2
Adding the borders
14 Check that the centre of the quilt and the outer border fit, with room for a ½in (1.3cm) finished inner border between them. If they don’t fit perfectly, adjust the width of the inner border appropriately. Add this inner border ½– see Adding a Border. Now sew on the outer border side pieces, followed by the top and bottom pieces and finally the four corner sections (Fig 3).
Fig 3
Quilting and binding
15 Create the quilt sandwich – see Making a Quilt Sandwich. I used a spray glue. Quilt as you wish – see Quilting. I used free-motion machine quilting in a ‘swirly’ pattern on the panels and main border and also some leaves, flowers and lines.
16 Finish off the quilt by binding all round the outside – see Binding.
Making the left-hand mini quilt
17 Both little quilts are made by piecing with a ⅛ in (3mm) seam allowance. Cut 1in (2.5cm) squares: sixteen dark (four different fabrics), sixteen light (four different fabrics). Make half-square triangle units as follows. Place a dark and a light square right sides together and draw a line across a diagonal. Draw a line on either side of the diagonal ⅛ in (3mm) away (see Fig 4). Sew along the two lines and cut through the middle line to make two squares, each with two contrasting triangles. Press the seam to one side. Repeat with the other squares for eight half-square triangles in total. Sew four together, light against dark. Repeat with the other colours. Sew them all together.
Fig 4 Half-square triangles
18 For the border cut two pieces 4½in × 1in (11.4cm × 2.5cm) and two 3¾in × 1in (9.5cm × 2.5cm). Sew on the longer pieces first and then the shorter ones. Trim if necessary.
19 Cut wadding (batting) the same size as the little quilt. Cut a piece of fabric ½in (1.3cm) bigger all the way round than the quilt. Place the wadding and then the quilt on top of the backing so there is ½in (1.3cm) extra all the way round. Fold the raw edge over to the quilt front, and fold over again. Sew it down, creating a binding all round.
Making the right-hand mini quilt
20 Cut sixteen 1in (2.5cm) squares in different colours. Join them together in rows of four. It helps to draw a line ⅛ in (3mm) away from the raw edges for the correct seam allowance. For the border cut two pieces 2¼in × 1in (5.7cm × 2.5cm) and two 3½in × 1in (8.9cm × 2.5cm). Join the shorter pieces on first, then the longer ones.
21 Embroider backstitch, lazy daisy stitch and French knots on the quilt – see pictures. Add wadding and backing and finish the edges as before.
22 Fold your piece of cord in half and sew the mini quilts to it so they are on either side of the halfway point. Place against the large quilt to gauge how long the washing line should be then knot each end of the line. Sew to the tree trunks to finish.
This sweet angel has a Scandinavian look, with her cream colouring and dashes of red, and is a perfect project to make for yourself or a friend. Her skirt is made up of curved panels, with folded triangles at her waist. She wears a simple hat and cute felt shoes with buttons and bows. Machine quilting decorates her wings, dress and hat. Techniques used include simple curved piecing using freezer paper, binding on the bias, machine quilting and making stuffed stars.
There are also two boxes in this chapter on a red and white theme – perfect for housing treats at Christmas time. When in use they are tied into shape with tags but can be stored flat. They are reversible and are made using board pocketed in fabric. One box has English paper-pieced stars and appliquéd circles. The other uses buttons, with the stars and large circles sewn down with embroidery stitches.
APPLIQUE FOCUS…
Simple hand embroidery creates the doll’s face, peeping out from under felt hair and a machine quilted hat.
The angel doll holds a cluster of appliquéd stars and hearts made from bright, festive fabrics.
A strip of folded triangles adds a splash of colour and interest to the waistband of the angel’s dress.
This sweet doll would make a perfect Christmas gift for a little girl or to bring out and display every year as part of the Christmas decorations.
Angel Doll
YOU WILL NEED
• Fabric for wings 12in × 7in (30.5cm × 17.8cm)
• Fabric for face, hands, legs 19½in × 12in (49.5cm × 30.5cm)
• Fabric for dress panels 1, 5 and 9 and hat, bodice and arms 21in × 16in (53.3cm × 40.6cm)
• Fabric for dress panels 4, 8 and 12: 15in × 12in (38.1cm × 30.5cm)
• Fabric for dress panels 3, 7 and 11: 15in × 11½in (38.1cm × 29.2cm)
• Fabric for dress panels 2, 6 and 10: 15in × 11in (38.1cm × 27.9cm)
• Felt/brushed cotton for hair 5in × 3½in (12.7cm × 8.9cm)
• Fabric for collar, triangles round waist, star, band 18in × 6in (45.7cm × 15.2cm)
• Fabric for second star 8in × 4in (20.3cm × 10.2cm)
• Felt for shoes and hearts on stars 8in × 8in (20.3cm × 20.3cm)
• Backing fabric 27in × 17in (68.6cm × 43.2cm)
