Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Tiny Tumble - Leader/Ender???

I had a fabulous time at "Quilt Camp North" on the weekend.  Deanna and I are the biggest Bonnie Hunter fans, and Bonnie's leader-ender project this year is a tumbler quilt
Of course we wanted to start one, but a) we both have gazillions of UFOs and shouldn't start a new project, and b) neither one of us had a tumbler ruler. We talked about how we don't like to purchase a ruler only to use it for one project. Deanna searched around in her sewing room, and found a ruler we could use to cut tumblers. It's called a "squedge" ruler. I cut some 1.5" strips and this ruler worked perfectly to cut out the tumbler shapes. 

The pieces were sooooo cute that I decided to make a "mini tumble".
It was irresistible!
I sewed a couple of tumblers as a leader/ender, and then ditched my main projects, and only worked on the tumbler until it was finished. 

Here is the finished top with 108 tumblers!


27 comments:

Plum Cox said...

That is super cute! I'd never thought of making tiny tumblers like this, but now I want to start!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I love the color combo!

Kaelyn Angelfoot said...

It's great! I always prefer to use smaller pieces when I quilt - not that I'm very good at it but I like the look more than giant pieces. A mini tumbler is adorable!

The Cozy Quilter said...

You are very easily led astray! How is the quilt vortex quilt coming along????

The Cozy Quilter said...

Love the mini tumblers, BTW!

Dresden Quilter said...

It is so sweet! Great use of the ruler!

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

Love, love, love the mini tumblers! I've been wanting to do a tumbler quilt for the longest time (long before Bonnie decided to make tumblers her L&E project) but I don't have a tumbler ruler (nor any quilt that could be used to cut tumblers) so I decided to put the price of a specialty ruler toward the price of a tumbler die. It won't be a mini tumbler like I'd prefer, but it'll be perfect nonetheless. In fact, my die should be arriving today!

Julierose said...

Just adorable mini tumbler piece...hugs, Julierose

Amy said...

"...and then ditched my main projects, and only worked on the tumbler until it was finished..."

HAHAHAHA!!! Love it, Kathy! Way to go full-speed-ahead with inspiration! Chuck the rules aside and QUILT :D

Great, adorable, finish!

Kristin said...

Adorable!

scraphappy said...

Love it when leader and ender projects demand to be finished. So gosh darn adorable. I just love it.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I made a queen size tumblers last year and finished it up this year and in the process of quilting it right now. When I saw Bonnie's - I thought well I am already done with mine I will watch everyone else do theirs now.

Anonymous said...

They are so sweet! Are you going to leave them like this or are you going to add more tumblers and make a big quilt? Either way, she is lovely.

Jo said...

They are so cute. Are you going to do another one now as your leader and Enders.
I can't wait to start mine

Rosa said...

So beautiful.These were calling you!!

Janet O. said...

When I saw that first photo of tiny tumblers in your hand, I wondered if you had been able to wait and actually use it for L/Es. *LOL* Now what?
It is a very sweet little quilt.
BTW, I have tumbler templates in 5 sizes, and have made multiple tumbler projects--from queen size to mini. Are you sure you don't need at least one? : )

AnnieO said...

Isn't Bonnie using a wedge ruler for her tumblers? I have a small container of 3.5" tumblers but your tiny ones are pretty cute! You put those together like one obsessed, *wink*

Deanna W said...

Got mine cut and put together in no time while I was sewing the rows of my quilt top. Then yesterday while shop hopping...I decided to buy a few fat 1/4's to make it larger. So last night I took my rows apart and I am going to make the tumbler larger!! Another UFO started...YOU ARE A BAD INFLUENCE!!!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I love tiny!! Aren't these just sweet - well done.

Teresa in Music City said...

Isn't it hilarious how one inspirational spark can totally derail all our projects in process? LOL!!! Love your little tumblers! I can certainly understand the ruler dilemma. Like most quilters I have far more than I really need - and quite a few I bought spur of the moment and have never used.

Created by Kathi said...

I love Bonnie's quilt cam's a lot too! Love your leader /ender became your retreat project with a finish though :) Kathi

the girlfriend gap said...

Funny how that works : ) . I did the same thing not to long ago with a leader ender project. It is almost finished and my other projects were left to linger once again. They look like little thimbles. Janita

beaquilter said...

squeal!! that's SEW cute, now how big is this charming thing? isn't it funny, how a leader and ender ends up as the main project, then the main sort of ends up as your leader and ender. LOL

Sarah said...

So cute! You made me laugh as we've all done it...started off with a leader and ended and then become so obsessed we don't do anything else!

Kristie said...

Love those! They are so tiny!
-Kristie

Kate said...

Wow, so tiny!. I love those fussy cat kitties peaking out of a few of the tumblers. Very cute!

margaret said...

such small ones a lovely mini quilt