Bolt Mini Quilt Pattern
All About the Bolt Mini Quilt Pattern
Introducing Bolt, the newest addition to the beloved Quilt Rune mini quilt pattern collection. As a quilter, I know the joy of discovering new patterns and techniques, and I am thrilled to share this one with you. Bolt is a representation of anger, and comes with a short mindfulness prompt to help you reflect on this emotion in your life.
Driven by my own quest for self-discovery and the therapeutic process of creating, I was inspired to create the Quilt Rune series. Each mini quilt in this collection serves as a symbol for a different aspect of life, allowing for mindful contemplation during the creative process.
Bolt, the tenth installment in this series, takes its name from the lightning that strikes in the midst of a thunderstorm. As with all Quilt Rune patterns, Bolt is thoughtfully designed with its own unique motif and accompanying prompt. With approximately twenty patterns planned for the series, quilters will have a wealth of inspiration at their fingertips.
Why Mini Quilts?
For quilters, mini quilts are a delightful and versatile project. They offer a perfect balance of fun and functionality. Unlike larger quilts, mini quilts require less fabric and can be completed in just a weekend.
But the true beauty of mini quilts lies in their ability to ignite your creativity and refine your skills. With their smaller size, they make for the perfect canvas to experiment with new patterns, colors, and fabrics. And the best part? You can make mistakes without worrying about ruining a larger project.
But that's not all - mini quilts are also perfect for creating personalized throw quilts. By mixing and matching different mini quilts from the Quilt Rune series, you can create one-of-a-kind throw quilts that are uniquely yours. To see how this works, check out the blog post on how to make a Center Spell Throw Quilt and the pattern extensions in the shop. Get ready to dive into the world of mini quilts and unleash your creativity like never before.
Dream it
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Make it
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Dream it 〰️ Make it 〰️
Dream it
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Make it
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Dream it 〰️ Make it 〰️
The Design
As with all the patterns from the Quilt Rune collection, this mini quilt was inspired by a Nordic Rune.
Bolt’s design was inspired by the rune Hagalaz, which represents disruption, change, and a feeling of “this too shall pass”. When thinking about this rune through a lens of healing it represents anger.
The shape of Hagalaz was used as a jumping off point to create something more visually dynamic. You’ll notice that structurally, the shape of the Hagalaz rune and the shapes in the mini quilt design are very different, but the general gesture of the rune is hidden underneath.
One of my favorite parts of this design is the lightning bolt. This motif was used in a couple of other Quilt Runes as well. It’s such a simple but visually striking (pun intended) shape made with just HSTs.
Making sure your HSTs are trimmed and square is the key to matching all those corners. If you’re new to quilting you can check out my Half-Square Triangles (HSTs) tutorial blog post for tips on how to trim your HSTs.
Materials for the Mini Quilt
If you’re looking for a project that's quick, easy, and helps to use up those fabric scraps, this mini quilt is perfect. With just half a yard of background fabric and a small amount for the remaining pieces, you can create a beautiful quilt in no time. Measuring at about 15 by 24 inches, this mini quilt is perfect for using up leftover batting too.
For my version, I chose a design from my Dreaming fabric collection called Lunar Lights in Leaf as the background fabric. Available in various substrates including quilting cotton, organic quilting cotton, and Kona cotton, this fabric adds a dreamy touch to the project. You can find this design and the rest of the Dreaming collection at Hawthorne Supply Co.
The remaining fabrics I used were Kona solids: Doeskin, Roasted Pecan, Lapis, and Peach. I also used Lapis for the backing, binding, and corner pockets (for hanging).
If you're interested in hand-quilting, I used DMC's Pearl Cotton in size 8, color 319. It's my go-to thread size and always yields beautiful results.
New to hand quilting? No problem! Check out my free course, "The Art of Hand Quilting", which covers the basics such as marking and tying knots to help beginners get started.
And once your mini quilt is finished, don't forget to follow my tutorial on How to Finish a Wall Hanging for easy tips on adding corner pockets and displaying your quilt for all to see.
Make Your Own Bolt Mini Quilt
Bolt is not just a mini quilt pattern, but a tool for self-reflection and mindfulness. Through its design, inspired by the Nordic rune Hagalaz, it encourages us to think about anger in our lives.
All Quilt Rune mini quilts, like Bolt, offer a unique opportunity for creative expression, skill-building, and the possibility to mix and match for larger projects. If you’d like to make a larger quilt with your Quilt Runes, check out the pattern extensions Simple Spell and Center Spell or the How To Make A Center Spell Throw Quilt blog post.
Whether you're a seasoned quilter or just starting out, I hope you'll give Bolt a try and that you enjoy making it. If you enjoyed this post, or know someone who might, please consider sharing it with a friend.
Wishing you abundance in creativity and flow!
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