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.

Artwork by Andrea Zuill at Leaping Lotus, Solana Beach, CA

   Now that I have this small retail store (at Leaping Lotus in Solana Beach, Ca) I have to decorate it.  This is hard for me.  I don’t decorate.

Artwork by Andrea Zuill at Leaping Lotus, Solana Beach, CA

   What I wound up doing is creating faux frames by designing, printing and cutting  frames out of paper to cover my already framed pieces.  I used 3M ’s double sided sticky tape to apply everything.  The tape is low tack and comes right off when it’s time.  I tested it before I did all this work.  I have these nice frames under the paper frames and I didn’t want to ruin them with adhesive.

Badbird Embroidery Pattern by Andrea Zuill

   Wow, that last month went fast!  At my Flickr Group, Badbird’s Patterns,  I received the suggestion that I should create a angry, evil little bird pattern.  Why didn’t I think of that before!  I base my whole life on small irritated birds. Making a pattern of my alter ego should have been a no brain-er.

Like usual, please click on the image above to get the full size pattern.

 In the past I have listed places where you can find embroidery patterns, both free and not so free.  So, dumb me, I thought I would do it again.  Wow!  I can’t believe how many sites there are in which to get embroidery patterns.

  In gathering these sites together there is a real possiblity that I didn’t  get everyone who carries cool patterns.  Please feel free to let me know what I have missed.  I will do a update post to make sure I cover everyone.

Also,  This list is in no particular order.  Some of these  sites are blogs and you will have to search their blogs to find their patterns.  Many of these sites offer patterns on Flickr,  blogs, Etsy, Artfire and other places.  Since my head was already hurting from  trying to piece this article together, I will leave it to you to explore each pattern supplier.  And lastly,  many of these sites have both patterns to buy and free patterns.  

ps-  I don’t have a personal relationship with many of these pattern suppliers.  I have no idea if any of them are evil.

Vintage Transfer Finds

Needle N’ Thread

Meggie Cat

Sew Mama Sew

Needle Crafter

September House

Three Sheep Studio

Gina Matarazzo

Penguin and Fish

Hedge Hog Productions

 Jacque Davis  (flickr)

Vol25

Wild Olive

Annie Oakleaves

Make Do N’ Mend

Sara Chung

Urban Threads

Merwing (Little Dear Tracks)

Doe-C-Doe

Amy Brinkman Designs

Nishale’s Art Shop

Polka & Bloom

Revidevi

Sew it’s for You

Art Coffee Words

Hudson Holidays

A Little Sweetness

Follow The White Bunny

Sew Lovely Embroidery

Sibling Craftery

Corvus Tristis

Bustle & Sew

Wool and Hoop  I know her personally and we are carried by the same art gallery in Marfa, TX, Galleri Urbane.   Besides her wonderful shop and online store she has two of the cutest kids I have ever seen.

The last three  pattern makers listed you should already know about.  If you don’t, hang you head in shame. 

Sublime Stitching

Aunt Martha, aka Colonial Patterns

Me! Badbird  – I figure you know who I am if you are looking through my blog.  Also, I am totally awesome.  Spread the word….

Here is the subject for my embroidered portrait, Button.  You can’t tell from this photo but Button is only about 8 pounds.  He is a little guy.

This is the drawing I’ll base the portrait on.  The image has been made a bit more graphic and with embroidery in mind, such as the shading is done with dots.  Not everyone would approach a portrait like I do.  Another technique is a embroidered painting.  A embroidered painting is created by filling the whole image using embroidery floss as your “paint”.  Or, you could make the image more graphic, heavily stylized or even flat.  For me the challenge is to create a a portrait that captures the subject.  I don’t want a image that is a picture of a terrier mix but a portrait of Button.  

I Think a lot about how I want this piece to look as I make the drawing.  I constantly ask myself, ” How will I represent the hair?” or, “How will I add the deepth, from light to dark, to this piece?”.    I have certain techiques I use, such as outlining, dotted shading, and flat filling stitches and I try to keep them all in mind. 

Above is my finished pattern.  Even though it is pretty detailed it is still just for reference.  As I stitch the design I am free to make changes.

Compare the photo, drawing, and the pattern.  You’ll be able to see the differences.  I try not make an exact copy of the original photograph, but  my own  personal interpretation.  I’ve  added flowers to this piece which will add color and I just like stitching  flowers.

Here is some other embroidered dog portraits:

Berlin Embroidery Designs

Mr. X Stitch

William Schaff

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.

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. 

Click on each image to see the full size version.

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I will add more to this in a few days……