March 17, 2017

St. Patrick's Day Rainbow Mini Quilt

Happy St. Patty's Day to you! I woke up today with an idea and just HAD to make it. I struggle with impulsivity- it seems to be a trait that comes hand in hand with creativity, and can be a curse and a blessing!


Obviously this isn't quite how rainbows work, but I wanted to give piecing within a curve a try, and it worked! Here's how to do it, assuming you already know the basics of piecing curves. First, I pieced a half circle using the EZ Dresden ruler with 10 blades that are 4" long.


Next, using the Circle Savvy ruler fold the rainbow patchwork in half and trim at the 10 1/2 and 4 1/2 mark. The fold is at the bottom. I didn't follow the directions and placed the fold at the bottom line, not the fold line.

I realize there are a lot of gadgety rulers going on here. Thing is, I love them both to death. I dislike working with paper templates, and both the dresden and the curve one can be used forever, with every size I'll ever need. I really love having them around!


Next cut a piece of background to 14" x 7" and fold in half.


With the fold at the bottom once again, trim the white background using the Cirlce Savvy ruler just like you did for the rainbow, but at the 9 1/2 and 5 1/2 marks. Here are the pieces still folded in half:


The middle arc won't be used. Open them up and pin and sew the top and bottom piece on either side of the rainbow patchwork. Here's what the top looks like after you sew and before you press. Curves are so strange! I'm still kind of getting used to them.


Then, sew a 14" x 4 1/2" piece of "grass" to the bottom. Baste, quilt, and bind according to your pleasing and voila! You can see the bottom curve gave me some trouble, but perfect is the enemy of trying new things, right? Or something like that.


My Kindergartener loves festivity and will be so delighted with this when he gets home today. I will assign him to make a pot of gold and a leprechaun to go with it, which will be his great honor :) Maybe some day I'll try one with the colors going the right direction. The thought gives me the shivers right now, but never say never!

Hope you have fun celebrating this somewhat silly, but very happy holiday. I'm off to start the corned beef and cabbage and put green dye in the toilet to make it look like a leprechaun used it. My boys will die over that!

4 comments :

  1. Beautiful rainbow. I've never heard of the circle savvy ruler but it looks helpful.... great idea about the toilet

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  2. It is the time of the year to have fun and socialize with your loved ones. This day is celebrated as a national holiday of Ireland. https://medium.com/@wiley.waters

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