Mini quilts are a thing.
I knew this, but I didn't realize just how crazy people are for mini quilts until I started seeing all kinds of swaps pop up on Instagram. (And I'm giggling now, because I never thought that I would say people were crazy about mini quilts or even quilts for that matter. But they are. They really are.) I never joined in for various reasons – too little time to spend making for someone else, deadlines looming, and, let's be honest, I didn't get it. The mini quilt craze, that is.
But then my book blew up. I spent my time knitting a dozen winter hats. I made my mom a quilt. I made two dresses, a sweatshirt and a blouse. I cut three kits worth of quilt tops and sewed 1.5 of them back together. I stitched on my needlepoint in the carpool line. All of this done in an attempt to keep my hands busy and my sanity intact. Makers gonna make and all that. What it boils down to, though, is that for the last four months, I have been going through the motions without feeling creative at all. AND I WAS OK WITH THAT. Really. Truly. OK.
What prompted it, I will never know, but when I saw that there were signups for a Cotton & Steel mini quilt swap, I didn't blink. I jumped in, reservations and nervousness aside. I got my partner pairing and began to think about what I would make. I had more than a few moments where I wondered why the hell I had done this. I wasn't feeling inspired at all. I was doubting every single idea that I had. But the deadline isn't until June so I decided to give it time. I went to Quilt Con. I participated in some classes, went to lectures, took in the quilts on display, hung out with other quilters. I came home overwhelmed, with a lot to process. I gave myself space. I returned to piecing the quilt kits. And then I saw a pattern that was promising. I started to plan how to piece it into a mini quilt and realized it wasn't very suitable. That gave me another idea. I revisited part of a pattern that would have been in my book. I adapted it, added a little improv and immediately I knew I had landed where I need to be. I got busy sewing.
I made a mini quilt. And I loved every second of it. I now totally get why people go crazy for these things. They are small, manageable and really fun to make. Maybe it is something about the small scale that makes them so fun? I don't know. But for me, every step was a delight. From searching for the right look for my partner to sewing the final stitch of the binding, it was joyful. I loved picking the fabrics and putting them in pairs. I happily cut a bunch of pieces, sewed them together, cut them again and pieced them into a top. I was giddy to applique a perfect circle to the center. I fearlessly tried a quilting pattern/method that I had never attempted. I didn't even get too upset when I had to rip some of it out. I fixed the quilting and I savored every single binding stitch.
For the first time since the book business, I enjoyed quilting. I felt like I could actually design something decent. That I had something good to say and that I could make it a reality. That my design had legs. That the creative spark was back. That I was actually good at what I love to do.
JOY.
Making a mini quilt gave me joy.
Silly, maybe, but true.
While this mini was made for a swap, I have decided to keep it. I cannot let it go. I have hung it up on the wall of my studio as a visual reminder of why I do what I do. I want my eyes to take it and remember that I am good enough. I want to walk by and have the memory of making it spark even more creativity. I want to see it and push myself to create, to play, to experiment, to take myself less seriously, to think less and do more, to stretch my creative muscles. Most of all, I want to look at this mini quilt and remember to CHOOSE JOY.
I do think my partner would probably like this mini. I'll just make her another one.
This one is all me.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this. every bit of it.
sometimes the universe is spot on with the path it sends us! Lovely work! xo
I love it…and love this post! 🙂
Just looking at the quilt anyone would say is is beautiful. But, the story you shared was the truly amazing part. Such an encouragement for the creative process and the bumps as well as the successes. Thanks so much for sharing the whole story!
You have no idea how HAPPY this makes me :)))
Fantastic reminder to all of us: choose joy. And good for you for not letting go of that quilt! We all have more fabric… 😉
I really, really needed to read this this morning. Thanks, Erin.
Isn’t it so awesome to discover that you still have the zest after a period when you might have felt like you had lost it? Your post is indeed an ode to joy.
So happy for you to have found your joy! The quilt is awesome.
It’s always such a great feeling that moment when everything clicks. Great job on your mini quilt.
Erin, I so hear this; what you write is so familiar to how I felt after my PhD (which was such a disappointment and so hard in so many ways). I felt like I would never be creative again, like I was just going through the motions. And then, just in the past maybe 8 months, I have begun making and writing with real pleasure and joy. And I’ve also been able to see how the ‘disasters’ (with a grain of salt) have gotten me to where I am now.
The quilt is beautiful.
Great post. I’ve been participating in swaps on IG for the past year and it’s completely, utterly stretched my creativity in ways I had no idea would happen. I think it’s something about being given a box to work with, and trying to put your own stamp on that box. Sometimes I think creativity needs bounds to really thrive. Too much choice and lack of direction can cause uncertainty and doubt. There is a wonderful TED talk by Phil Hansen, “Embrace the Shake,” that I highly encourage you to watch. On that note, another really inspiring TED talk that has changed how I approach creativity is by Elizabeth Gilbert, “Your Elusive Creative Genius.” I’d love to hear your thoughts if you check them out.
And I would absolutely love a pattern for this mini. 🙂
It’s amazing, Erin. Just like you are. 🙂
so pretty! I love it!
this is all so great. i’m so glad you found your spark again. you inspire me so much, i hope you know that. and i really love this quilt. i think i need to make some mini quilts (purl bee had a series of 12 mini quilt patterns a few years ago- some of them were really stellar and they’re all free on their website, in case you need more mini quilt inspiration).
xo
I love,love this. Keep it going girlfriend!
Nice! Love the little tiger!
It is so beautiful! I love the colors and patterns you chose!
So lovely. So good. JOY 🙂 xo
I love this. You should totally write a pattern or tutorial for it!
It really does radiate joy…
I’m so glad you’re keeping it! What a super cool mini, I’d love to try making one. And yes, sewing/blogging grooves do seem to come and go; glad your sewing groove is back!
Your mini quilt is so beautiful! I think it may be my favourite quilt that I’ve seen you share!! And best of all, to hear you enjoyed making it and getting into your creative swing again 🙂
Hooooooraaaaay!
Yes. Choose joy. And keep those fingers stitching!
Well if I am your partner I am in love! It is perrrfect!
Oh my gosh, Erin, I love this mini quilt. See, when you’re feeling down and out, lift up your head and shout, “I’m in, and I love what I’m doing.” It’s sooooo good to be doing what you love!!
Oh, joy! I’m glad to hear that you’ve gotten energized once again. And I love the design and colors of this quilt.
The quilt, and the way it came to be, is beautiful!
Your mini-quilt is lovely. So glad you got your mojo back. I don’t get the mini-quilt–but each to his own.
We met at the craft week-end in NY state. I was almost directly behind you. I was at QuiltCon–but only for one day–the Sunday–it was a stop over on a trip my husband and I did to Texas.
I don’t know the story about your cancelled/dropped or whatever book, but clearly it was upsetting. You still have a book out there–so congratulate yourself on that.
best, Sandra–from Canada
I’m so pleased that you’ve discovered the love of mini quilts. Why do we love them so? I think its because we can see the whole finished thing in one go, our eye can take it all in. Rarely do we get to take in the whole of a large quilt we have slaved over, they are usually folded, draped or (the best way) wrapped around someone or they are just too darn big to see in one glance. Also because these mini marvels are small they don’t take long to create so we never get to the stage where we just want this thing finished so we can move on to the next project that’s in our heads. Lets face it too, they are easier to manipulate in our domestic machines so they tend to be neater. Anyway I think they are some of the reasons why I love mini quilts. The only problem I have is what to do with them. I love your quilt and I love the fact that it brings you joy, that really is the best thing.
good for you
Miniquilts are such a great way to explore and play with ideas. Yours is fabulous! Your joy in making this shows.
how JOYful! every bit of this post!
love that you are keeping that for the reminder. and i can only say how LUCKY your partner is to have YOU! can’t wait to see the next one you come up with!
xx
This is beautiful!
I was wondering if you could share the name of the lovely grey fabric? I really like that shade
It's Andover's black chambray.