I've never made a mini quilt and if I'm honest I'm not entirely sure of their purpose... until I got my hands on these!
An Easter treat to myself! These were from The Village Haberdashery, I've just checked and they no longer have the typewriter bundles, but they have clocks, coffeepots and other yummy bundles!
I was probably influenced by all the mini quilts being made in blogland and I'm in love with this one over at Sew Allegorical. Also I can not add another quilt to the list but I want to sit and look at that typewriter fabric ALL day!! And isn't a simple little wall hanging the perfect way to do that?
I'd seen this tutorial for Polaroid quilt blocks, which I love but the typewriters are bigger than the small dimensions and even though I hate math I decided to adapt it. Turns out I'm no good at that!! So I guestimated and just went with what looked right! I made a trial block (not something I normally bother doing but then I don't make things up very often), which I turned into a little doll quilt for my daughter:
Once that was done I held my breath and cut out a typewriter, using the coordinating solids I cut the borders and kept things simple. I embroidered my blog name and the year on it because I always wrote on my Polaroid pictures!
I did some very basic quilting, learnt how to sleeve it, stuck some chopsticks in it and now I sit and stare at it.
If you have the typewriter fabric or something a similar size it's super easy to do, here's the dimensions I used for mine. You can add borders of any size, I just slashed mine and made it slightly wonky. This could really easily (with a border) become a 12.5" unfinished block to add to a quilt.
Cut a 6" square of any fabric you chose. For the frame of the Polaroid I'd seriously only use a white solid unless you don't want it to look like a Polaroid picture (see the doll quilt above!).
From the white cut two 1.5 x 6" pieces and, using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew this to either side of your square of fabric. Press the seams (open or to the side, doesn't matter!).
Again from the white cut one 1.5 x 8" and one 3 x 8" strip. Sew the thinner one to the top and the wider one to the bottom, press and ta-dah!! A big Polaroid!
You can chose to add any borders you like and can make the blocks any size depending on the width of the borders, you can add straight borders or cut them at an angle to make it wonky. A scrappy border would look really nice too. So many possibilities!
I think this is a great way to showcase a special fabric that you love. Let me know if you make one or use a Big Polaroid in any of your fabulous projects :)
Polaroids must have stuck in my brain because I only just realised I used the same design element for the Fugly Fabric Party button! More details on that VERY soon :)
I'm linking up to Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF, which is magical this week over at The Peony Teacup
Also linking up to
42 comments
Post a Comment
That pattern works so well to highlight the typewriter. Lovely mini.
Oooh! That's the cutest little mini (sometimes pretty things serve no purpose but to make us smile!) and what a great pattern for showcasing large prints. Or small paper piecing! And I'm a guestimator, too. My maths is always out - I blame seam allowances coz i'm quite smart really!
I want one of those typewritters so much! I wish some clever quilt shop would cut them up and sell as individual charms so poor quilters like me can buy just one! Then I could make myself a fab mini, just like yours!
Wow Lucy, that is SO adorable. I love that typewriter print - it looks great as a feature fabric.
Lovely mini. I think that we are both on the same wavelength.... Di x
I love your mini ! The solids go so well with the typewritter :)
I'm glad I bought some recently !
A perfect use for a fabulous piece of fabric!
Very cute :o) I haven't had chance to play with my clocks and typewriters yet, it's hidden until I get inspiration lol
Very cute Lucy!
What a gorgeous idea!
Thanks for linking up :)
Quite cute! I got a FQ of those typewriters via the stale stash swap, might have to make a polaroid!
LOVE this, Lucy! I've been wanting to do a Polaroid quilt too -- what a great idea to make it a mini. Thanks for linking up to TGIFF!
Oh, I love this so much and I especially love your embroidery touches. It is so cute. I WISH I could get these big projects that I HAVE to finish done so they would quit weighing on me and I could get to some fun stuff. I want to just chuck them out the window and make a mini polaroid quilt now instead! ;)
very fun mini - I just got some typewriters but don't know what to do with them!
This mini is awesome. I love that typewriter fabric but couldn't see myself using it. Was also looking at another Polaroid quilt about 5 mins ago. It's looking more and more like I should make one too. Have you seen this mini that Jenn received? It's totally cool and now that I think of it would look awesome in the boys room...
*I'm using my phone and can't get the link to paste so I'll email you :)
So cute, Lucy!! Way to go! :o)
What a fabulous idea - I can see some of these in my future!!
oh, how cute are you?
Lucy, as usual we are connected. I was just looking at this fabric as a possible iPad cover. The typewriter would be so perfect!!! (I don't have an iPad, but hoping maybe this mothers day?). I've never made a mini, but recently while seeing my boy baby quilt I have a strong desire to make one framing the horse in the horse fabric I used. I would love to do that for each of my kids and have it up in their rooms! Miss you and must add a visit to you on my bucket list!!! xoxo Rebecca Lynne
You've never made a mini??!! I can't believe it! I do understand though, sometimes I wonder what the purpose is of them, unless you have a dedicated room or wall to hang an eclectic mess of minis! But your mini turned out adorable and I just love that typewriter fabric. :)
I love your mini and what a cool way to remember a favourite bit of fabric. Also love the embroidered siggie and date. Tell me about the chopsticks though - are they helping you to hang it?
I love that fabric! It's so perfect for a polaroid!
What a fun little project!And I am sure Joan will love the Dolls quilt too. A real girly thig to have!
Really sweet one Luce x
Oh, Lucy, this is So SOOO cute!
what a great mini quilt, and I love the idea of writing at the bottom of it too
Love this idea! I made some of the blocks without even realising! =D
What a great idea! Thanks for the free pattern. These would make lovely gifts. Are we playing Fugly Fabric again? Can't wait! :)
I've been hoarding those typewriters trying to figure out what to do with them. SO CUTE!!!
Ohhh the typewriter!!! Love this and may have to make one for the wall above my sewing machine :)
A polaroid miniquilt has to be the best project for the typewriter fabric!! It's so cool!! I've got some too and I've promised an ipad cover using it, I'm still psyching myself to cut into it.
I love this Lucy! I haven't gotten any of the typewriters myself but it's been so fun seeing how others use them. And I've been thinking about polaroid blocks lately too since we are making them in my bee circle this month :)
I suffer from mathphobia too - I just stitch and cut and measure up afterwards! I think we call it liberated now!??
Gorgeous - totally gorgeous and love the fact you take pity on us mathphobes by giving us those magic numbers!
I love it! I saw a similar block on Stitched in Color just the other day and had already decided on making something with the block for my future sister-in-law but I'd actually ruled out the typewriter thinking it just wouldn't match. How wrong I was! Only more eager to make some polaroids of my own now. :)
Those typewriters are so fabulous. I simply must get me some. Happy Manic Monday.
Love this - and the embroidered heart is the perfect touch! I love making mini's and small quilts for dolls, babies, and wall hangings!
Yes! So cute :-) I definitely had to splurge for some of the clock fabric. I love all the prints and color ways, though.
Youve just helped me hugely! I also was not happy with the small size "picture" size that the tutorial offered. I was interested in creating 3 inch ((finished) pictures within the Polaroid frame.
Thank you so much! I have that typewriter fabric and didn't know what to do with it. I'll think I'll make a quilt using that pattern :)
love this pattern! finally getting around to posting the one i made!
http://littlemissmk.blogspot.com/2012/11/snapshots-of-good-dog-quilt.html
thanks! :)kelley
That is a special mini idea and your tutorial is very helpful, thank-you for sharing it!:)
Hi Just found your blog in a roundabout way from Pinterest (I spend way too much time on there but oh well :)) Love your quilts and I am going to have a go at the Polaroid one :) Its nice to see that there are some local girls who like quilting and aren't over 70 lol (I'm in Stockport UK)! Will be checking back very soon!