Have you ever wanted to make a quilt and the idea, the plan, sat in the back of your head for a while, marinating, until you saw the PERFECT collection of fabric to make it? It’s not just me, right? Tell me it isn’t just me.
I’ve wanted to make a quilt using solids to recreate my Persephone Awaits quilt pattern for a long time. I hadn’t prioritized it until my friend, HollyAnne, over at String and Story, put this ​bundle​ together and I knew I had to have it. I joked with her that I tripped on my credit card and oops! The order went through. But seriously, it’s a gorgeous bundle of fabric, right?
My Excitement Wanes?
I was so excited when the fabric arrived! I ran down my driveway to mailbox when the was delivered and practically skipped back inside. I couldn’t wait to get started. The only problem? I thought I ordered bundle of half yards but I ordered a bundle of fat quarters.
The Solution? A Glimmer
I was bound and determined to use this bundle to make a version of Persephone Awaits. So what’s a girl to do? Instead of a Glow Up, this quilt got a little GLIMMER.
WHAT is a Glimmer?
A glimmer is the opposite of a glow up. When we hear glow up we think about a reimagined version of *something* that’s bigger, better, maybe has different colors. But this quilt wasn’t going to be bigger. It was going to be smaller.
Enter the glimmer.
What Changed?
The bordered diamond blocks are made the same way but they are smaller and I added an inner border and a piano key border.
The addition of the piano key border makes this quilt almost (almost) a Zero Waste Pattern. The remaining fabric is minimal. I have some leftover diamonds and strips that I plan to make into something new in the next several days. Stay posted for that.
The Original Version
The original version of Persephone Awaits is a simple, bordered diamond quilt. I made it with 16 half yard cuts. The quilt finishes around 65” square and it’s a quick, easy make. I wrote a long post about it here if you’d like to read more about it here and there’s a longer post about Zero Waste Quilting you can read at We All Sew.
The Updated Version
The updated version has bordered diamonds, a small inner border and a piano key outer border. I created this glimmer with a bundle of 16 fat quarters making it a fun quilt to use with a bundled collection and it’s budget friendly.
There’s Value in Small Quilts
I think it’s easy to forget that there is value in small quilts. Small quilts are just as important as large quilts. They help us hone a technique, test an idea, and they allow us to make something quick and easy just to make something quick and easy. When we’re stuck in a rut a quick, easy quilt is a great way to dive back into sewing and shake off some of the cobwebs. It can kick start us back into motion and that’s important because getting started is the hardest part.
Linky Love
BLOG: Transforming Fabric with Zero Waste Quilting
SHOP: Persephone Awaits Pattern
SHOP: Ombré Fabric Bundles
SHOP: Watermelon Radish Solid Fabric Bundle
I love your small quilt. I make quilts to be used, and make almost all twin or throw size quilts now, very rarely queen or full sized quilts any more. I feel like the smaller quilts are just as useful, a lot prettier, and, of course, easier and cheaper to make. 🥰
Thanks, Charlotta!