Mini Mini, Micro Mini, and Teeny Tiny Quilts

Posted on by Brita

Mini MiMany mini mini quiltsni Quilts, did you know that these are a thing?

If you did, then you are more up to date on things than I am.  If you didn’t then welcome to the club.

I found out about these darling treasures a few months ago when looking for ways to use my extra small scraps (called crumbs).

These things go by a lot of names, mini mini quilts, micro quilts, teeny tiny quilts, and my favorite micro mini quilts (I am going to use all these terms interchangeably in this article).

Just so we are all on the same page I have some definitions.

Small quilt is less than 30” X 30”
A mini quilt is less than 12” X 12”
A micro mini quilt is generally less than 6” X 6”  with a lot of people aiming for less than 3” X 3”.

These definitions are just rough estimates and there are no quilt police who will come around and fuss that you have mis-labeled the size of your quilt.  That is, unless you tell people your super intricate king size quilt is just a small quilt.  Then people will accuse you of false modesty and talk about you behind your back.

teeny tiny quilt starTeeny tiny quilts have been around ever since people started making doll houses but they didn’t become a really big thing until a few years ago.  It all started with @heart.xy on Instagram. On August 5th 2015 she posted “I’m going to start a new trend.  Mini mini quilt swapping.  It’s like baseball cards for cool people.”  Her first response was on August 9th and the official start was Sept 9, 2015.  By mid September, Night Quilter (@nightquilter) and other bloggers started spreading the word.  More people started micro mini swaps. Then in July of 2016 Make Modern magazine interviewed @hart.xy and made a mini mini quilt competition (issue 11). Last year Night Quilter started a 100 days of sew smaller project  and recently released her patterns ( https://nightquilter.com/2019/03/01/sew-tiny-sampler-pattern-release ).  Last year also saw the publishing of a great book entitled “Teeny Tiny Quilts” by Donna Lynn Thomas (donnalynnthomasquilter.com).  While this book isn’t about tiny blocks as finished quilts it has a lot of great tips and any of the individual blocks can be used to make a micro mini quilt.  So if you think one person can’t make a difference, just think about @heart.xy and see the giant impact she made with mini mini quilt trend.

I asked Reddit, Facebook, and Instagram what people do with the micro mini quilts that they make.  Here is what I found.  I will talk about techniques in the next issue.

1) mini mini quilt swapA Mini Mini Quilt Swap. This is really fun and can feel like Christmas any time of year.
I posted a quilt, just like the one on the right, on Instagram and asked if anyone wanted to swap with me.  The most wonderful woman, @dolchebella, from NC said she would swap and sent me the gorgeous mini mini quilt on the left. Not only is this hand quilted, the yellowish squares with the blue quilting are hand dyed with botanicals from her own yard.  Plus she sent me a box of ginger cookies.  There is no doubt I got the better end of that swap!!!

Micro mini quilt as a luggage tag
2) Luggage Tags. For those of us who travel, it can sometimes be hard to quickly identify your suitcase in the crowd.  Make your bag stand out with a one of a kind micro mini luggage tag quilt.  As a plus, you will find new quilting friends while you travel when they will stop and complement you on your beautiful bag embellishment.

teeny tiny quilt zipper pull

3) Zipper Pulls. This is the smallest quilt I have made to date and I think it makes a really easy way to make your zipper stand out.  For those of you who make purses or bags, imagine how much more special your project would be with a custom, matching micro mini quilt as a zipper pull.

Micro Mini Quilt Brooch4) A Pin or Brooch. Make a fashion statement.  Add some pizzazz to your favorite outfit with a personally made, coordinating micro quilt as a brooch.  This lets everyone you meet know about your love of  quilting and you will be amazed at the number of compliments you will receive.

 

teeny tiny quilt gift5) Give a Teeny Tiny Quilt as a Teeny Tiny gift. Add these to any Birthday or Anniversary card to mark the occasion as being extra special.
Maybe your favorite quilting friend is finally retiring.  Wouldn’t these make the perfect party favors?
Don’t forget your college bound children or grand-children so they don’t forget how much they are loved.

mini mini quilt refrigerator magnet

 

6) Refrigerator Magnets. I collect these and people know to bring me unusual ones from wherever they visit.  If you like decorating your fridge or know someone who does, these make the perfect gift.  Yes, it is OK to give yourself a gift.

This block is called “Round and Round We Go” is from the book “Teeny Tiny Quilts” by Donna Lynn Thomas.

7Mini quilt coaster) Coasters or Small Mug Rugs.  This is a traditional, and probably the most common, use for a teeny tiny quilts. Mug rugs can be anywhere from 4” X 4” to 6” X 9”  Coasters are generally between 3” X 3” to 4” X 4” and can be either round or square.
This pattern is called Mini Prismatic Medallion and is free at http://www.craftadream.com/

You can also see it on Instagram at #miniprismaticmedallion

Micro Mini Comfort Quilt

7) Mini Comfort Quilts.  This was an idea by Marcia Wachuta ( http://wwww.craftysewing.com #marciasminicomfortquilts) who makes and sells these .  They come with this note: “ I want you to have this mini comfort quilt.  Tuck it into your pocket and it will keep you warm and comforted, knowing that I am thinking of you and saying a prayer for you.”  (used with her permission)  One of her customers gives these out at hospitals, which I think is incredibly sweet.

I made this one myself.  It is simply a micro mini log cabin quilt.

micro mini quilt ornament8) Christmas Tree Ornaments. Lots of people make these for themselves and as gifts for friends and family. I saw these for sale at the AQS show in Lancaster last Spring (they had a sign saying no photos). Any micro mini pattern can be turned into an ornament just by adding a small string or ribbon for a hanger (which is what that vendor did), but I thought it would be more fun to try something more holiday themed.

Here is a 1 ¾” by 2 ¼” paper pieced tree.
I am including the pattern for this in my newsletter.  Missed the latest issue?  Don’t worry! Every issue comes with a link to the newsletter archive.  Just look for the issue titled, “Micro Mini Quilt Ornament”. mini mini quilt key fob

9) Key Fobs.  What could be simpler.  Add a piece of ribbon to the binding then attach to a key ring.  Everyone in the family will know which keys are yours.  If only that would work with your good fabric scissors.

Teeny Tiny Bed Quilt
10) Doll House Quilts. These are the original Micro Mini Quilts.  Most doll houses are 1:12 Scale (1 inch = 1 foot), which means that this 6″ X 6″ doll house quilt makes the perfect twin size doll house bed spread.

This is a Jacob’s Ladder variation quilt and the little squares are 1/4″ X 1/4″.

 

 

 

In making these little beauties I learned lots of tips and tricks which I will cover in my next issue.

I only write these articles a couple of times a year and I am hoping to have the next one done by spring.

Please subscribe so you will know when it comes out.  Plus subscribers always get extra content.

Why don’t I write these more often?  If you notice, there is no advertising on the site, and I don’t charge any money for the content.  These take weeks and weeks to research, make the quilts and write the articles.  Twice a year is all I really have time for.    But I LOVE that you come and read them.  Please subscribe and leave a comment below.  That is my reward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

30 Replies to “Mini Mini, Micro Mini, and Teeny Tiny Quilts”

  1. I am just learning quilting. Apparently I’ve been making bunches of mini quilts. I’ve been calling them potholders! LOL.

  2. You DO have a picture of the pin you wore today in your newsletter! What great ideas. Do you have any tips for binding these little beauties?

    • Hi Linda.
      The picture of the pin that I wore to the lecture is #4 above.
      There is no binding on this pin. If you click on the picture, you will get a bigger image and see that the corners are a little rounded. I used the “Pillow Case” method of finishing this. I put the front and back face to face, added VERY thin batting. I sewed a scant 1/4″ almost all the way around the turned the whole thing right side out.
      Some of the other tiny quilts used the method where the back is cut 1/2″ wider than the front. After it is quilted, the back is doubled over to the front to form the binding.
      Let me know if you have any more questions.

      Brita

  3. Thank you for a wonderful article, written with such clarity & detail. I found it fascinating and inspiring and will be passing on your details to my class to “prick the spur of their intent” too. Please keep on questioning…looking forward to other in-depth infotorials such as your great one on masks- I wish I had seen that way back at the start of my journey into mask-making as I think I wasted time on some fairly useless designs! Best wishes, Su from Oz

    • I am so happy that you enjoyed the article and thank you so much for sharing it with your class. Hello to the land Down Under, or should I say G’day. 🙂
      Happy Quilting.

  4. I’ve made one mini quilt since I have been sewing and found it challenging. The paper pieced pattern was of scarecrows and trees which I found in a magazine about 15 years ago. Perhaps it’s time to try another.
    I recently found you on YouTube and have enjoyed your tutorials on disappearing blocks. Please keep the ideas coming.

    • Thanks so much for watching. Paper piecing can be challenging but fun.
      Another way to make mico-mini quilts is to use disappearing blocks. Because you start with a bigger piece and then cut them apart, you can make blocks with pieces that look impossibly small. If you look at the article, you can see that the zipper pull and brooch are both disappearing blocks.
      The key fob and doll house quilts are Jacob’s ladder patterns. I made the 4-Patch and Half Square triangle blocks a little bigger, then cut them down to make the Jacobs ladder block.
      Stay Well and Happy Quilting,
      Brita

  5. I have always loved miniature quilts, and the micro-minis are extra precious!! I love the tiny projects that bring quilting into view in everyday ways, like the zipper pull, keychain, brooch, and thinking-of-you! Any and all of these could be wonderful gifts. This post was super-inspiring … thank you for sharing!

  7. I came across this article while checking out your disappearing blocks info. I’m intrigued and now want to try a mini mini disappearing block. Could be fun. Thank you for the inspiration!

    • Hi Christine,
      I want to thank you for reading. Disappearing blocks make FANTASTIC mini blocks. In the article you can see that the zipper pull and the brooch are both disappearing blocks. They work so well for mini mini blocks because you sew the pieces together when they are bigger, then cut it apart resulting with pieces in the sub blocks that would be too small to create on their own.

      Thanks so much for sharing. I would love to see whatever you create.

      Brita

      • How exciting! Thank you for pointing this out. I was wondering if the Disappearing blocks could work. Your seam allowances must be precious! Each of the quilts is so cute. Great article and how amazing that you actually made your examples. Your research was fun to read. Thank you for sharing.

  8. Came across your blog while reviewing the best batting combo to use for potholders. Such a helpful article and now I am binge reading everything else and about to sign up for your newsletter.

    I love the concept of mini/micro quilts as an outlet for my creative sewing without the expense and commitment of a larger, more time consuming project. I am planning to try a number of smaller quilt projects this winter in order to improve my skills and experiment with colour theory, which I don’t seem to have much of an eye for – yet 🙂

    Best wishes from British Columbia, Canada 🇨🇦

    • Hi Lisa,

      Thanks so much for the kind words. I don’t have any advertising on my site so your feedback is the only payment I get.
      I think micro quilts are wonderful and I would love to see what you come up with.

      Brita

  9. Thank you for taking the time to write this interesting article. I found it very interesting and inspiring. I am trying to use up my way-too-big stash and am accumulating a new stash of crumbs. They may become mini quilts that I can share with my other quilting friends and help to continue the new fad.

    • Thanks so much. I am so very glad that you like the article. I love how everything can be used in quilting, even the tiniest of crumbs. The pieces that are too small for crumb fabric get used in cat beds for the local animal shelter. Even the small bits of batting can be used in the mini and micro-mini quilts. I have found that the micro-mini quilts make wonderful “I was thinking about you” gifts. People really love them.

      Brita

      • Brita, thank you So Much for your most wonderful article. I savored every word of it and have so many crumbs of all sizes, I can just get right to it! Today. All the examples you showed are adorable, and your idea of telling people you love that they are special sings in my heart! May the Angels bless you!

  11. Nice article! Interesting to see what’s considered a micro mini quilt. Would love to read tips & tricks for doing traditional binding on minis & micro minis. I’ve done a couple, but maneuvering the quilt and struggling with the binding is a challenge. I’m sure others have much more efficient methods.

    • Thanks so much for responding to this post. I was beginning to despair of anyone wanting to see a sequel to this article. I think these micro mini quilts are so fun to make and are such fun little gifts. If you subscribe, then you will be alerted when the next article comes out. I don’t sell my list and only send out a mailing a few times a year.

      Brita

      • I am waiting and hoping for the sequel! I really appreciate your work. I did subscribe on YouTube (and love your videos) and here. I need to go respond to the verification email but I have been having so much fun that I keep bouncing from one part of your “webworld” to another, taking in so much value and content!

        I hope sometime in the future I can find a quilt guild (or create one) that wants to do your fabulous Zoom classes! What fun.

        • Thank you so much for your kind words. My newsletters are now focused on my most recent obsession, disappearing quilts, so a sequel isn’t in the near future.

          I would encourage you to find a quilt guild. It is a great source of information and inspiration. Many areas have multiple guilds to choose from, so if the first guild you visit doesn’t seem very friendly or just a good fit (it isn’t common but does happen) then try one of the other guilds.

          Thank you so much for subscribing.

  12. Very cute! I used to make miniature quilts in the ’90’s, even had the pattern for one published in “Miniature Quilts Magazine”. I don’t think that the magazine exists now. Fun times!

    • You are right that the magazine is no longer in business but it is exciting that they published your pattern.
      Thanks for reading!

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