A little bit of EPP, a lot of pretty fabric, and 12 other reasons to join Machine Sampler Minis!

A little bit of EPP, a lot of pretty fabric, and 12 other reasons to join Machine Sampler Minis!

Why Machine Sampler Minis 2026 Is the Perfect Way to Learn New Quilting Techniques

Have you ever admired a quilting technique but hesitated to try it because it felt too intimidating, too time-consuming, or too expensive to learn on a full-sized quilt?

You’re not alone.

One of the biggest hurdles for quilters is the leap between wanting to try a new skill and actually cutting into fabric. That’s exactly why Machine Sampler Minis 2026 exists.

Created by 13 quilt pattern designers, Machine Sampler Minis, available from 13 to 20 June 2026, is a collection of 13 mini quilt projects designed to help you learn, practise and build confidence with a wide range of quilting techniques, all in manageable, scrap-friendly projects. Each mini includes a pattern and a video tutorial from the designer who created it.

For just USD$12 (AUD$17), you receive:

  • 13 mini quilt patterns
  • 13 designers
  • 13 video tutorials
  • 13 different quilting techniques
  • A full year of access to the video content
  • PDF patterns are yours to keep forever

CLICK FOR THE 2026 MACHINE SAMPLER MINIS

Why Mini Quilts Make Great Teachers

Mini quilts are an excellent way to learn.

Instead of spending weeks making a large quilt only to discover you don’t enjoy a particular technique, a mini lets you experiment in an afternoon. You can test a new skill, build confidence, use up scraps, and finish something beautiful without a huge
commitment.

They’re also wonderfully versatile.

Your finished minis can become:
  • Wall hangings
  • Mug rugs
  • Cushions
  • Tote bags
  • Table décor
  • Gifts
Or simply a collection of beautiful little quilts that remind you how much you’ve learned.

CLICK FOR THE 2026 MACHINE SAMPLER MINIS

The Techniques You’ll Learn

Machine Sampler Minis 2026 includes a wide variety of quilting techniques, making it ideal for beginners, confident beginners, or experienced quilters wanting to expand their skills.

Inside the bundle you’ll explore:
  • Double Dresdens
  • Curves
  • Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP)
  • No-Trim HST's
  • Raw-Edge Appliqué
  • Square-in-a-Square
  • Quarter Square Triangles (QSTs)
  • Half Square Triangles (HSTs)
  • English Paper Piecing (EPP)
  • 60-Degree Angled Piecing
  • Stitch & Flip
  • Half-Circle Blocks
The beauty of the bundle is that you don’t need to make all 13 projects. Pick the techniques that interest you now and save the others for later.

Meet Flowerpane

My contribution to Machine Sampler Minis is Flowerpane, a 12½" x 12½" English Paper
Pieced block designed to celebrate those floral fabrics that are simply too pretty to chop into tiny pieces.
Flowerpane combines:
  • English Paper Piecing (EPP)
  • Hand appliqué
  • Fabric auditioning and fussy-cutting opportunities
  • Colour play with scraps.
  • Large-scale floral fabrics
The block features a framed floral centre surrounded by an English paper pieced border made from half-inch hexagons and jewels. The EPP frame is then appliquéd onto a background fabric, creating a design that feels part patchwork, part picture frame, and part tiny garden.

Why I Designed Flowerpane

I suspect most quilters have at least one fabric they’ve been saving because it’s “too nice to cut.”

You know the one.

The print is gorgeous. The flowers are large. Every time you pull it out of the cupboard, you admire it, then put it away because you can’t quite decide what to do with it.

Flowerpane was designed for that fabric.

Rather than slicing a favourite floral into dozens of tiny pieces, the large-scale print becomes the star of the show. The EPP frame acts like a decorative window, drawing your eye straight to the fabric inside.

It’s a project that lets you enjoy both worlds:
  • The satisfaction of stitching tiny EPP shapes
  • The joy of showcasing a beautiful fabric exactly as it deserves

CLICK FOR THE 2026 MACHINE SAMPLER MINIS

What You’ll Learn: Making Flowerpane

Although Flowerpane is a mini project, it introduces several useful skills that can be applied to larger quilts and future projects.

English Paper Piecing

You’ll learn how to:

  • Glue baste EPP shapes.
  • Work with hexagons and jewel shapes.
  • Whip stitch shapes together
  • Construct a decorative EPP frame.

Working with Small Shapes

Flowerpane uses:

  • 56 hexagons
  • 4 jewel shapes

This makes it a great introduction to precision EPP without committing to a large EPP quilt.

Appliqué

Once the frame is completed, you’ll learn how to appliqué it onto the background and floral centre fabric, including techniques for handling the pointed jewel shapes neatly.

Fabric Selection and Framing

One of the most enjoyable parts of Flowerpane is auditioning fabrics and deciding what floral print deserves centre stage. The included frame template even helps you preview how different fabrics will look before you commit.

A Bonus Coming Later

Flowerpane may be a mini block, but it won’t stay mini forever.

Machine Sampler Mini participants will receive an additional Flowerpane project from me later, either as a larger cushion design or a quilt layout built around the block.
So when you make Flowerpane, you’re not just learning a new technique. You’re creating a building block for an even larger project in the future.


Is Machine Sampler Minis Worth It?

If you’re looking for:
  • A low-risk way to try new techniques
  • Projects that can actually be finished
  • Inspiration for using scraps
  • Guidance from multiple quilting teachers
  • Excellent value for money
Then the Machine Sampler Minis is hard to beat.

For less than the cost of a single quilt pattern, you’ll gain access to 13 projects, 13 video tutorials, and a toolbox of techniques you can use for years to come.

And if you’ve got a favourite floral fabric waiting patiently in your stash, Flowerpane is ready to give it the spotlight it deserves. 🌸🪡

CLICK FOR THE 2026 MACHINE SAMPLER MINIS

Available 13-20 June 2026

Affiliate Disclosure - This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I genuinely use, love, or believe will be useful to my readers.

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