Thursday, September 19, 2013

"DO NOT DISTURB" Wall Quilt

"DO NOT DISTURB" WALL QUILT




For this project, I used the "Do Not Disturb" pattern by Country Threads.
The quilt consists of 3 parts:  Foundation blocks, borders, and appliques.
Finished size:  14” by 29”




Supplies needed:
1.     Black fabric (for cat)                         1/8 yd.
2.    5 different light beige fabrics                 Fat quarters or scraps
3.    4 different oranges                           Fat quarters or scraps
4.    Various gold, red, light green,                 Fat quarters, scraps, or charm packs  
   dark green,teal, rust, purple,                                   
   brown and black
5.    Binding                                        1/8 yd. coordinating fabric
6. Quilters template plastic (for appliques)    

7.     Fusible web (like Wonder Under).  tear away stabilizer is necessary for satin stitch appliques, but I don’t use it for the blanket stitch.


MY FABRICS





FOUNDATION BLOCKS
Cut the following:
·        From 3 of your light fabrics, cut 1 each:  4 ½” x 7 ½”,   4 ½ “ x 5 ½”,   5 ½” x 12 ½”
·        From other 2 of your light fabrics, cut 2 each:  6 ½” x 9 ½”
·        Piece together as shown:


(drawing not to scale—use measurements)



BORDERS
Cut the following:
·        Green                             1 each 2½” x 9 ½”
·        Purple, green, lt brown            1 each 3 ½” x 3 ½”
·        Various browns                    1 each 3 ½” x 19”,    14 each 2”x2”
·        7 different colors                7 each 2” x 3 ½”
·        14 different colors               14 each 2 ½” x 2 ½”
·        Brown                             1 each 1 1/2 “ x 2 ½”

1.     Green 2 ½ x 9 ½ piece is left border
2.    Sew purple, green and lt brown 3 ½” squares together for right border
3.    Sew the 14 different 2 1/2 “ squares and 1 brown 1 ½” x 2 ½” piece together for bottom border
4.    Attach above 3 sides to the foundation


5.    Make 7 “flying geese” units from the 7 different 2” x 3 ½” pieces and 14 2 x 2” squares. 


                 You can see my favorite chalk marker in this picture
                 below.  It’s called “Chakoner”.  It’s a bit pricey, 
                 but worth it.  You get a very fine, even line. And it’s 
                 refillable. You can purchase one here:
                       http://www.sewfancy.com/notions8.htm
                




Using a fine tipped chalk marker, draw a line from corner to corner on 7 of the brown 



 Repeat going the other direction on the other 7 brown squares.  It is important to do it this way only if you’re using a directional pattern as I did.                                                                                                            

                  
·        Sew all of the same direction marked squares on your 7 various rectangles, RST (right sides together) as indicated by the purple line.  



·         Before pressing open, cut right upper triangle off leaving ¼” allowance:



·        Press open on seam:

o  
·        Repeat with the remaining brown squares on the other side of the triangle.  You will end up with 7 flying geese units.

6.     Sew the flying geese units together with the 1 ½” x 19” rectangle to make the top border.
   
                              

APPLIQUES
1.     Trace all applique pieces onto the Quilters template plastic.  (I like to use a fine point sharpie).  Cut out all pieces so you now have templates.  You can make your own design, or purchase the pattern here:                            https://shop.countrythreads.com/product.php?productid=687&cat=0&page=1

2.    Trace around each template piece on the fusible web. Cut out pieces, leaving a small margin around your marks.  It does not need to be exact at all.  You’ll cut it exactly after you've fused it to the fabric.




3.     Press rough side of fusible web to the wrong side of your fabric, according to manufacturer’s directions.

4.    Cut around your marks on the fusible web that is attached to your fabric.


**FOR NEXT STEPS, START WITH THE BOTTOM PIECES OF YOUR APPLIQUE**

5.  Peel paper backing off of the applique; position it on your foundation with borders.  Fuse it to the background following the fusible web manufacturer’s instructions.            


6.     Applique the piece to your foundation with either a satin stitch or a blanket stitch.  I used a blanket stitch to add to the country feel of this wall quilt.  



Close up of blanket stitch

               
7.    Continue until all pieces are appliqued to the foundation.


8.    Next, layer your project with the batting and backing.

9.     Now quilt the three pieces together as desired.  I quilted:
·        *around each pumpkin
·        *curved stripes length wise on each pumpkin
·        *around the foundation pieces that show (large beige rectangles)
·        *up and down diagonal around the bottom border squares
·        *perpendicular straight lines between the flying geese units and continuing similarly spaced all the way across the top border

10.    Prepare your binding by cutting 2 ¼” strips of fabric long enough to go around the perimeter of your quilt plus 12-15” extra.  Iron in half lengthwise.


11.    Continue binding your quilt.  Rather than try to explain it, I’d prefer to refer you to a YouTube video by the Missouri star quilt company:  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/175288610469836095/


THE FINISHED PRODUCT!


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Christmas is Coming

Two years ago I saw a darling quilt my neighbor made using a panel and pretty borders.  I already had a Christmas panel, so I decided to make one for my oldest child.  
But what about the 3 other children?
I chose to make one for each child.  They all match on the front, but have different backings.  
So far I've made two.  
I hope to have the other two made by Christmas this year.


Monday, September 9, 2013

Keepin' Warm

My youngest son, who grew up in California, decided to go to college in Utah.
And he found out it was cold.
At 6'2" tall, he didn't have a blanket that would cover him head to toe.  
So at his request, I made a very loooong, warm quilt for him.
It has two layers of heavy batting inside.
He still lives in Utah, and it's still keepin' him warm.




Monday, September 2, 2013

Pinwheels and Sailboats

A couple of years after my first grandchild was born, I was blessed with another one.  
So I decided to try another quilt--this one was quite a bit bigger.  
Instead of quilting by hand, I now had a friend with a long arm quilter.  
She does a great job! 
 And I can spend more time on the piecing of the quilt front.



Now this guy's all grown up, too!