A local quilt shop put out a call for entries to a contest called “Don’t Bug Me”. The mini quilt should represent any bug you fancy, real or imagined. The quilts will hang in a bakery and be voted on by the patrons.

I chose the Praying Mantis because I’m always fascinated to see them around our house looking futuristic and a bit terrifying. They look menacing but are actually docile and I like that contrast.

I used all scraps for this project and made it with an applique technique. I traced out segments of the bug on freezer paper using a lightbox. I ironed the freezer paper onto a piece of fabric treated with fusible product. I cut out the pieces and placed them on the drawing done on parchment paper.

I didn’t have a big enough piece of the Pickle background so I put in a small border and then continued with filling in the border with the other small pieces.

I quilted this on my long arm with Joyful-Pearls from My Creative Stitches.

After the pieces were set and finished with a zig zag stitch all around, I added a deep red binding.

The backing is also made from a Kaffe Fassett scrap piece. I added labels and a hanging sleeve.

Mantis

June 2025

12” x 12”