8 weeks ago, Christina @WIPs & Tuts reached out to me to ask if we could have a private mini quilt swap. I quickly agreed and we swapped some inspiration images. Christina’s images heavily featured log cabin style blocks and she gave me a great idea about the colors she likes. I was so excited I made her mini quilt quickly and have been patiently waiting to mail it off and tell you all about the process!
Mini Quilt Swap – My Quilt for Christina
I quickly whipped up 16 log cabin style blocks that finished at 7-inches square. I spent quite a bit of time playing around with the layout of the blocks, and here are some of the options I tried out:
I really like the final layout because I think that it is a great optical illusion. What is on top? The mini quilt looks so great hanging in my living room, and I hope Christina loves it!
Mini Quilt Swap – My Quilt for Christina
Christina is engaged, and I was thinking a lot about the transition from being single to being engaged to getting married while I was working on her mini quilt. Marriage is a traditional commitment, and log cabin blocks are very traditional. One of the things that my husband and I strive for in our relationship is a sense of balance. We try to remember that we are each unique individuals, and we do our best to maintain our own unique identities. At the same time, we recognize and celebrate that now there is this third identity that is so important and beautiful: us as a couple. In this past year of transition in my life, I have found so much joy and celebration in having that closeness and unity of my marriage. I know he is there for me, supporting me. And so I can see in this mini quilt those layers of a deeply caring relationship in the layout. I can see that the balance shifts and moves. I can see the individuals in the different colors, and I can see that beautiful beginning of promise for Christina in her future.
Mini Quilt Swap – My Quilt for Christina
I quilted the mini quilt on Olive, my Bernina 820, using 50wt Aurifil 1148. I chose to only quilt the green / teal portions of each log cabin block. I started by outlining each section and then filling in with a back and forth line. I was heavily influenced in this quilting decision because I was watching Mel @Mel in the Attic‘s progress quilting her Green Peek quilt via Instagram at the time. The backing really shows off the fun texture that this adds to the quilt.
Mini Quilt Swap – Detail
The fabrics used in the quilt are (starting at the center/corner of a block and working out):
- Kona Melon
- Hand Drawn Stripes in Fern
- Kona Riviera
- Stacked Books, Emerald
- Kona Marine
- True Colors Woodgrain in Teal
- Kona Nightfall
- Foliage in Fern
- Kona Nautical
The backing is Kona Prussian and the binding is Kona Nautical.
Mini Quilt Swap – Swap Goodies
This is my first swap that includes goodies, and I was a bit nervous about what to include. Christina saw some large archival drawstring bags that I was making for a customer in my Etsy store and commented that it looked handy, so I included one for her. I wrote out a couple of recipes to send, and I also included an iTunes gift card because many of her Instagram photos feature her exercising and listening to music.
Mini Quilt Swap – Ready to Ship
I was so excited that Christina thinks that what she received is “AMAZING!!” 😀
And I *love* what I received in return. Can you believe how similar our quilts ended up being?!?! 🙂 I think we even quilted them using the same thread! Thank you so much, Christina, for this fun swap! To read more about the process behind the quilt she made me, check out Christina’s post Great Minds Think Alike.
Linking up to Finish it Up Friday, TGIFF, and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop.
Lovely, I love the colour choice and the quilting adds a lot of texture.
Both quilts are very pretty and love the colors in both. Will there be patterns?
I love your mini. It really does create a great optical illusion – it almost looks likes he quilt is moving. And it is crazy how similar both minus are. You must have been gobsmacked when you opened yours!
The layout of these blocks is perfect. I like that they are log cabin blocks, but look so much more contemporary because of the layout. The quilting is fabulous and looks so good; I especially like that you can see that texture in detail on the back. Pure yumminess!
That’s another beautiful quilt! Lips poked out and pouty, I wanna swap too!!! Anyhoo, what you said about marriage is absolutely true . WELL said!☺☺☺
Both are amazing and what a fun way to do a swap! Just two people!! I Think your layout is the right choice (along with all the gorgeous color and quilting) and appreciate the mosaic of other options to ponder! Great job Yvonne!
I love both of the quilts! The quilting looks so cool. Thanks for the linky love!
Great minds do think alike. It is so neat to see both quilts and all the layout options. Hanging it in your craft room is a great idea. And I loved reading about the meaning behind this quilt. I’m so grateful for my hubby.
This post made me smile, as did Christina’s post 🙂 Great minds obviously do think alike! It always amazes me how different a quilt made from the same block can look. I really love the quilting designs you chose and how it just makes the design pop!
Swapping is so much fun! Kudos to you for choosing a log cabin block. They are so versatile… traditional, yet easily made modern. Did you know that the block is said to be a metaphor for family life… the light areas being the good parts and the dark areas, the not so good? There’s often a red centre block representing the hearth, the centre of the home. But maybe you already knew that, since you incorporated the Kona Melon! Great job!
Both your log cabin minis are beautiful. And it was such a pleasure to read your thoughts on marriage you shared. Best wishes to Christina!
So fun! I always mean to get in on swaps but seem to hear about them right after they close!
Beautiful! I love how the two quilts mimic each other but are completely different!
That is so cool that you both picked such similar patterns and colors! They both turned out so neat!
Looks like you and your swap partner both nailed each other’s tastes, that is a really successful swap!
Thank you for showing the different setting options for your lovely blocks. I do like the optical illusion you created. And you must have had a very ‘in-tune’ discussion with your swap partner to produce such similar quilts – amazing!
Lovely thoughts on marriage, and amazing how similar your minis turned out, what a great swap.