Nov
30
12
This is my entry to the 2012 Christmas Quilt Show. It’s a 22 1/2 inch square wall hanging or table topper that was pretty fun to make. The center block is a machine embroidered applique block that’s embroidered as an easy 4-part split design. (This is one of the 4 swag wreath block options from this digital file.) When I first began learning MEA, I was afraid of multi-hooped designs because I figured that I could never get my block aligned correctly from 1 hooping to another, so my designs would always be off. With my system, you never have to hoop the fabric block because the fabric is always floated on top of the hooped stabilizer. Because there are cross hairs stitched onto both the fabric and the stabilizer, matching things up from one hooping to the next really couldn’t be easier. Here’s a shot of the center block as it’s partially stitched and I’ve just aligned my cross hairs for the next stitch out:
(Do you see those foam pin anchors? They have pins stuck through them that are piercing the cross hairs on the fabric and the cross hairs on the stabilizer below; this is how you can be assured that everything lines up perfectly. Those pin anchors hold everything in alignment and free up my hands, so I can easily go in and place a couple of straight pins to hold the stabilizer and fabric together during embroidery. I remove the foam pin anchors and the pins inside them once I’ve got my other pins in place, and then I return my hoop to the machine. See what I mean? Easy as pie!)
Once that center block has been stitched, the corner triangles are embroidered as a 2-part split design (each square holds 2 pairs of mirror image feathers) and then each square is sliced on the diagonal to yield 2 of the corner setting triangles. Once done, I attached corner setting triangles on 2 sides opposite one another:
and then once those seams are sewn and pressed, you attach corner setting triangles to the remaining 2 sides. I designed these triangles to be over-sized so they could be trimmed to a desired size once they were attached to the center block. I like a wider binding around my quilts, so I trim to a 1/2 inch edge. A lot of my friends like to trim it down to a 1/4 inch edging. Here’s a shot of it getting a trim:
Once I got it into a quilt sandwich, I started the fun of free motion quilting it:
…and now I’m quilting a larger quilt version of this design:
And here’s something fun for you: be sure to check out SewCalGal’s blog starting tomorrow, 12/1/12. I’m the guest teacher for the December posting in the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge. My post is all about machine quilting border designs and I’m hoping you’ll like it! If you haven’t been following the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge, get into it now! I’m not kidding…SewCalGal has put together a fabulous array of tutorials throughout 2012 and if you’re trying to learn to FMQ, this is a must-see. To access all of the FMQ Challenge tutorials, go here.
viagra cialis sale cheap
Filed under Sizzix.
This is just lovely – thank you for sharing.
This is gorgeous and I love the colors, especially the golds, really stunning with the reds and greens.
Debbie
Simply lovely… adore!
beautiful! love your quilting, too. thanks for sharing and have a great day
Good job! Love the design!
Lovely!
I love this. Of course, I am a machine embroidery addict. (I am entry 21, which everyone thinks is a panel) I am so glad I found your site because I am trying to learn MEA. No local classes so I am in my own. So, you have a new follower.
Thank you so much for posting this.
Make that entry 22…:)
ooohhh lovely and I love how you decided to do a bigger version!
Beautiful work and such a lovely result. A lovely piece for Christmas.
Beautiful work!
Gorgeous. What beautiful work you did on this.
That is beautiful as is the bigger sized quilt. Your table will look gorgeous with a table topper like that.
Lovely quilt! Beautiful work.
So pretty! I love the quilt, too, that’s in progress. I really admire the gorgeous embroidery quilting that people do. Sure wish my machine could do that!
Stunning piece! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Beautiful work as usual.
Your quilt is just beautiful.
Fantastic, stunning quilt! Love your fabrics and your quilting is superb!
Just Gorgeous!
great applique
You do very beautiful work
JUST BEAUTIFUL!
LOVE THE APPLIQUE!
Wow the detail! Amazing!
beautiful quilt.. I an also leary of multi hoop embroidery designs.. one of these days I might get brave and try one
I’ve been following all the FMQ tutorials at SCG all year and have just read yours. It looks great and covers stuff we haven’t done yet. I also have been viewing the videos on your website and want to thank you for your tips and inspiration it’s all VERY helpful to me, the novice.
This quilt is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Elizabeth
Lovely work! Thank you for sharing.
Very Nice. Elizabeth
Such a beautiful wall hanging! Can’t wait to see the quilt in progress all done.
very nice,well done.xx
Great work…and just love the quilting.
Also, thank you for the tutorial over at SewCalGal. I often stand in front of a border and have absolutely no clue. While I am not formally participating in the challenge, I will work through your tutorial to try a few different things.
Just found time to visit the entries in the 2012 Christmas Quilt Show. Love your quilt. Absolutely beautiful. One of the best quilts I’ve ever seen that incorporates beautiful machine embroidery, free-motion quilting and it also has stunning overall design and visual impact. Can you tell I love it? LOVE IT!
Had not heard about foam pin anchors. Very interesting. I definitely want to give them a try. Thanks for sharing your insights and your regal Christmas quilt.
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Beautiful quilt and thanks for showing all the close ups .
Stunning!!!