Sunday, September 30, 2012

Orchard Harvest Thanksgiving

Use Stampin' Up! Orchard Harvest fabric to make this heartfelt table topper and wreath for Thanksgiving.
The wreath is made from 9 twig hearts I found at a craft store and tied together with 1-1/2 in. X 7 in. fabric strips
For the 27 in. square table topper you'll need:
-one pack of Stampin' Up! fabric (126915) or 3 fat quarters of coordinating cotton prints
-0.40 m. (1/3 yd.) of background fabric
-0.80 m. (7/8 yd.) of backing fabric and batting
All seam allowances are a scant 1/4 in.







-wash and dry the fabrics
Fat Quarters
-layer the prints and trim the side
-cut 7 strips 2-1/2 in. X about 18 in. (the width of the fabric)
Background Fabric
-cut 2 squares 7 in. X 7 in.
-cut 2 strips 2-1/2 in. X 26-1/2 in.
-cut 2 strips 2-1/2 in. X 22-1/2 in.
-cut 5 strips 2-1/2 in. X 10-1/2 in.
-cut 8 squares 2-1/2 in. X 2-1/2 in.


-sew 3 strips together (stripe, check, print) press seams down
-sew 3 strips together (check, print, stripe) press seams up
-sew 5 strips together (stripe, check, print, stripe, check) press seams down
-sew 5 strips together (check, print, stripe, check, print) press seams up
-sew 5 strips together (print, stripe, check, print stripe) press seams down

-sew a 10-1/2 in. strip of background fabric to the top of the second set of strips and press seam up.
-trim ends of sets and cut 4 strips 2-1/2 in. wide from each set
-lay out one strip from each set as shown
-sew the remaining sets of strips together for binding, keeping pattern (stripe, check, print)
-cut into 2-1/2 in. strips and join to form binding
-press all seams open

-sew a 2-1/2 in. background square diagonally to the bottom left and top right print squares
-trim leaving a 1/4 in. seam allowance and press open with seam toward background
-sew strips together and press seams in the same direction
-make 3 more hearts
-using a transparent ruler trim off tops of squares leaving a 1/4 in. seam allowance above tops of check squares
-cut 7 in. background squares in half diagonally
-sew a half triangle across the top of each heart block
-press open with seam toward background fabric








-trim edges to measure 10-1/2 in. square
-lay out heart squares and join pairs with 10-1/2 in. background strips
-press seams toward strips
-take a square from the binding strip and press it flat (there are more than needed for the binding)
-sew ends of 10-1/2 in. background strips to opposite sides of the square and press seams toward the square
-sew pairs of heart squares to the background strips with the square in the centre
-press seams toward strips
-sew 22-1/2 in. strips to sides of block and press seams toward strips
-sew 26-1/2 in. strips to top and bottom of block and press seams toward strips
-layer top, batting and backing fabric together and pin through all layers
-quilt diagonally across top
-trim edges to square
-press binding strip in half lengthwise
-finish edges with binding strip as shown for the pot holder in this post

Friday, September 7, 2012

Piercing Techniques: String Art

Use your piercing templates to create a string art design and running stitch. 
-adhere 1-3/8 in. card stock circle to a card stock flower
-position the piercing template over the card stock
-pierce every other hole outside the card stock circle
-thread a needle with linen thread
-adhere end to back of card stock and bring thread to front
-pass thread to back through 7th hole from beginning
-bring thread to front through the next hole to the right
-pass thread to back beside first hole
-continue sewing through holes
-add a button to the thread and continue the design
-snip thread and secure end to back of card stock
-use a curved line from the template to pierce the stem on the mat
-sew a running stitch through the holes
-secure ends to back of mat








Supplies
Stamps
-Word Play 120308
Ink
-Chocolate Chip pad 126979
Paper
-Crumb Cake card stock 120953
-Pool Party card stock 122924
-Island Indigo card stock 122923
-Chocolate Chip card stock 102128
Tools
-Big Shot 113439
-Fun Flowers die 121812
-1-3/8 in. circle punch 119860
-Paper-piercing tool 126189
-Stampin' Pierce mat 126199
-Essentials Paper-piercing pack 126187
-needle
Accessories
-Linen thread 104199
-Bitty Buttons 118761
-Glue Dots 103683
-Stampin' Dimensionals 104430

Here's an older String Art sample with beads on the thread. Most of the products are discontinued, but I wanted to include it for inspiration.