No special feet used here. I am using 1/4" seams also but like was mentioned before--trim where needed. Most of my seams are pressed open so I am using a shorted stitch length(1.5 on my Viking).

I agree with Andree--I don't consider this a mini. I would like to do a mini though.

My methods are about the same as others...I generally sew a 1/4 in seam and trim to 1/8, as may be
necessary, when sewing very mini "minis".

Ritzy...Absolutely gorgeous as usual !!!!

But I don't consider this half-size a mini...
I would probably go down to an eight as seam allowance...

Andrée

suehenyon wrote: I stitch a "regular" 1/4 inch on my Janome 9900 (9mm) (with the transparent 1/4" foot without the little guide).
For the Blanket stitch, I use 1.8 in lenght, and 2.0 in width - when the letters are really narrow, I might go down to 1.5 in width.
Andrée

curiosity questions for mini-makers:

Are you using machines with 4 mm, 5 mm, or 9 mm feed dogs (or some other size), what feet are you using, and how wide are the seams?

I had enough of a hard time with Kansas troubles to make me wonder if I'd ever get a mini together, BUT thanks to Robin Gausbeck, I did put the magnifying lens back on my machine which makes a huge difference for the applique stitching

Ritzy, you are so amazing with color and the mini is so exciting!

It is stunning...now over to Show & Tell...

So I fought the quilt and the quilt won. Check out my comments in the show and tell.

I love to see what you do half size. They are all so cute

I decided to make my "n" over too. It doesn't cover as much surface area as the other but I think I like it better. Problem may be that there is not enough contrast in the background and the color of the "N". I am living with it for a few days before I decide. Andree, yours looks great.

Since I couldn't wait any longer (!!!) to get the correct version of the letter "N", I printed the "close-up" version of the quilt (see blog November 9th 2013) so that the finished block measures 3-1/2 inch.

I cut out the "N" to make a template.





BUT.... When something is "always" done for you, sometimes you tend to forget.... THAT YOU MUST TRACE THE REVERSE SIDE...





My "almost" finished panel measures 4" x 7-1/2" from raw edge to raw edge:

Step 7: as per instructions.

STEP 8: You should trim excess fabric from the top edge of the stripes, 1/2" away from the seam. - but I didn't do it right away...

Step 9: Sew the 7/8" x 1-1/2" background (or 1" x 1-1/2" if oversize) to both sides of the green 7/8" x 2" (or 1" x 2" if oversize) rectangle. Join that unit to the bottom of the basket unit.

If you cut oversize, now would be the time to trim...: Align the seam of the top of the basket with the 1/2" mark on the ruler (you see the extra 1/8" at the bottom: this needs to go...)




STEP 10: Using the appliqué pattern, trace a line 1/4" away from the dotted line, to align the edge of the background fabric:




Continue as per instructions.

Finished block from raw edge to raw edge is 4"`

NANCY'S BASKET

Panel size (finished) 7" x 3-1/2" BLOCK SIZE (finished) 3-1/2" x 3-1/2"

Cutting instructions:

Basket: 1 rectangle 1-7/8" x 4"
Basket bottom: 1 rectangle 7/8" x 2" ( you may decide to cut oversize (wider) like I did= 1" x 2")
Basket top border: 2 strips 1" x 10-1/2" - one of each color (I did not reduce this measurement, since I will paper-piece this part)
Basket handle: 1 strip 3/8" X 6" cut on the bias (my preferred method is to fold in thirds. If you wish to use another method, then adjust this measurement. The finished width will be 1/8".)

Background:
2 rectangles 7/8" x 1-1/2 (or 1" x 1-1/2" if you cut oversize like I did)
2 squares 1-7/8" x 1-7/8"
1 rectangle 2" x 4"
1 square 4" x 4"

Step 1: As per instructions, using the background 1-7/8" squares.

Step 2 : As per instructions (but I pressed toward the basket - personal preference).

Step 3-4-5: I decided to paper-piece using graph paper every 1/4 inch. I cut the 2 strips in 1-1/2 pieces, and between each round, I cut the excess fabric to leave between 3/8" and 1/2":




Step 6: Trim one edge of the unit, leaving as much as possible (you should have at least between 1" and 1-1/2"). Trim the sides of the unit, to have 1/2" of each color on each side.




The finished unit should be 4":

My "almost" finished panel (yes, yes, still need to blanket stitch...)