Pool Tile Mini Quilt
2016 Finished Quilts, Quilts

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

Two weeks ago, Stephanie @Late Night Quilter ordered a mini quilt through my Etsy store to support my blog. When I asked her if she had any preferences for what I make her, she responded, “I would love something in the colors you often work with … Blues. I love shades of Aqua the most.” I had some free time to sketch out some ideas, and I really liked one option for its ability to have a bit of color transparency fun (of course I liked that about the design!). Heading to my stash, I thought that nothing really says aqua quite like the StudioE Prisms in Aqua print.

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

In fact, I was not sure what I wanted to call this block design until I used the Prisms print. After piecing the top together, I thought its resemblance to the way sunlight bounces around at the bottom of a pool in the summer was striking, so I called the design and mini quilt “Pool Tile”.

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

I thought that a bit of straight line quilting, using 50wt Aurifil 1125, would help enhance the bouncing light and reflection idea. I like how the unquilted diamonds puffy out a bit much like the bright spots of sunlight glinting off of water.

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

I don’t have a local pool that I can visit, but that would have been a fun photo shoot! Instead, I hung the quilt up on the play structure at the park near my home, and I thought the light wind puffing it out into a sail was fun.

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

The coordinating solids in the quilt top are Kona Baby Blue and Kona Oasis (which is also the binding). The mini quilt finished at 24.25-inches square.

Pool Tile Mini Quilt (Backing)

Pool Tile Mini Quilt (Backing)

I used Kona Bone for the backing and added two hanging tabs in the corners. When I see quilting designs on the back of quilts, I think that I should explore some whole cloth quilts at some point. So many ideas!

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

Pool Tile Mini Quilt

I plan to work on writing a mini quilt tutorial to share with you for this quilt in early February, so stay tuned!

Linking up with Finish It Friday and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop.

27 thoughts on “Pool Tile Mini Quilt

  1. Michele T says:

    You have a way to make everything awesome!!! Love this mini quilt, the colours, pattern, but especially the quilting… Perfect!!

  2. Patty says:

    Love it!

  3. Cindy says:

    What a wonderful mini! The name suits the fabric and pattern perfectly.

  4. Liz says:

    A very fitting name for this mini! I also love the back of the quilt. It would be really cool to explore a whole cloth straight line quilted quilt. Maybe playing with thread colors, maybe just with the resulting texture…so many ideas!

  5. Great quilt and a great name. What do you use to hang up your quilts for photos?

  6. So bright and cheerful! I love the quilting!

  7. I know that fancy-pants FMQ is all the rage, but I’d opt for straight-line quilting any day! Lovely mini — the fabric selection and quilting are spot on!

  8. janequiltsslowly says:

    Wow great finish! The perfect name for this quilt.

  9. Mary says:

    I love this quilt!

  10. Good Morning Yvonne! This is a spectacular beautiful quilt to wake up to! The fabrics are lovely and they do work splendidly with this quilt pattern. Add in your choice of quilting designs and it is gorgeous! I am sure that Stephanie will be delighted to have it displayed on any of her walls. How exciting that you are going to share this particular pattern with us as a tutorial; I know I will be awaiting anxiously. Oh, I must go and check out the stash and see what is available and get it set aside. Thank you for sharing this and have a fantastic creative day!

  11. I love this! It really does look like the bottom of a pool. 🙂

  12. Renee says:

    Ooh what a fun way to use that prism fabric! I totally see the sunlight on the bottom of the pool, and I think the quilting enhances the idea of tiles too.

  13. Jasmine says:

    So cool. And I love that she requested something that also represents you.

  14. Linda Fleming says:

    Love everything about your quilt- the size, the pattern, the fabrics and the wonderful quilting!

  15. Lisa says:

    It really does look like light in the bottom of a pool.. I’m so used to you using solids, it’s nice to see the patterned fabric in this mini. I also like that quilting.

  16. Karen says:

    Yvonne, you can never make too many of your transparency quilts in my book! Your choice of fabrics (in my favorite colors, too) is wonderful–and thanks so much for the intro to the Prism fabrics. But the design and the quilting–you never disappoint! Your work makes me so happy!

  17. Tish says:

    The fabrics and title couldn’t be more perfect for this little mini. There may be almost 2ft of snow outside but it makes me want to jump in the pool.

  18. acbeier71 says:

    Lovely. Makes me think of the warmth of the beach and ocean for a vacation from the cold. I can’t complain. This winter’s been a mild one after two years of snow, ice and cold almost every other day.
    But your mini quilt does give me good and happy vibes!!

    1. acbeier71 says:

      P.S. I really do love pools too. Especially the infinity pools!!

  19. Little Black Cat Quilting says:

    Pool Tile is the perfect name for this mini, spot on! That prism fabric is absolutely wonderful, it just makes me smile. 🙂 I love the quilting with this one too, it’s goes right along with the pool tile look.

  20. Now I want to go swimming! It does look like the sunlight bouncing off a pool 🙂 I love looking at the back of quilts, and one of these days I’ll get around to making a whole cloth quilt.

  21. Sally says:

    Lovely mini and what a perfect name for it. I have wondered this before, but more than ever with this post and your sunburst quilt – are you sure you live in the right part of the world for you???!!!

  22. Vera says:

    Looks lovely and I do see the pool water in it. Your lines are so perfectly straight! Fab job Yvonne!

  23. I remember ordering a swatch of the aqua prisms and thinking it reminded me a pool – this is just a perfect use for this fabric. I’m sure Stephanie is going to love it. Just curious – when you do straight line quilting, do you use a ruler with your long arm?

  24. A beautiful blend of blues here!

  25. It really does remind me of a tiled pool!

I really appreciate the time and thought you take to comment, and I look forward to conversing with you. :)