Vertical Quilting Curve

We all have them. Scraps. A little snip here, a little strip there and many of us cannot seem to find the strength to throw them away. I grew up with a mother who lived through the depression so every little scrap of everything was kept because you never knew when you might need it and not be able to buy something new. Luckily, there are several things you can do with fabric scraps. Of course you can make a scappy quilt. You can make small hand sewn gifts like potholders, sachets or pillows. Another item you can make for yourself or for a gift is an item decoupaged with fabric.

The container I made shown in the photo is one of those paper mache boxes you can buy at the craft store. The top is made from pieces of fabric from one of those bundled 5″ square samples you can pick up at most quilt stores. Unfortunately I can’t remember which brand this is. I just remember picking it up at the Spring International Quilt Festival for $5. The bottom is not fabric, though. It is a nice crepe tissue paper I picked up at the art supply store. It is not as thick as fabric so it makes the lid fit not so tight.

To make the box, or cover almost anything including glass vases, candle globes or wooden tissue box covers, you will need just a few supplies.

Modge Podge glue
Sponge brush or a nice size paintbrush
Fabric
Container

Steps
1. Cut pieces of fabric into interesting shapes and angles.
2. Using brush apply glue to surface.
3. Lay one fabric piece onto glue. It is easier if you start in the center of an area.
4. Apply glue over fabric piece and more of the uncovered surface.
5. Overlapping the edges of the first piece lay another fabric piece down over glue.
6. Continue applying glue and fabric pieces until desire area is completely covered.
7. Allow to dry.
8. Apply a layer of glue to finish. Allow to dry and repeat if desired.

Now you have a cool little object to use in your quilting space or an instant gift for the holidays.

Want to learn some more stuff? Check out the tutorial section.

quilting, scrap fabrics, craft tutorial, crafts, decoupage, handmade gifts

I love Lazy Girl designs. I have a few patterns in my to-do stack of projects. I bought many of them after seeing great samples at quilt stores. My idea is to make a few out of the abundance of my fabric collection. I think it’s a wonderful way to show off all those special fat quarter us fabriholics love to collect. I for one have a hard time cutting up my precious designer fabric sometimes. I keep thinking that what if I find a better project to put it in and then it just sits with the other pretty fabrics.

Anyway, I found out that Lazy Girl has their own blog and and they recently posted this tutorial on how to add closures to the inside pockets of your quilted totes and purses. The flaps can be added even after a purse is completed. So if you have a pocket inside a purse or tote that is too open for you just add one of these to keep your stuff in place.

Lazy Girl, quilted bags, tutorial, fabric, quilting

I found this great tutorial about how to cover a donut bead over at Textiles in Time. Marty52 has great close ups of how to cover the bead. Although it shown on an evenweave fabric, you could put this on any quilt project you want to add dimensional embellishment. I’m going to have to go get some of these beads or see if I can do it over other donut shaped items.

quilting, beading, quilt embellishing, embroidery, tutorials

I found this great little tutorial on making circles for your quilting projects. Over at Stitch. Rip. Repeat (great name don’t you think?) Beth gives you some great step-by-step photos for easy to do circles using freezer paper. Make sure you click on the photos to enlarge for close details.

quilting, applique, quilts, tutorials

Recently, I wrote an article about wire-edge ribbon for Craft Critique including a tutorial for making a ribbon rose. It proved to be very popular so I thought I would share it with you. You can also check out the article in its entirety by clicking here.

Second, roll the pointed end to the inside as seen in the next photo.
Next, fold the long length of ribbon down as shown. Then begin turning the small end toward you.

Continue to fold the ribbon down as you continue to turn the flower. When you reach the end pinch the bottom to temporarily secure the rose. Most instructions I’ve found say to use floral wire to secure but I find it stays better if you take a few stitches with needle and matching thread through the bottom.

quilting, ribbon, ribbon rose, ribbon flowers, tutorial

Stem stitch is one of those basic embroidery stitches that stitchers either love or hate. I happen to be one of those that loves it. It is one of my favorite embellishments to use on craft projects and quilts. When I do redwork blocks I rarely use anything else. One of my friends who loves the chain stitch wanted me to share how I make my stem stitch so I decided to create a short photo tutorial.

Here in Photo 1, I have brought up my thread to the front of my fabric piece and inserted back through and halfway to where I came up.

Photo 2 shows where I have inserted my needle down and taken a stitch. You can see where the next stitch begins in the middle of the first stitch.

In Photo 3 the needle is inserted and comes up at the end of the first stitch. This completes the second stitch when you pull it through.

Now Photo 4 shows that the stitches continue as in the previous photo until you get the length of the line you are completing.

Photo 5 is a complete line but to finish the line off you will simply take your needle down as if making another stitch BUT you do not come back up.


Hope this helps you try the stitch. For the steps above I used a piece of felt and perle cotton for demonstration purposes. On quilts I usually use 3 strands of embroidery floss and a crewel embroidery needle on cotton and fashion fabrics.

You can see a redwork block using the stem stitch on my other blog, Crazy Crafting Mama. I made this block for an exchange with an embroidery group.

quilting, embroidery, stem stitch, redwork, tutorial