Just curious about miniature quilts after seeing some on this site. The pieces are so small I was wondering if these pieces are hand sewed and quilted or can a sewing machine really sew those small pieces together without eating them through the feeddogs? Thanks.

Also, do you have a favorite book or web site that has some good info about these?

You can hand or machine sew these miniatures, try using leaders when you start machine piecing :D:D:D

When I make my mini's on the machine I use a 1/8inch seam instead of a 1/4 inch. This makes it easier because the pieces are sometimes only 1/4inch pieces. You have to be very careful to sew a straight line.

i want to make some

I print out paper piece patterns at smaller sizes. Any of the EQ programs are good for this. I use Blockbase for traditional blocks and EQ7 for blocks I draft.

Doesn't your sewing machine eat those tine pieces? Is there a trick to sewing them by machine and they not getting lost under the needle?

I am so fascinated by the mini's on here. I will certainly be watching this thread! =) I took a few of my big quilts and used the scraps as I was going along to make smaller versions of the big but far from mini's.

You can actually get a 1/8 inch foot for many machines, that is just like the 1/4 inch foot. Some people ( and me sometimes ) use the regular 1/4 inch and then cut it down. You can always try that.
Oh, and no, the pieces don't get eaten by the machine.

Below is a comment I made in the 1.5" swap thread. I use 1/4" seams and starch, even when using 3/4" cuts for 1/4" finished pieces.

"I think the first order on the small stuff is to have accurate cuts, then sew an accurate, consistent seam.
One thing one has to watch is how you start and end the seam. I call it the l-r swing. We as sewers tend to start to far to the left, curve into the 1/4" seam allowance and then end up too far from the right making a slight "S" shape in the seam. Try sewing 2 1.5" squares together with highly contrasting thread and see if that's a problem for you. If it is true for you, simply try to start and end straight. I catch myself doing the l-r swing everyonce in while and usually go back and resew the seam correctly.
I don't press open, I get a better match by pressing to the side and butting the two seams together or "locking them in place" as Eleanor Burns would tell you."

For minis, accuracy is a must! Starching fabrics helps too.
I sew a 1/4" seam, and trim it down. Works for me!

I believe that is a problem I am having! Thanks for pointing that out. When I get to the end of the seam, it seems like the machine, but must be me, pulls to the right and I have to rip the seam out and resew. I have been learning to use the metal pointed thing to try to guide it through the foot but forget to use it until after I made the mistake! Thanks again...

first, foundation piecing is generally used!
second, if piecing without foundation, use spray sizing(not starch) to firm up the fabrics,
always use a leader, ender fabric to avoid the feed dog issue..which by the way, is usually caused by wrong tension or wrong/dull needle!

You can find lots of my tutorials and no I don't use foundation piecing. You can get great minis by using my shortcut methods.

If you haven't seen these here are my links for the info I have available:

My free tutorials on the Quilted Paradise Newsletter
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/230-jzl.jsp - cell phone case
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/231-uzl.jsp - bookmarks
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/232-uid.jsp - softbox pincushion 1st half
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/233-uid.jsp - softbox pincushion 2nd half
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/067-ezl.jsp - keychains
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/038-oqk.jsp - mouse pad--star point
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/235-zez.jsp - Ways to go beyond Quilts

My free tutorials on the Quilting Board
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-37915-1.htm - Easy Half Square Triangles
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-36995-1.htm - Butterflys
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-38879-1.htm - Boston Blocks
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-30920-1.htm - Confusion Crazy Quilting
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-23252-1.htm - Tips for HSTs

Rhonda's Workshops and Classes ( in the virtual section)
http://www.quiltingboard.com/virtual...jsp?vsnum=1010

Rhonda's Block directions
http://www.quiltingboard.com/virtual...jsp?vsnum=1010

Rhonda's Dazzling Sampler Quilt - Blocks of the Week Sampler
http://www.quiltingboard.com/virtual...jsp?vsnum=1017

Sampler Quilt Along Blocks and Layouts in one place
http://www.bitsnpiecesworkshop.com/p...QuiltAlong.php

Picture Threads of Rhonda's Patchwork Items
http://www.quiltingboard.com/virtual...jsp?vsnum=1024

My website:
http://www.bitsnpiecesworkshop.com a free teaching site

My EBooks
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/977-owz.jsp - Playing with Boston Blocks
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/983-owz.jsp - Dresden Kaleidoscopes
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/995-owz.jsp - Star Point Block
http://www.quiltedparadise.com/n/822.jsp - Bed Quilts Blocks and Borders with Wings Blocks

I like to use small pieces but with larger seams than normal, then you don't have to add batting. Just like the others said, any flaws like things not lining up tend to show more. They are really fun though, it's definitely worth trying. :-)