I was! So I whipped out this table runner as a wedding present! Even though it isn't fancy, and didn't take a ton of time (I made it in an evening), it will still be a nice, handmade gift. The young couple loves navy blue and has a modern flair to their home decor, so the simple strips are perfect for them. I happened to have the batiks on hand, but I think it would be great with lots of fabrics.
Need something a little more elegant? Try linen strips in white and off white. Have a friend who loves Fiesta Ware as much as I do? (I doubt it, but you never know...) Use your rainbow of scraps to go with all their colors. To make your own, cut 2 1/2" wide strips (or use a jelly roll if you have one). Then subcut into 18, 13" strips. Sew together, using a 1/4" seam in any order you please. It should finish out at just about 36" long. Press all the seams one direction. Layer on cotton batting (it won't conduct the heat like polyester) and backing fabric (I used a good quality muslin). Quilt as desired. You can see that I quilted in the ditch along the strips. For my purposes, fmq would have made it too busy for this couple's tastes. I used traditional french fold binding and mitered the corners. It required three strips wof (width of fabric) sewn together to get all the way around. There was about half of a strip left over. The finished size is about 13 1/2 x 36" inches including the binding. If you need a longer runner, just add more strips. :-) If you make one or some, I'd love to see your creations, so please send them to me! :)
0 Comments
I can't believe how fast time is passing and how long it has been since I've posted...sorry about that! Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging! :) Over the past few weeks I have completed some small projects, not really "artsy," but fun, none the less! Here's what I've been up to: I love Valentine's Day! Over the past year and half, I've taught myself how to tat and I'm experimenting with ways to incorporate what I make into more than just doilies. For this decoration I used fabric scraps, 4 tatted hearts, ribbons, rick rack, beads, decorative threads, and stencils. I made it free standing by using a very stiff, fusible stabilizer in the middle. Fun! A spunky sunflower pincushion! You know the plastic caps from laundry detergent, I used one for the base! It gives the cushion a nice flat bottom and some stability. I first used my pinking shears on a green square of felt and then glued it into the cap. The square folded and twisted a bit during the process which gives the impression of leaves. :) Next, I free cut petals out of scrap lemon yellow and light orange felt. Then I layered and glued them to the inside edges for the petals. For some weight, I poured in some crushed walnut shells to the bottom of the felt lined cap. I made the center by hand stitching a brown felt tube. I gathered one end, turned it right side out and then stuffed it with polyester fiber fill. I stitched it closed and then glued it into the center of the petals and down into the cap. I love how it turned out! It seemed like a "tablet" kind of Christmas at our house!
To protect these little tech gizmos, I started making covers. To begin, I took some measurements, made a freezer paper pattern and used stiff fusible stabilizer in between two pieces of fabric. I free-motioned random squiggle designs and then added elastic straps to hold the tablets in at the corners and across the top. I finished them off by binding them just like quilts and adding a hook and loop tape closure. After I finished the first one, I decided to make quick, coordinating draw-string bags that are large enough to hold the tablet, a stylus and the charger so it would be easy to grab and go! Fun and useful! And I think this might almost be the best part of every project I've shown you.....I didn't have to buy a single thing! Yes! You read that right! Not one thing! I used bits and pieces, scraps and tidbits from my stash and you'd never know it. I even managed a little recycling! :) I'd love to see what you've been up to with your stash of supplies! Send me some pictures! :) |
About MeFiber artist, wife to a wonderful husband and mom to 2 awesome, grown kids Archives
July 2023
Categories
All
|