fob hardware, 1in (2.5cm) wide

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Basic quilting kit (see page 6)

KAM snap tool

Pliers for affixing key fob hardware

Tailor’s awl (optional, see tips)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Lanyard: 1in (2.5cm) wide × 17in (43cm) long (excluding hardware)

Key fob: 1in (2.5cm) wide × 5in (12.5cm) long (excluding hardware)

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

Print cotton fabric scraps: Cut a selection of strips, each 2½in (6.5cm) wide × 1½–3in (4–7.5cm) long

Medium-weight non-woven fusible interlining: Cut one strip measuring 1 x 17½in (2.5 × 44.5cm), and one strip measuring 1 × 18¼in (2.5 × 46.5cm), for the lanyard. Cut one strip measuring 1 × 10¼in (2.5 × 26cm), for the key fob.

lanyard

1 Select a range of scraps and lay them out with the right sides uppermost to create two strips, one measuring 20in (51cm) and the other 22in (56cm). Arrange the fabrics until you are happy with the placement.

2 Begin joining the pieces of the 20in (51cm) strip together. Working from left to right, place the first two pieces together with right sides facing. Align the raw edges, pin or clip in place, and sew together (see page 121). Press the seam neatly open (see page 119). Continue joining each square in turn. Join the second strip in the same manner.

3 Using the rotary cutter, trim the shorter strip to measure 17¾in (45cm) and the longer strip to measure 18½in (47cm). Place the 17½in (44.5cm) interlining strip on the shorter strip so the adhesive side is facing the wrong side of the fabric. Position the interlining strip ¼in (0.5cm) away from one long raw edge and ¼in (0.5cm) away from each short raw edge. Cover with a pressing cloth and iron to fuse in place. Repeat for the longer lanyard strip and piece of interlining.

TIPS

Bag hardware, such as lanyard swivel clips and key fob attachments, can often be found in craft stores or from specialist bag-making suppliers. You can buy a range of tools to apply the hardware, but you may find that standard pliers will work just as well. If you are using standard pliers, place a piece of batting between the pliers and the hardware—this will prevent any scratches on the the metal.

When working with layers of interfaced fabric, like on this lanyard, work the stitches slowly and carefully. You can use the point of a tailor’s awl to help keep the layers in place as you work them through the machine, without risking having your fingertips too close to the needle.

4 Fold each long side of one of the strips to the wrong side by ¼in (0.5cm) and press. Fold the strip in half so that the two long sides meet and press. The raw edges are now concealed inside the folded strip. Pin or clip in place. Increase the sewing machine stitch length to 3. Taking a ?in (3mm) seam allowance from the edges, topstitch (see page 119) along each long side. Zigzag stitch across each short end to neaten. Repeat this step for the second strip.

5 Place the two strips on top of each other, aligning the long edges, with the long strip underneath and extending 1½in (4cm) beyond the end of the short strip. Place the lanyard hardware onto the extended section of the long strip.

6 Fold the extended section over to cover both the hardware and the raw edge of the second strip and pin or clip in place. Increase the stitch length to 3. Sew to join the two pieces—this will keep the lanyard hardware in place.

7 Check that the two strips of the lanyard aren’t twisted. On the two free short ends, fold the zigzag-stitched edges to the wrong sides by ¼in (0.5cm) and pin or clip in place. Sew along each fold to secure it.

8 Following the manufacturer’s instructions, secure a KAM snap or a snap fastening to each end of the lanyard, close to the folded-over section, to finish.

Finishing

Trim any excess threads on the Lanyard and Key Fob, and press lightly to neaten.

key fob

1 Follow step 1 of the Lanyard to lay out a selection of print-cotton strips with the right sides uppermost to create a strip measuring 12in (30cm). Arrange the fabrics until you are happy with the placement.

2 Follow step 2 of the Lanyard to join the pieces together. Using the rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat, trim the strip to measure 10½in (26.5cm).

3 Follow step 3 the Lanyard to fuse the interlining strip to the wrong side of the fabric.

4 Follow step 4 of the Lanyard to fold and topstitch the fabric strip and zigzag stitch across each short end.

5 Fold the key fob strip in half and align the two short edges. Place the short edges inside the key fob hardware and secure in place using the pliers. Follow the finishing instructions above.

bookmark

This bookmark is great for using up fabric offcuts and scraps. It is worked by placing the fabrics directly onto a piece of batting and sewing each one in place in turn before pressing open to reveal the finished design.

FABRIC AND MATERIALS

Fabric scraps in a selection of prints

Batting (wadding), 3 × 8in (7.5 × 20cm)

Cotton twill tape ribbon, ?in (1cm) wide and 4in (10cm) long

Coordinating thread

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Basic quilting kit (see page 6)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

2½in × 7in (6.5 × 17.8cm), excluding twill loop

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

Print cotton fabric scraps: Cut a selection of strips, each 3 × 4in (7.5 × 10cm)

1 Select your first two scraps of fabric. Position one scrap onto one side of the batting strip. The right side of the scrap should be facing up.

2 Place the second fabric scrap on top, so the right sides of the fabrics are together. Check that once stitched with a seam allowance of ¼in (0.5cm) along the right-hand raw edges and opened out, the second strip will cover the end of the batting. Pin or clip into place. Sew along the right-hand edges to join the two scraps onto the batting.

TIP

This design is only lightly quilted. You may prefer to add a few lines of machine- or hand-quilting as desired. If you are making one of these bookmarks as a gift, you could embroider the recipient’s name across the length of the bookmark.

3 Press the fabric, then open the top piece along the seam. Place the next scrap on top of the first piece. You can arrange the fabrics any orientation you like, and you don’t have to align the raw edges—just ensure that each new piece will cover the width of the batting below when pressed open. Pin in place. Sew to join the new scrap onto the first piece and the batting. Trim away any excess fabrics from the scrap below to reduce the bulk, being careful not to cut through the stitches or the batting. Open out the third piece along the seam and press.

4 Continue with this method of pinning the fabrics right sides together, sewing in place, and pressing the fabric open. Repeat until the batting is covered in fabric.

5 Turn the piece over so the batting side is uppermost. Using a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat, trim away the excess fabric along the edges of the batting to neaten. Place the backing fabric onto the back of the batting with the right sides outermost and pin or clip into place.

6 Turn the bookmark over again so the patchwork fabric is uppermost. Sew across the bookmark to add quilting as desired. Here, straight-line machine quilting has been added following the seams in the fabric. Using a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat, trim the bookmark to measure 2½ × 7in (6.5 × 17.8cm). Fold the length of cotton twill tape in half to make a small loop and insert it into the top of the bookmark, positioning it in between the batting and the fabric. Pin or clip in place.

7 Sew around the outer edge of the bookmark, taking a ?in (3mm) seam allowance and ensuring the twill tape is secured in the seam. Sew around the edge of the bookmark two more times, close to the first line of stitching.

TIP

As you can work with offcuts and scraps, you may like to place the fabrics onto the batting and arrange them before sewing, or you can be more organic in your selection. When placing fabrics, be sure to consider any with directional prints that need to be a certain way up, and ensure that the scraps will cover the width of the batting once stitched and pressed open.

Finishing

Trim any excess threads and press lightly to neaten.

mug rug

Bigger than a coaster but not as large as a table mat, a mug rug is the perfect size for a cup of coffee or tea and a few of your favorite cookies. This design works with a mini block that is ideal for fussy cutting (see tip) or using offcuts from your...