Piecing Lots of Love (TSS 003)

I'm really enjoying The Splendid Sampler and have started Block 3 - Lots of Love.

Online, though, I'm hearing quite a bit of concern over the 48 pieces within a 6" block. Taking a look at the pattern, I quickly realized there was a faster, surer way to piece these blocks (1-4" heart and 5-2" hearts) to avoid bulky seams, shifting points, and shrinking sections. Cut the fabric as instructed but follow these steps in this order.

Step 1: Sew two smaller squares to the corners as laid out below. Trim just the excess background fabric before pressing.

Step 2: Press the light background fabrics below. Notice that the light fabric, in this example, was just a bit smaller than the red fabric. That's OK. You will use the red fabric to align your pieces before joining and the light fabric will catch within the seam. 

Step 3: Sew the two red pieces together along the length. Notice how beautifully the point matches.

Step 4: Press open.

Step 5: Sew the remaining two small squares to each corner using the picture as your guide.

Step 6: Trim the excess light background fabric.

Step 7: And press. If you trim, use the red fabric as your guide.

Step 8: Using the method demonstrated with the smaller squares, sew your first large square to the lower corner. Don't forget to trim the excess light background fabric before pressing.

Step 9: Sew your last large square to the remaining corner. Again, remember to trim the excess light background fabric before pressing open.

Here's an image of the back. As you can see from the ruler underneath, the block is a perfect 4 1/2" square. There is no excess fabric sewn into the central seam shifting your points and the two upper and one lower point is exactly 1/4" from the edge.

Repeat the process for the 5 smaller hearts. 

With such small pieces, I'm really finding Mary Ellen's Best Press a fabulous way to finish these blocks.

Faux "Pieced" Doll Quilts and Minis

Ok, this is in continuation of the technique featured in my last post. You saw what happened when you created a series of topstitches for a nice textured fabric....

But what happens when you do the same thing... but from the back?

Ever been asked to make a doll's quilt for a local charity auction at work? Or wanted to make a mini quilt for a dollhouse or a play bed or to place under a lamp? Those mini-dollhouse quilts cost a FORTUNE in the shops but the seams are so teeny-tiny to make!

Here is another neat technique using some of those novelty fabrics - We can call it a faux-pieced quilt.

Basically, find yourself a novelty fabric pre-printed in geometric shapes. (I'm sorry I couldn't find a swatch of the "before" fabric so you can compare). And, using the technique featured in my texturing post, sew the "seams" from the BACK of the fabric and not the front.

Voila! A pieced mini-quilt with perfect corners and no bulky seams! If only you could run your finger over this "top" - it feels just like a pieced quilt and looks like you worked in it for HOURS!

Here is a back view so you can get an idea of implementing the technique.

I also created another piece where I "pieced" the diagonal as well as the grid lines:

Pretty cool, eh?

To finish this, I will probably "birth" the top and the backing, and then I would run a few tacking stitches to keep it from shifting.

I hope you enjoyed this!

Elisa

 

Add a Little (Sewn) Texture

I keep oohing and aahing over my new bag. I wish you could touch it - you'd understand. When I bought the fabric for my Mardi GRAS bag, it didn't WOW me until I spent a little time Saturday morning making it a little more 3D.

Can you see the 3D seams along the diamonds? It was easy. I thought I'd share in case you want to give it a try. Fabulous for those novelty prints in your stash.

First, you need to plan your design. As this was a printed diagonal, my choice was obvious. For my sister, whose fabric is vertical "beads", I went with making stripes. Note that as you stitch, your final fabric will shrink as you gather in those seams. The more you seam, the more it shrinks so be sure to start with a generous allowance each way.

Next, fold your fabric and press a crisp edge along each printed line in the design. Make sure to press and not iron so your fabric doesn't stretch. Because I was sewing diagonals, I pressed all my "lines" going in one direction, did my top-stitching, and then pressed my lines in the other direction before sewing those.

Ok, starting from one end working one pressed line at a time, topstitch a seam just a few threads from the edge.

Notice how nicely you can see the edge with this clear foot.

Repeat this process for lines going both directions. Don't worry if you do all one direction and the piece is a little skewed. It will fall back into shape when you stitch in the other direction.

See how close to the edge I am? Wavy is OK - it'll press we'll shortly.

If your fabric section is a little longer and you are afraid it may shift as you top-stitch, you can use pins to hold it in place.

Eventually, you'll have all your lines stitched and will have this beautiful, textured fabric (which, as the final piece can attest to, will press quite flat and is easy to cut). Notice how nicely those diamonds stand out now!

Here is a close-up of my bag. A little more interesting, right?

And, as promised, my sister sent me a picture of her bag (and her cat!)! Her stitch lines are those dark lines between the green and purple beads.

Check back again for another cool project using a variation on this technique!

Happy Stitching!

Elisa