Quarantini Quilt: Olive Again

My April Modern Mini.  I'm sharing it early and offering a tutorial after receiving several pattern requests.

 Finished size is about 12" square.

Let me start by saying these are the measurements that I used.  Your quilt can be your measurements.  You can make them smaller, larger or use different colors.

This is basic technique for all my lollipop quilts too.  It all started with this quilt:  Lollipop Garden  which I made in 2010.

Lincoln Comes to Dinner - table runner

Trick or Sweet workshop sample.

Cut a background blocks 4 3/4". I used Moda Grunge White.

Prepare the circles.   I like to use PaperPieces.com laser cut circles, but I use a lot of circles.

Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circles work very well too if you have them.

You can also cut your own.  I use the subscription cards in magazines and trace the circles.

The olive is 2 1/2" and the pimento is 1".
You need 9 of each size circle.

Cut your fabric circles about 1/4"larger all the way around the finished circle size.  A smaller on the red one will work better.  I used 3 different olive greens and a couple of different reds.   The variations make it more interesting.

Sew a running stitch all around the circle.  The smaller the berry the smaller the stitch length to get an even gather.  You want to try to sew about 1/8" from the outside edge.

When finished it should look like this.  Gently Gather and knot off near where you started stitching.

I would recommend you start with the larger circle.

Smooth your gather around the paper circle.

With a hot dry iron, starch your circles on both sides.  Get a good sharp pressed edge.

You can make all the circles, or work as you go.  Everyone works differently.  

Now glue baste your pimento onto your olive.  The method that I've developed is using a tiny line of white school glue about an 1/8" away from the edge. 

Press it to set it wherever you like on the green circle.  I made mine random and in different areas with one being almost in the center.

The thing I love the best about glue basting is NO PINS which is better for your machine and the berries stay nice and flat with no distortion.

Use matching thread on top and in bobbin, and lower your stitch length to achieve a smooth circle of stitching.

Top Stitch it all around going slowly and turning often.  This takes a little practice, but going slow is the key.  I pivot about every 2-3 stitches.

I received these white chocolate covered almonds in my stocking last Christmas.  It is extra fun to have matching candy to your project.  Or make a little of real olives to snack on.

Repeat this same process for all olives. 

Use the same glue technique to baste your olive on the background square.  

Press it to set it.

Top stitch again.

Aren't they fun?

I made my little quilt with nine blocks.

I machine quilted it with matchstick quilting using my walking foot.

I like to use a single fold binding on small quilts.  Here is a tutorial for that process on my blog.

I decided to use a black and white stripe for one side of the binding.  Why you ask?  Just seemed to add a little glamour to it.  After all Martinis are glamorous aren't they?

Please send me a photo barb.vedder@gmail.com or post your quilt on my Facebook page or instagram using the hashtag #quarantiniquilt

A few people asked for the recipe of the Orange Crunch Cake that I made Andrew.  Click here to get it.   I use homemade buttercream frosting instead of the can and coolwhip.

I hope you had a nice Easter during this Strange time of Covid.

I had my annual Ten Commandments watch in my sewing room.

Have a great week and stay home and stay safe.
xo