Free pattern time! How many of you guessed that this Be Mine was February’s free pattern? (see previous article) Due to extreme laziness I wasn’t about to do two Valentine patterns so I got double useage from this design.
As always, click on the pattern below to get the full size image.
Here is how I prepare a small quilt for quilting.
I tape the background fabric, right side down, on a flat work space. Tape the four corners first, then the edges.
Make sure the background fabric is flat and wrinkle free. When taping make sure that background fabric is somewhat tight. Next, lay down your batting, making sure it is smooth. Lastly, lay down quilt top, right side up.
Now you have a sandwich of your three quilt layers. The next step is to safety pin all three layers together. I create a grid with each safety pin being about 3 inches from the other pins. Once the safely pins are in place you can remove the tape from the edges. Your quilt is now free to move around without fear of you fabric moving out of place.
The safety pins secure all 3 layers temporarily so you can baste your layers together. You baste stitch your quilt in a grid in between the safety pins. Once this is done you can remove the pins.
Some might think, “When all 3 layers are laying flat, why not just baste the layers together without using the safety pins?”. Well, it’s very hard to keep all the layers nice and smooth and fabric seems to like to move around.
Putting together a small quilt in this method allows me to quilt without the need for hoops or stretcher bars. This also means I can take this quilt on trips. I just roll it up and unroll it when I am at my location. All I need is my quilt, scissors, thimble, needles and quilting thread.
I think I want to write a book. A craft book to be more specific. But, here’s the thing, I don’t know what kind of craft book.
Here is what I think I am good at:
Designing. I think that I am pretty ok with designing embroidery and quilt patterns.
Choosing colors. It took a long time, but I got a handle on it.
Finding a simple, none fussy way to create quilt and fabric art. This includes how to design, compose and choose colors.
What I am not good at:
Sewing projects like purses, pillow cases and potholders.
Creating projects in general.
Ugh, I need help. Let me know what you would want from me.
I did a tutorial a while back on applique. It was about how I appliqued the White Deer Quilt. Well, I have created a more universal Applique tutorial. If you have any question let me know.
Click on each image to see the full size version.
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I will add more to this in a few days……
Here are more followers, of the new world order, with their creative endeavers.
LOVE BEAR by GableKnits
See her stuff at Flickr: www.flickr.com/people/23769279@N05
I have made some headway on the Snake in the Grass Quilt. Almost everything has been appliqued to the background material. The exception is on the white panels. On the white panels I have not added the color shapes yet. I got into a hurry to embroider. I think that it is interesting to note the difference between the appliqued shapes without embroidery and the shapes that have embroidery.
I have made the basic pattern which I will use to embroider the queen image. I made this pattern by scanning in the drawing into Adobe Illustrator and then printing it out in sections on 8.5″ x 11″ paper. I then taped these paper panels together, cutting away paper on the back so I would have only a single layer of paper. Now all I would have to do is either draw on the pattern with a iron-on transfer pencil and iron the design on my fabric or tape the pattern onto a window, then tape the fabric over the pattern (letting the sun shine through and reveal the pattern) and using a fabric pen to trace the pattern onto the fabric. I haven’t decide which method to use yet.
Hey, my friend Caroline has this cool felted slipper tutorial going. Check it out. If you do the project let her know, who knows, she might post you on her blog.
While I was away in Texas I spent every evening working on the White Deer Quilt. Basically I had all the appliqued shapes stitched to the background material and had put together the front piece, batting and back piece. I know some of you would like to know the methods I used in putting the 3 layers of a quilt together, but I am hoping to do a full tutorial, on a much easier quilt, later.
Just in case you are wondering, I don’t use a frame or hoop to quilt. I have everything well based together so the layers stay in place.
The finished size is 32″ x 48″. This size is arbitrary. Just for fun you should compare the original drawing (click on the tutorial category) with the finished piece.
Click on the image below and get a little peek at the new quilt I just started!
Since I last wrote about this quilt I have finished all the embroidery, and appliqued the image onto a green background. I appliqued the deer image onto the background fabric just like I appliqued all the small fabric shapes and the deer. Notice that the wavy edge around the deer is on purpose. It also looks kind of weird because of my camera angle. I finished the edge with the maid’s hair stitch. I had originally planned for a bright red border, but then I discovered this acid green. I think it makes the image pop.
Remember to click on the images to get a more detailed view. Also, to see the whole tutorial go to my categories and click on tutorials.
