I keep forgetting to share my mini mini quilt adventures here as all the excitement happened over on Instagram.
Last year, I somehow managed to avoid getting caught up in the mini mini quilt phase – more from travelling and timing than anything else – but I could not resist swapping one mini mini quilt with Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl.
First, I thought I would appliqué a tiny rocketship, but someone else had already made a mini mini spaceship for Yvonne. So, I switched to Plan B, which was to immortalise her cat, Puppy, in fabric.
I began by lurking about her Instagram feed and looking for a photograph of Puppy that I could use as a starting point.
I fiddled about in Illustrator and Photoshop until I had something like this.
I had to use spotty fabric as I did not have any black solids, but I used the spots to my advantage by carefully cutting the pieces so the strongest white stripes sat about where Puppy’s whiskers should be.
I traced the outlines onto fusible web for raw-edge appliqué.
After I had fused everything in place, I used some of the skills learned in a recent trapunto class to make Puppy a bit 3D. Then, I added another layer of batting and a plain white backing, and I free-motion quilted around the outlines a few times.
In trying to get Puppy’s nose freckle, I might have given him a wonky nose. Artistic licence!
The back was pretty neat as I buried all my threads, but I could not resist adding this Japanese print to the back.
What did Yvonne send me? A mini mini Mini quilt. In a funny twist, I was sewing Puppy for her as she was sewing Poppy, my car, for me! It is the cutest little thing.
For a closer look at the tiny quilt she made, her methods and the cute fabric she used on the back, I suggest you check out her blog post.
Look how the mini mini quilt Yvonne sent me looks right at home in my sewing space!
All finished and ready to mail.
My mini mini quilt was actually more of a maxi mini quilt as it finished about 6 inches squares. That is a giant in mini mini quilt land. I was a bit nervous doing smaller, but in hindsight I think I should have tried. The tiny version of Poppy Yvonne sent me was only 4½ inches square!
Carla I just love your pussy cat! Your choice and placement of fabrics was excellent. Well done.
Thanks, Liz. My choice was a little limited by what I had! 🙂
Both gorgeously petite and perfect! I love how graphic and striking Puppy is, whilst actually being fluffy in person and depicted in a soft, padded medium!
I was worried I had made Puppy a little ‘hard’ looking, as he seems a very friendly and affectionate cat, so I am glad some softness was retained.
Puffy puss!
Too freakin’ cute all round!
Thanks, Dawn. I was trying to do Puppy’s affectionate nature justice.
What a delight Carla! You are very clever to have made Puppy’s portrait so perfect! I’m thinking that would have been hard to give away!
I made a few boo-boos, like Puppy’s freckle and a bit where my FMQ went off track and I had to follow, but I am happy as it is still recognisably him. I am proud of it, but it was easy to send off – because it is Puppy, it naturally belongs with Yvonne.
How fun! You did a great job Carla. The Mini Cooper is just darling too
Isn’t it! Yvonne is so very clever to have made it.
How cute is Puppy! The design, your fabric choices, the quilting, it is all great!
The real Puppy seems like a very cute and affectionate cat, so he was a good model. 🙂
I absolutely love the mini mini of Pupoy you made me. As he continues to age and become a weird old dude, I look at the mini and know some day it will be the best reminder of my quilt inspector I will have. So thank you very much. I love having him looking down from my wall as I sew.
At least Puppy started as a nice and affectionate cat. Our Max started as an aloof and demanding curmudgeon and is just getting odder and more curmudgeonly as he approaches his 14th birthday. 🙂
I adore the mini mini you made me. It is so lovely to admire it hanging over my sewing machine every day.
Wow.. perfect mini quilt! Nice work!
Thanks!
I love what you made Carla! Very cute. And the Mini Cooper you got in return is too cute for words. I’ve never heard of a mini mini swap. Sounds fun. I’ve missed all the excitement happening on IG, I will go and have a look right now.
I think all the fun started in September while I was travelling, Gina. Yvonne and Kitty of Night Quilter were some of the initial instigators. Look for the hashtag #miniminiquiltswap.
I love all the thought and effort you put into making Yvonne’s mini. It really is a very thoughtful gift, and it looks fantastic!
Not a lot of effort is needed on something so small, Beth. Minis are a great way to experiment.
Both minis are awesome. You did an amazing job with Puppy. Wow.
I hope Yvonne agrees, but I certainly think this was a win-win swap!
Fantastic – I love the black fabric you’ve chosen, the spots are brilliant for Puppy’s face and whiskers!
I only had a handful of blacks to choose from. Black is not well represented in my stash!
I have been waiting forever for this post! Puppy turned out so adorable! Yvonne is a lucky, lucky, girl and I love that you both swapped such great minis.
Sorry to keep you waiting! It is funny that I overlooked blogging about something that I was so excited about. I think I will blame the pre-Christmas silly season. 🙂
I really like this mini, it’s so clever!
I just realised that Master Monty would be hard to do – white on white!
When I saw your mini I thought it was perfect and I still do! Well done!
Thanks, Vera. I tried!
As far as I can tell, you are deterred by pretty much nothing! The very idea of making a mini mini of a chat silhouette scares the pants off me. Well done indeed!
Too right! It is only fabric. If Plan A goes horribly awry, unpick it or chuck it in the bin and switch to Plan B. There is nothing to fear when there is nothing to lose.
Your kitten block is so clever – love it. And a mini is lovely whether you are sat in one or have your cup resting on one 😁 And I spy my Russian Doll mug rug in beautiful fabrics too – was that also a swap?
I cannot bring myself to put dirty cups on any of the minis I have made or received in swaps, including the one you spotted made from your Russian doll pattern, even when they were made specifically as coasters. Silly, right?
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