Jan 18 11
New Video Tutorial, New Table Runner Finished and Another Give-Away!
This table runner was created pretty quickly by cutting all the applique shapes on my Sizzix machine. I used this project to illustrate how to cut applique shapes on our newest free video tutorial. You can find that tutorial here, on the homepage of our web site, and down the road, you’ll also be able to find it on the “free video tutorial page” by accessing the education tab on the homepage of the web site. If you’ve ever wondered about how a fabric cutting machine might help you in your quilting endeavors, this tutorial will show you the ropes of how it’s helped me with applique. I never would have guessed it, but I have had more fun in the last few months appliqueing my brains out, and it’s all because of this little machine!
What I really like about this table runner/door banner is the intricacy of those applique shapes:
That flourish is from this Sizzix die:
…and the center flower is from this Sizzix die:
You can play around with these dies some to arrive at the flower-look you want. You can see that I didn’t use as many petals in that bottom petal layer, and I also cut those same petals in green to create leaves:
…and you can see that a little thread work adds a nice pop of “zing” to the flower:
Notice that you can’t see any thread work on the flourish itself. That’s because when I have an applique structure THAT delicate and narrow, thread work will really only “junk it up,” you know what I mean? In that situation, all I want to do is enough stitching to secure the applique, so I quilted just inside the perimeter of the flourishes with green Invisifil thread. See how well that blends in? I guess that’s why they call it Invisifil! And one more thing…look at how changing your fabric colors can totally change that flower’s look. I did the same table runner in reds/burgundys and it’s definitely got a nice Christmas feel to it:
If you’re getting into doing applique with your Sizzix machine, we got some new dies in this week, and you can find them here.
And thanks for all the emails commiserating about needing to clean out the sewing room and sewing “stuff” that is taking over the house…I guess I’m not the only one with this problem! I made a lot of headway and I’m guessing that about 70 lbs of fabric left this house on Saturday, not to mention a lot of art supplies. I saved a few things to give away on the blog and here’s tonight’s give away offering:
This is a border print with 2 companion fabrics. I didn’t measure it but I’m guessing there are 4 to 4 1/2 yards of fabric here, so a retail value of about $40. I’m going to ask that whoever wins this pays shipping, so if you’d like the fabric for free and will pay shipping, post a comment to this email and you’re enetred in the drawing. If no one wants it because no one wants to pay shipping, then I’ll give it away locally. Comments on this give away are open until Wed 1/26/11 at 11:59 pm. Good luck!
Great Give-a-way!!!! Something wonderful to be made is just waiting for someone lucky.
How can you bear to give up these lovelly fabrics , but I guess it is called recycling, I would be happy to pay shipping if I was a lucky one.
Wonderful fabric–I am kind of in a red phase (or want to be) and this fabric would be a welcome addition. Thanks for the chance.
Hi from Northern Mn. were the snow is blowing and the temps. keep a person inside. Perfect for sewing. Love your cd’s could use more fabric to practice on Thanks
Great addition to anyones stash. Shippings no problem!
Lovely fabric Patsy. I would be happy to pay for shipping (to Australia even!!) if I am lucky to win this giveaway. Great video too by the way. Cheers, Dianne
All the quilts I make are donated to different charities. I would be more than happy to pay for the shipping.
Thank You for the opportunity!!
Just “stumbled” on your site today. Would LOVE to pay shipping on this fabric! Hope your arm is better soon.
That fabric is wonderful. And that stripe is just what I’ve been looking for! Send me the fabric & I will GLADLY pay the postage! Love your work.
Wow I would be more then glad to pay shipping on the lovely fabric if I were to win.
Beautiful fabric and I would be happy to pay the shipping! Thanks for offering it. I sure do hope your wrist is better soon!!!
Wow, that is beautiful fabric. AND a stripe, oh what fun I could have with that. Pay shipping? YOU BET I WOULD!!! I can see using the fabric in table toppers, would use the one on the right as the center, then the stripe as the borders and the other as back.
I hope your wrist is healing, I had a ganglion cyst on one of my knuckles a couple years ago, was painful to even touch the finger so can sympathize with you. It took a whole year for that thing to go away, there is still a tiny bump there, but at least it isn’t painful anymore.
Like most quilters, the occurrence of wrist and elbow pain is common. It is more painful to have to sit back and not quilt/sew. I hope you heal fast. Thanks for the great free offer I would love to have this.
Gorgeous fabric! I would pay the shipping in a heartbeat!
Hope your wrist feels better soon!