“Colorful Tree” Quilted Mini

Click image to enlarge

Designer: Susan Weinroth

I LOVED the new Woodland Tree 12 inch shape template when it debuted, and I immediately knew that I would find many uses for it beyond the standard of cutting shapes from paper.  And this project is just one of them!  I’m planning on gifting this cute little mini-quilt wall hanging (finished size about 18 x 21) to one of my sisters.  I think it will look gorgeous in her house or draped from her mantle.

Difficulty rating

Instructions (Print version)

1. Start with a piece of osnaberg fabric – or a similar heavy woven in a natural shade – as I did.  This will be the center piece of your mini quilt – the background of your tree.  I started with a 16x16 inch piece – with plans to trim it down after I appliquéd my tree on.
2. Select a brown fabric to use as the “tree trunk” part of your design.  Use an iron on adhesive for fabrics and iron to backside of brown fabric according to adhesives directions.  This will make your trunk sturdier – and MUCH easier to trace and trim out.
3. Use the Woodlands Shape Template to trace the tree part onto the backside of the fabric (now covered with your adhesive paper).

4. Then use the Fiskars No. 5 Microtip scissors to trim the tree shape out.
5. Iron tree onto osnaberg fabric.  Using a brown thread, machine stitch a straight line around inside edge of tree.
6. Select a variety of colored fabrics to use as your leaves.  Use the Woodlands shape template to trace the leaf shape onto the backside of various fabrics.  Trim using the No. 5 Microtip Scissors.
7. Arrange your “leaves” around the tree trunk, pin in place, and machine stitch – I used a natural colored thread for all.  Rough edges will fray slightly – I like this look.

8. After tree design is complete, use the Fiskars craft mat and rotary trimmer to trim your tree block down to 12.5x12.5 – or whatever best fits the arrangement of your leaves.
9. Select fabrics to use as border strips.  Starting on right side of tree block, pin fabric and machine stitch using a ¼ inch inseam.  There are no right or wrong measurements on the widths of your border strips – you can vary this depending on how wide or narrow of a finished mini that you prefer.  Press seam in one direction.

10. Next pin and sew a border strip under the tree block and extending outward so that it is also under the strip from step 9.  Press seam in one direction.
11. Next pin and sew a strip to the left of the tree block and extending downward so that it also covers the strip from step 10.  Press seam in one direction.
12. Next pin and sew a strip across the top of everything.  Press seam in one direction.
13. Congrats!  Your mini-quilt top is finished.  Now time to move onto quilting it.
14. Please refer to my general article on “how to quilt” for more detailed instructions, if needed – you can see that here:
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/articles/t_howtoquilt.aspx
15. Select a backing fabric and trim slightly wider than quilt top – same with a batting.
16. Sandwich backing, then batting, then quilt top and use basting pins to secure before quilting.

17. Use the walking foot on your sewing machine to quilt your mini.  I used an echo stitching technique in the area surrounding my tree.  The result is stitch lines that “echo” the shape of the tree.  In the border blocks I used a simple straight line stitch – 1/8 of an inch away from each seam.
18. After quilting is complete, bind your mini.  I used 2.5 inch wide strips – the same fabric as the tree trunk.

19. Your mini quilt is now complete!  If you’d like to hang it as a wall hanging, as I’m doing follow these instructions for making simple loops to use on the back to hang it with.
20. Hanging Loops: Using 10 inch long leftover binding strips – that have already been pressed in half – simply further press them with an iron, each half inwards again.

21. Stitch a seam along one side.
22. Fold in half to create loop shape and stitch again, halfway up.

23. Secure loops to the back of your mini quilt using hand sewing.

SUPPLIES:

Shape Template Tool – Woodland Tree (12 inch x 12 inch) - http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_shapetemplate-woodlandtree.aspx

18 Inch x 24 Inch Mat –
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_18x24mat.aspx

6" x 24" Acrylic Ruler –
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_6-x-24-acrylic-ruler.aspx

45 mm Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter –
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_45-mm-comfort-grip-rotary-cutter.aspx

No. 5 Microtip Scissors –
http://www.fiskarscraft.com/tools/t_no-5-micro-tip-scissors.aspx
OTHER: Fabric, Cotton Batting, Thread, Safety Pin Basting Needles, Sewing Machine, Hand Sewing Needle, Straight Pins, Iron-On Fabric Adhesive, Pencil