The Tidal Lace Blog Hop continues!
See my previous post for a quick pillow project tutorial.
Check out the rest of the AMAZING projects created with this gorgeous fabric.
Here are the links for all the participating sites:
The Tidal Lace Blog Hop continues!
See my previous post for a quick pillow project tutorial.
Check out the rest of the AMAZING projects created with this gorgeous fabric.
Here are the links for all the participating sites:
This quick pillow utilizes Kim Andersson’s new Tidal Lace fabric collection for Windham Fabrics. It’s a great beginner project or a quick gift for someone special.
Here is the skinny . . .
Cut 21″-long strips of fabric in various widths. I used the earthy tones in the collection near the bottom of the pillow top, watery fabrics in the center part and the airy colors near the top. Join enough strips to form a square 21″ x 21″.
Cut a piece of muslin 24″ x 24″ and a piece of batting 24″ x 24″. Place the batting on top of the muslin, then center the stripped pillow top with right side facing up, on the batting. Hand baste the 3 layers together using random 2″-long stitches to hold the layers together. You can pin baste the layers, but I think hand basting holds them in place better. With a small project like this, hand basting will only take a few minutes.
Quilt the pillow top sandwich in long wavy lines from one side of the square to the other. I used a walking foot and gently moved the fabric from side to side as the machine sewed. My wavy lines were more wavy at the bottom of the pillow top and more straight near the top. Quilt the heck out of it. I am not a proficient machine quilter, but this was a piece of cake and added great texture to the pillow.
Trim the muslin and backing even with the quilt top. Make sure the pillow top sandwich is square and measures about 21″ x 21″. Set aside for now.
The pillow back is made of 2 overlapping panels. These panels can also be pieced. Each panel should be 21″ high and 15″ wide. Once the 2 panels are pieced and trimmed to 15″ x 21″, fuse a lightweight interfacing on the wrong side of each panel. This will give the fabic a nice weight and hold the panels flat. Do not use medium or heavyweight interfacing or the back will gape open. (Trust me on this.)
On each back panel, turn one 21″ edge under 1/2″ and press. Turn this same edge of each panel under 2″ and press. Topstitch the pressed edge of each panel to hold the folds in place.
Overlap the folded edge of one back panel over the folded edge of the other panel by about 4″ and pin together. The pinned pieces should form a square about 21″ x 21″. If you need to, adjust the overlap to get this measurement. Machine baste across the top and bottom of the back, where the panels overlap.
Place the pillow back right side up on your table. Put the quilted pillow front face down on the pillow back, so the pillow front and back are right sides together. Pin and stitch all four sides using a 1/2″ seam allowance.
Turn the pillow cover right side out and press the outer seams and corners. If everything looks hunky-dory, turn it inside out again and trim the outer seam allowance to a scant 1/4″. I always like to make sure everything looks good on the outside before I trim a seam! Turn right side out and press one last time.
You can insert a 20″ x 20″ pillow form now and your done – congrats!
IF you want to create a flange around the outer edge of the pillow, read on . . .
This photo of the pillow back shows the flange well. To create this outer flap, begin by topstitching 1/4″ from the edge of the pressed pillow cover.
Sew another row of stitches 2″ from the outer edges of the pillow cover. I taped a ruler to the bed of my sewing machine 2″ from the needle. See my previous post on Wide Seams for a more detailed explanation. This really helped me sew a straight line!
That’s all there is to creating a “flange”! Insert a 16″ x 16″ pillow form through the opening in the back and take pictures!
Here are a couple other ideas I had while playing with Kim Andersson’s Tidal Lace fabrics. This awesome fabric collection will make its appearance at your local quilt shop in January ’15.
For a modern looking pillow, I started with simple rectangles and added narrow strips around each. Then I used a great Tidal Lace print to fill in the rest of the pillow top. I will add simple channels of stitches when quilting this pillow top.
Another idea I was toying with was to add wavy bias strips of fabric to a simple strip-pieced background. These bias strips haven’t been sewn down yet, but you can see the “painterly” effect that can be achieved.
Pillows are a great way to try new ideas while creating a nice finished piece. Have fun!
I was making a pillow with Wyndham’s new fabric collection by Kim Andersson, called Tidal Lace. It’s gorgeous and I can’t wait to show you; but wait you must, sorry. Kim and Wyndham are doing a blog hop in September, so I should be able to unveil the pillow then.
For this pillow, I wanted to stitch 2″ from the outer edge, to create a flange. I taped my Add a Quarter ruler to the bed of my sewing machine, 2″ to the right of the needle – and voila, instant seam guide! See how easy it was to sew exactly 2″ from the edge? It was like having a 2″ presser foot.
As you can see in this second photo, I also drew a mark 2″ in front of the needle, so I would know when to pivot. (The mark is on the masking tape which holds the ruler to the machine bed.)
Cool, huh?
Ah, dearest readers, it’s been a while since we last corresponded. I apologize for being underground recently.
I’ve been a busy bee, but many of my creations cannot be unveiled just yet. This is a bit silly in my opinion, as my life is an open book for the most part, but as the great architect I.M. Pei said, “There is an element of time in all creative endeavors.” I’m not sure I have that quote exactly right, but you get the idea.
Here is a list of coming attractions:
FranklinWillow
That is the name of my new sewing pattern business! I’ll have a website soon where you can order my patterns (by mail or download) and kits, plus offerings from a few of my favorite designers.
Pop Pendants
A striking quilt wallhanging featuring Pop Rox fabric by Carol Van Zandt for Andover Fabrics – to appear in the Fall 2014 issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited Magazine!
Cachet and Carry
New purse patterns: a great look made with an innovative technique using 1 pattern template . . . you’re gonna love this one.
Easy, peasy pillow patterns
– I’ll start with 2 new pillow patterns, which are a quick, fun way to brush up on your sewing skills. The first pattern sample is sewn using a new line of fabric by Ella Blue called Terra Australis 2. The fabric was generously given to me by Julie Dueck of Intrepid Thread (Milpitas, CA). I will be teaching this pillow pattern this fall at Intrepid Thread. Making this pillow is a quick way to use those fabrics you love.
The second pillow is was created with a new line of fabric by Kim Andersson for Wyndam Fabrics. Check out my next post for a sneak peak.
2 Baby Quilt Patterns!
Don’t you love handmade baby gifts that are quick to make? I have two patterns designed to swaddle the new little darling in comfort and love.
Scarves
I love scarves. Wooly knit scarves, fleece snuggly scarves, embroidered linen wraps and airy, breezy voile ties.
This is a scarf I made as a thank you gift for Kim Schaefer. Kim is a creative powerhouse with many books, patterns and fabric collections among her vast array of accomplishments. Kim was incredibly generous in providing fabric for my first quilt design to be published in a magazine.
My quilt, Stripped to Pieces, was in the Spring 14 issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited Magazine and it features Kim’s fabulous fabric line, Kim’s Hand Dyes, for Andover Fabrics. I took the selveges from the gorgeous fabrics, folded under the raw edge and topstitched them to fleece in a diagonal plaid pattern at each end of the scarf. Kim lives in Wisconsin, lucky duck. I love California, but I miss the snow.
Stay tuned . . .
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