Modern Fat Quarter Mini Quilt with HSTs
Just this past Friday, the need arose to quilt, as it often does. Having finished a half square triangle quilt, I was ready for another. But this would be a modern fat quarter mini quilt with HSTs. A fun, fast project to be sure, but for a very special purpose.
This pretty gold and red stack of batik fat quarters had been waiting to become a quilt for some time now. One batik had cute cats in different poses and matched the other fall-inspired colors very nicely. There it was. Just what I needed to get started.
My recent excitement with HST blocks had me ready to try a different size block this time. Again using fat quarters, because I have so many, I laid out my fabrics. Each was stacked on top of each other lining up one corner and the two adjacent sides. This gave me a straight corner to start trimming from.
Magic 8 Method
Preparing to use the Magic 8 Method, the stack of five fat quarters were cut into 18” squares, and then cut into four 9” squares. The two gold fabrics were paired off with the three different reds to create a good contrast for the blocks. I sewed a total of eight Magic 8 blocks and used four for each mini quilt. Not all the red squares were used which are being saved for another project.
Each pair was then marked with diagonal cutting lines. The next step was to sew on both sides of each line and finally cut the sewn blocks into nice neat HSTs. After a quick trim, the blocks were ready to be sewn. Using 32 blocks per quilt, with each measuring apx 4”, the resulting little 18” x 20” mini quilt (give or take a bit here and there) turned out great.
The first Modern Fat Quarter Mini Quilt with HSTs was an Around-the-World variation and the second was a Flying Geese. They fit perfectly onto a fat quarter backing and turned out adorable. A quick diagonal machine quilt across the top with a cute chili pepper binding in the same color scheme finished them off. They were bundled up and delivered that afternoon.
Great Option for Stash Quilting
I am definitely smitten with these HST blocks and love how quick they go together. While they are easy to make, the designs can be very intricate resulting in a gorgeous quilt. Besides, they are perfect for my style of stash quilting and look great with a multitude of fabrics mixed together. There are plans for a couple more very soon.
For more in depth instructions, check out my Modern Fat Quarter Quilting with Half Square Triangles post for all the details.
Here’s the Back Story
The most special quilts I’ve made have been on the spur of the moment. An event occurs that compels me to quilt for somebody. When it’s time for a heartfelt gift for someone special, I make quilts. Therefore, whether it’s for family just because I love them, or a family keepsake, or to celebrate a new baby, making & gifting a quilt for someone is the best I can give. The act of quilting for someone is so gratifying and keeping them close to me makes the process very personal. I can’t think of a more perfect gift.
I’ve said all this to talk about what a challenging week we just had. About a year and a half ago a very hungry, lost, young kitten found his way into our yard. He may have been about 3 months old, but not much more. Of course we fed him and gave him water, but no way was he coming inside. I reminded my family that I’m allergic to cats. They kept feeding him and he never left.
He lived in our yard that summer and he kept us quite entertained, and maybe he grew on us just a bit. Then that fall we had a hurricane coming our way. Though we live inland, the winds were expected to be very high. Could a kitty blow away in the wind? There stood my husband with that little guy wrapped in his arms, worried sick.
A New Family Member Moves In
Yup, he came in and has never left. We love that little guy and decided he needed a name. So Toby became our cat. Once he had his own quilt, I knew we’d be inseparable. So when he became sick, unable to eat, then not even walking, we were all heartsick.
Toby went to the vet’s last Mon with a follow up scheduled on Wed. When we got up Tues morning, we knew he wouldn’t make it another day and brought him to the clinic right away. Toby spent every day last week at the vet’s. After countless tests, x-rays, meds and a blood transfusion, he started to recover. He was so much better this weekend and he’ll be back at the vet’s today for a few hours of observation.
Miracles Come In All Sizes
He’s our miracle kitty, because he came back from what appeared to be an insurmountable illness. It turns out he suffers from autoimmune anemia and his annual shots the week before set off something in his little body he couldn’t fight himself. Our blessing was Gunness, our vet’s wonderful pet clinic cat who gave up some of his blood to save Toby’s life. Granted he didn’t play a big part in the transfusion decision, but he made the difference, nonetheless.
With such a difficult, stress filled week, we all were focused on caring for Toby each night between his daily vet visits. I didn’t even have a chance to think about my blog schedule. As I said, we saw the turnaround on Thurs and were elated, not to mention relieved. We really didn’t expect him to come home just a day or two previously. When emotions run high, I tend to quilt. What better thank you than a quilt, right?
Quilts For A New Friend
As you read above, I had the perfect kitty print fabric in great colors and pulled it together quickly. A little, mini quilt can be the perfect last-minute gift. Especially for a pet owner. When Toby moved in, I recently finished my son’s Wild Rails quilt. Using the leftover blocks, I made a small quilt to match. It has come in handy to protect the furniture, at least a little.
Here’s the Enclosed Card Message
Dear Guinness,
Thank you for helping me get better. I was so sick when I came to your clinic where you & Dr. G took such good care of me. Getting some of your blood helped me a lot! My family and I want to thank you for all you did for me.
Here are two quilts for you and your best friend to enjoy. You can share them with your other friends too. Mimi, my grandmother, made me my very own quilt to sleep on while I’m in her chair. She loves me so much, that when I get out of her chair, she shakes my fur off the quilt to share with everyone else.
We appreciate you and Dr. G very much. Next time I come to visit will be just for a check-up. No more being sick for me!
Sincerely, Toby McGee & Family
Give A Pet Quilt A Try
Toby’s quilt gets used daily and washed regularly. I would have never thought to make a pet quilt, before his arrival. But what a fun idea and such a perfect gift for a pet loving family. It was important to me to thank Dr. G and his entire staff for their medical care and support. And how better to thank someone than through a loved one. Yes, even if it is a cat!
There’s a ton of love in those two quilts. We’ve had a great weekend with Toby who has come so far in just a couple days. I hope you enjoy our all-is-well-in-the-end story and the cute little quilts I made on Friday morning for Guinness. They meant the world to me, as does our sweet, little Toby.
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Great result for Toby, so pleased he is better, and I love your ‘thank you’ quilts.
We had a second round of fire alerts here so first to be evacuated with the help of a friend was a carload of cats, and half a carload of flying foxes that I had in care after rescue. After a week and a half all of them were very pleased to return to a safe home. It’s such a relief to get the animals away from danger. Best wishes, Barbara
So glad to hear everyone is safe, Barbara! With all you’ve had to deal with, you are a wonderful woman to look out for all those animals facing fire danger. I pray that you all remain safe and the fire danger recedes quickly.
Toby is still under doctor’s care but immensely improved. We’ll go visit Guinness & Dr. G later this week for a check up. Thank you for keeping him in mind.
Lea