Quilting Projects 

         
         
         
        Near the end of the school year I mentioned on the Pfaffies list that I had made a cute end of year gift for my daughter's teachers. I used a sampler format, popular in Debbie Mumm type quilts, and fused teacher themed appliques to the base using Heat n' Bond. Add a bit of pen stitch applique and a fabric border and Voila! Teacher present. The first year I did these, I had more teachers ask for one than I could keep up with! The last two years since, I have done one for each of the teachers and I always end up making a few more since the other teachers just love them. It doesn't come out too clear in the picture but the long black rectangle has the teacher's name in off-white lettering, as if written on a chalk board. The little house in the upper corner has the school's initials written above the door also. I have done a few with "Teacher" rather than a name since I didn't know who it was for.
         
         
         
         

          Laura really likes Raggedy Ann & Andy so when we saw this crib quilt panel and coordinating fabric at the BX, she knew she wanted it for her bed quilt. I added borders from the coordinates to make the panel twin size and also did a pillow case and decorator pillow. I used a queen size high loft batt but folded it in half to make it the right size and extra full. I used DMC floss to tie it. Laura loves it!

         

        Megan liked the teddy bear coordinates we found on another trip to the BX but there was no panel to make the center bit from. So, Meg selected her favorite bear from the border section and I then enlarged the bear from about 3" to fit about 36" square. I found that when drawing on paper flat on the table that I lost my perspective so I taped paper on the window at eye level and drew it out that way.

         
         
         

        I used some of the techniques I discovered in Jenny Haskin's Color Purple Quilt book to applique the bear. Jenny is a Pfaff education consultant in Australia. One of the things she does is use satin type embroidery stitches other than the ZZ or Zorro stitch to applique. For example a satin scallop or satin circles. The effect is really different. Another thing she does is use some of the lacy stitches in contrasting threads to create a lace effect around the applique. I used this on the collar and hem portion of the bear's clothing to look like a petticoat with lace and also lace trim on the collar. To finish the bear off, I dry brushed some rosie color to her cheeks and ears. I need to get a dot of white to her eyes to give her sparkle. After the applique was finished, I removed the border section from the main print to frame the applique. For the joining squares where the border met, I used the same print I used in the bear's dress to bring the colors together. Then I added the main print to the sides to make the quilt top twin size. For Meg's quilt, I also used queen size batt and I tied the quilt with DMC floss.

         

        When I finished the quilt, I used another coordinating print for the pillow case, adding the last bit of the border section to the end to make a cuff. Then I found I had no pieces big enough for the little decorator pillow. The scraps I had weren't suited to patchwork either so I decided to give crazy patch a try. It had never appealed to me before but I thought all the machine embroidery I could add would fit with the rest of the work done on the quilt so I set to work. I used some more of the satin embroidery stitches and lacy type stitches, playing with different sized patterns and colors. It was really fun! I usually don't have a lot of time to play with stitches so I really learned a lot about the possiblities of the machine. I thought this would be a quick project but it took me all afternoon and evening because I just keep embellishing! I also added Meg's name and a monogram.

         
         
         
         

        This quilt is an original design. I made it by default! My friend had taught me to do the stained glass applique using freezer paper applied to black fabric. I was so enthusiastic about the technique but had no pattern to try it out so I made my own! A lion and lamb together is one of my favorite images so I drew out a picture simple enough to make up into a quilt. I used a greyish-blue fabric with little starlight effect lines to appear as frosted stain glass and then another print which resembled a wood grain to me to be the frame. My mum says the pics don't do it justice...that it catches your eye much better in person.

         
         
         
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