The nursery theme "Bears, Butterflies, Dragonflies, and Bumble Bees" was just a figment in my imagination, but soon became a reality with the addition of this quilting project. This butterfly wall hanging was the second quilt made using "Butterfly on a Whim" design which I held in my collection of patterns. I decided to eliminate the leaded glass accents in the pattern and make the butterfly look as thought it was just resting on a limb rather than permanently fixed in glass. It was important to reflect the vibrant colors found in butterflies by choosing a beautiful border fabric.
Before completing this quilt, I purchased Bias Bars to assist in the outlining of the butterfly, limb and leaves. Rather than use a constant black outline, I mirrored the colors found in each element when creating the bias tape. The bias bar assisted in creating perfect bias strips by inserting the aluminum bars inside a fabric tube and then ironing creating a crease with the seam line centered in the back.
When attending the World Quilt Show in August, I realized that the experts hand sew this type of bias into place rather than use machine top stitching. I used a hand stitching technique to tack the edges in place (a modified blanket stitch). This is the first time I had used this technique and found it to be more attractive than the top stitching I had done on my proto-type quilt. I chose a beautiful variegated thread to sew an echo top stitch around the butterfly outline. Then I embellished the quilt using butterflies which I purchased on Mackinaw Island in the "Butterflies are Free" conservancy.
After completing this quilt, I sewed the motif onto muslin and then transferring it to a plain white background fabric which was a technique I had seen on an episode of Simply Quilts. The bias tape covered the raw seams. I actually pressed and turned all my seams and hand based them into position on the muslin before adding the bias tape. Although I was pleased with the outcome, I would have saved a lot of time if I had only read my pattern instructions first.
Before completing this quilt, I purchased Bias Bars to assist in the outlining of the butterfly, limb and leaves. Rather than use a constant black outline, I mirrored the colors found in each element when creating the bias tape. The bias bar assisted in creating perfect bias strips by inserting the aluminum bars inside a fabric tube and then ironing creating a crease with the seam line centered in the back.
When attending the World Quilt Show in August, I realized that the experts hand sew this type of bias into place rather than use machine top stitching. I used a hand stitching technique to tack the edges in place (a modified blanket stitch). This is the first time I had used this technique and found it to be more attractive than the top stitching I had done on my proto-type quilt. I chose a beautiful variegated thread to sew an echo top stitch around the butterfly outline. Then I embellished the quilt using butterflies which I purchased on Mackinaw Island in the "Butterflies are Free" conservancy.
After completing this quilt, I sewed the motif onto muslin and then transferring it to a plain white background fabric which was a technique I had seen on an episode of Simply Quilts. The bias tape covered the raw seams. I actually pressed and turned all my seams and hand based them into position on the muslin before adding the bias tape. Although I was pleased with the outcome, I would have saved a lot of time if I had only read my pattern instructions first.
1 comment:
You do awesome work!
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