My November 2021 One Monthly Goal was to make a reindeer mini quilt. A few months ago I purchased the Sleigh Ride Sew-Along foundation paper piecing pattern from Juliet at The Tartankiwi. She is one of my favorite FPP designers, and when I saw her Sleigh Ride pattern, I really wanted to make a table runner with three reindeer and a sleigh to add to my holiday decor this year, but a mini quilt with just one reindeer was much more doable.
![IMG_0721[1307]](https://quiltingisinmyblood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/img_07211307.jpg)
If you read many of my blog posts, you’ll know that I tend to quilt very minimally, but I had fun experimenting with different kinds of quilting with this mini quilt. First I did some quasi straight line quilting using a light grey thread (Aurifil Dove 2600 50 wt) on all four borders with the width between the lines slightly varied. Next I outlined the reindeer with the same grey thread and then I also stitched around the inner perimeter of the reindeer with matching brown and gold-brown thread. And THEN I got a little adventuresome! I wanted to add some texture to the reindeer’s fur and remembered Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl sharing about thread-painting her amazing Stone Sheep mini quilt. Now she used many colors and weights of thread that she explains in detail in this Auribuzz Thread Matters: Pairing Thread Weight and Needles post. I only used a brown Mettler 712 50 wt thread, but I still like the texture created with this thread. Initially I did some free motion quilting to “paint” the fur texture, but because this mini quilt was only 15.5″ by 15.5″, I actually had more success using my walking foot and flipping the quilt around keeping my needle down.
Finally I hand-quilted some gold stars using DMC 5282 gold metallic floss (most definitely NOT a friendly thread for hand quilting!). I also added a barely visible french knot eye in DMC black floss.
All I need to do now is to cut some dowel to hang this mini quilt. I had planned to take it to my office but decided to keep him home. So instead I made TWO mini quilts to take to my office that I will share about tomorrow in my To-Do Tuesday post with Texas Quilt Gal.
Linking up to Elm Street Quilts: November 2021 OMG Finish.
Quilting is in my Blood 
Your reindeer mini turned out great, Mary! I love seeing how you quilted it. I agree that mini quilts like this one are great places to try different quilting ideas. I like the gold stars you added, but sounds like the metallic floss was difficult to sew with. It does add some fun detail, though!
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How fun to experiment a little and have some fun – it looks great! I’m glad you will hang it right away, so you can smile each time you see it. It will be a fun addition for your holiday decor, too!
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What a great finish, Mary! The thread painting on the reindeer looks wonderful and adds so much. And I really like that you found what works best for you with the walking foot. Well done!
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Hi Mary! Oh gosh, I remember Yvonne’s thread painting!! You did a great job on this all around but I especially love the little addition of the twinkly stars. This would be such a cool project as the table runner to proposed. Maybe for next year?! I love everything about this finish. Great job, Mary. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
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Your reindeer is wonderful! I like your “quasi straight line quilting” as well as your thread texture and your beautiful hand quilting. Nice job!
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