Materials:
I use cotton fabric, cotton batting, cotton thread, and wooden dowels.
Preparing the fabric:
I wash all fabric by hand with a free & clear detergent, drain most of the water out with a no-heat spin dryer, and drape to dry. Before measuring and cutting the top and backing pieces, I iron with steam.
Preparing the quilt:
I crease my design (always original!) with a hera marker, either freehand or using rulers, and baste the three layers (top fabric, batting, and backing fabric) with cotton thread or safety pins.
Quilting the quilt:
My big-stitch hand quilting is meticulous: I do one stitch at a time, previewing with my fingernail and then flipping over to check the back. That way, I can keep my stitch lengths as consistent as possible on both sides. (The smaller the scale, the more noticeable the details!)
Preparing to bind:
I square up the top two layers to 5×5 inches, then trim the backing fabric and fold twice toward the front.
Binding the quilt:
I bind the quilt by hand, using tiny whip stitches (approximately 1/8″ apart) and a fine silk thread. I trim, fold, and stitch each corner carefully.
Preparing the dowels:
I sand the dowels down with an emery board, rounding the corners, and stain them using white vinegar mixed with either crushed berries or acrylic paint. Once they’re dry, I coat them in mineral oil.
Adding the dowels:
I tether the dowels onto the binding with x-shaped stitches at each end.
Finishing up:
Finally, I stitch a double loop onto the back for hanging.
Approximate time spent:
It might be a surprise, given the size, but a 5×5″ mini quilt tends to take me at least a week. (The work is rewarding, but my methods are more intensive than relaxing, so I space out the hours.)
