Valentine Quilt Top
Recently I was asked to do a tutorial. I had never created a full tutorial on my quilting techique. Let me tell you I thought my brain was going to explode! There are so many details! So, instead of giving up on tutorials I decided to practice creating them.
The first thing I did was change how I attached my applique shapes to my quilt top. I found a tutorial on Youtube (I can’t find the tutorial anymore on Youtube, sorry!) that was a break through for me. Everyone that reads my blog knows that I like to hand sew. I rejected the use of fusible webbing on quilts because it left a hard stiff feeling to the fabric. The new method (at least for me) that I discovered is using the fusible webbing just along the edges of the applique shape. Here is the basic idea of the techique: instead of making the entire applique shape covered with webbing glue, you apply the webbing glue just around the edges.
So here is my tutorial. Please feel free to critique and edit.
The fabric I chose for this quilt top is quilters cotton from my stash. I thought the fabric prints I choose looked good for valentines day. The fabric kind of fit together but they also fight a bit too. The design is based on folk art. I like art that is a bit primitive.
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SUPPLIES
Fabric for the applique – The size should be at least a bit bigger than 8.5″x11″
Fabric for the quilt top - Must be at least a bit bigger than your applique. I used a piece that was quite a bit larger that the applique because I wasn’t sure what I would like for a finished size.
Fusable Webbing ( NOTE: I just tried Steam-A-Seam 2 Double Stick fusible Web and I worked better for the the Steam-A-Seam Lite)
Scissors
Sewing Needles
Pins
Embroidery Needles
Embroidery Hoop
Embroidery Floss
Valentine Quilt Top Pattern
Click on pattern to get the full size image and to print out.
The Applique Pattern: I designed the applique pattern to print out easily on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper.
print out and webbing
Fusible Webbing: (The truth is I don’t know a lot about webbing. I’ll tell you what I used but you may want to experiment on your own.) The fusible webbing I used is Lite Steam-A-Seam 2 by The Warm Company. I used it for the following reasons,
1) It comes in packages of 5 – 9″ x12″ sheets. I didn’t want to buy a whole roll if I didn’t like the results
2) It said right on the package that it is used for applique
3) Also on the package it says that it is permanent
4) Lastly, the webbing I chose had a slightly tacky back so once you get it into place on your fabric you don’t have to pin it down before ironing. It did create a small problem of being hard to place because of the sticky back sticking to it’s self and such.
Transferring the design onto the fusible webbing: The Webbing I used was transparent.
1) I laid the webbing on top of the print out/ drawing and traced, with pencil, the design onto the webbing.
2) Now you are going to draw one more line. This line will be following the design on the inside. I drew this line about 1/4 inch from the design lines.
Drawing the line inside of the design.
Cutting the Webbing:
1) Cut only the inside line of the webbing.
Cutting at the inside line of webbing.
2) Your webbing should look like this :
Webbing with the design cut out.
NOTE: Notice the flower at the bottom of the design. Since the center of the flower wasn’t attached to the rest of the design I had to cut it out separately.
Applying the Webbing to your applique fabric:
1) Make sure that your fabric is ironed.
2) The webbing I used had a lite tackiness to it that when press onto the fabric by hand it stayed in place. But, with a simple design you shouldn’t need anything to hold your webbing in place. If you need to pin the webbing down, place just enough pins hold it in place. Don’t iron on top your pins. Remove the pins at the point right before you iron a specific area. Leave whatever pins you need to hold the rest of the webbing down.
Iron the webbing onto your fabric as per the manufacturers instructions.
Masking sitting on the Fabric
Finish cutting the applique piece:
1) Cut to the outside edge of the appliqued shape.
Cut to the edge of the applique shape.
Fabric cut using the drawing on the webbing for a guide.
Peeling the webbing backing paper off:
1) Peel the webbing backing paper off. You should be able to see the ring of webbing adhesive) right along the edge of the applique.
Peeling the webbing off of the fabric reveals the webbing adhesive.
Iron on the applique:
1) Lay applique shape onto quilt top.
2) Pin your applique shape to the quilt top. Don’t put your pins where there is adhesive.
3) Using the webbing manufacturers instructions iron your applique shape onto the quilt top.
4) Your applique and quilt top should be one*.
*My iron is really old and doesn’t get very hot. Some of the applique corners came up at the tips. Just a little though. Let me know if you corners stayed adhered to your quilt top.
To be Continued in Part Two.
