Sew Sweet

     Here is a fun little project if you are looking for a way to show someone some love.  Grab your fabric scraps, a small piece of thin batting and a couple of 5" squares.  If you have some ribbon or trim scraps or some fun buttons, bring those along too.  

     You don't need anything special for this project, although I do love my pinking shears for finishing off a raw edge.  If you have a pair, pull them out and dust them off.  You are going to appreciate having them.

     Other than the fabrics and optional trims, you will only need a sheet of paper and your basic quilting supplies.

     Step 1 is to make a small piece of patchwork that measures 4 1/2", raw edge to raw edge.  I chose to cut 1 1/2" squares.  To make the block I needed 16 squares.  I stitched them together in four rows of 4 squares each in random order.  You could create a checkerboard pattern using only 2 fabrics.  You could use random size strips instead of squares.  The goal is to ENJOY the process.  I think that helps build the love into this project.

     The next step is to layer the patchwork block with a thin layer of batting and backing.  A 5" square is perfect for the backing.  It should be face-down with the batting on top and then the patchwork face-up on top of the batting to create your mini quilt sandwich.

     Now you are ready to quilt!  This is an important step.  It is the details that you put into a project that take it from being something that has that "dorky homemade" look to being a gift with special meaning.  

     I did some simple crosshatch quilting by stitching diagonally corner-to-corner through the squares.  Keep in mind that the squares on the outside edge have 1/4" seam allowance remaining, so the true corner of the square is NOT the edge of the fabric.  It is 1/4" inside that edge.

     I use my walking foot for the quilting, but this piece is so small that you won't need to.  Give the quilt sandwich a quick press with your steam iron and the layers will cling together for you.

     Now you can create your heart template.  You learned to do this in kindergarten.  Start with a 4" square of paper.  Fold it in half diagonally.  Starting at the folded edge, cut a half of a heart shape using your paper scissors.  Unfold.  TA DA!  If you hate it, cut another one.  Use the entire piece of paper to make your heart.  It should measure a tiny bit less than 4".

     Using your removable fabric marking pencil, draw your heart shape on the patchwork side of your heart.  You should have approximately 1/4" of fabric extending on all sides.  I use a Frixion pen that disappears with heat.  

     To finish this as a simple heart, top-stitch on the heart outline and then trim.  This is where I use my pinking shears to create a cute edge.  If you don't have pinking shears, you can simply trim approximately 1/4" from the stitching line.

     I like to add a pocket to the back of the heart so that I can tuck in a note or gift card.  To add the pocket, fold a 5" square in half diagonally with the right side showing.  Place the folded piece on the back of the quilted patchwork, having the raw edges even.  Check to make sure that the pocket is at the pointed end of the heart and that the folded edge is at lease1/4" below the "V" in the heart.  Then stitch on the heart outline.  The outline stitch will secure your pocket in place.  Trim with pinking shears through all layers.

Add a simple bow by tacking the ribbon in place and then tying the bow.  Trim the ends.  If you plan to add beads or buttons by machine, add those to the patchwork layer before adding the pocket or you will stitch the pocket closed!  Remember to keep any hard embellishments well away from the machine stitching line.

There is nothing left to do but give your heart away to someone you love!

WRAP IT UP

      If you have followed the thread of my Abby's Treasures quilt from the beginning, you may remember that part of the "challenge" of this project is to complete the project in 30 days.  That requirement weighed heavily on my border decision.  In "design mode" my thoughts went to a nice wide, 6" - 8", border of the mottled tan fabric followed by 2 more rows of the rectangles used in the sashing.  Jaftex was happy to allow me to add a narrow black border both inside and outside to add that sparkle that I thought would make the fabrics shine.  

     Unfortunately, in my effort to add more light to the quilt, that big wide tan border was too much light and looked like an afterthought.  A gorgeous hand applique border would have solved that problem beautifully.  Did I mention the 30 day time frame?  I am capable of hand applique, but I find it takes me a minimum of 3 years to contemplate the design and another 5 or 6 to complete the process.  I nixed the border, but I still think it would be stunning.

     

     The decision to not add a border meant that the top was essentially finished, it just needed to be quilted and bound.  Jaftex doesn't really require that the Brand Ambassadors quilt and bind the projects, but if you are going to do a job for someone, I believe it should be a job well done.  To make the quilting process super easy, I have a Handi Quilter longarm machine, with a ProStitcher, so quilting a throw size quilt isn't really an imposition.  I might not have been so keen to offer up a completed project if I had to quilt the project without my longarm. 😉 I absolutely LOVE my Amara.  

     I chose a fall leaf pattern and a variegated thread in shades of tan for the quilting.  It is an all over edge to edge design.  The ProStitcher (the computer that runs the machine) adjusts the quilting pattern to the size of my quilt.  After programing the specifics, the machine does it's thing.  I just roll and tell it where to start the next row.  Owning a Handi Quilter for your personal use is total luxury, and in my mind worth every penny, and trust me that is lots and lots of pennies!

     The quilt was quilted and ready for binding just before Christmas.  I spent a lovely long evening snuggled under the quilt, hand stitching the binding in place.  The binding was made from the green diagonal stripe that I had set aside at the very beginning.  I machine stitched it to the front of the quilt, folded it over the raw edge and stitched it in place on the back by hand.  I could have done the whole process by machine.  The truth is, I like to hand stitch binding. 

     My last step in the process was to take a few photos, both a flat shot and a style shot.  That is when the whole process came to a screeching halt.  This quilt says "fall" to me.  That season is well past.  It says "snuggled in front of a fire".  Our unused fireplace is too contemporary.  I considered outdoor locations.  I live in Florida, there are palm trees everywhere.  I finally gave up and used my kitchen table for the style shot.  

     Here you have it, Abby's Treasures by Missie Carpenter for Blank Quilting.  You can find it in a quilt shop near you!  I hope you enjoyed following the process.