All about patchwork and quilting

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how to make a quilt sandwich

By Hatun Comak → Saturday, March 31, 2018

If you are new in quilting, you may have heard quilt sandwich and wondering what it means. Here is the explanation and an easy simple way of doing it. Making a quilt sandwich is one of the quilting basics that you need to know.

Quilting a sandwich, as it is said, means putting various layers together to prepare for quilting either by machine or by hand. The quilt sandwich includes backing, batting and the quilt top. Once you have finished making the top, it is ready for quilting. But before quilting it, you need to sandwich it. Here is step by step tutorial of how to make a quilt sandwich.

Lay the quilt back on the floor or table, wrong side up. Tape down the quilt to the table on four sides so that it doesn’t slide around.

Arrange the batting on top of the backing, patting it smooth. Remember that batting and backing should be a few inches larger than the top.

Finally lay the quilt top right side-up. Make sure that your quilt top is wrinkle free. It is important you iron the top before quilting to have a smooth surface.

Pin the layers together. Be sure to fill the pins up. Then baste pieces together starting from the center. Thread basting works better and is ideal for beginners. You baste three layers together. It is important to secure the three layers together sufficiently or they’ll bunch or wrinkle as you quilt.

When you finish basting, you’re ready to start quilting either by hand or machine. You can also watch the video below showing how to make quilt sandwich.

pansy flower applique pattern

pansy flower applique pattern and tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Thursday, March 29, 2018

The pansy flower fits perfect for spring with its lively colors. I used this pattern to make a cushion years ago as a gift and when I came across with this pattern in my archive, I wanted to make one for myself. Since it is spring, I’m highly interested in making something related to flowers. I enjoyed doing it and happy with the result. So here are the pattern and step by step tutorial on how to make the pansy flower applique pattern.

Instructions

Download free pansy pattern and leaves below.

pansy flower applique pattern in PDF

Print the patterns, enlarge it 75% or 100%, or you can just use them as they are if you want a smaller pattern.

Choose the background fabric, fabric for leaves, petals of the pansy and the center of the flower. I used four shades of purple. A1 – lilac, B2 light purple, C3 – D3 darker purple and E4 is the darkest shade of purple. The piece at the center is yellow.

Cut the templates of each shape. Paper piece each shape and stitch the petals together. The pictures will help you to figure out more easily. When you stitch them together, remove the papers after ironing them. Leaves are also paper pieced and ironed.

Next you need to attach your applique to the background fabric. The one I used is 20”x20” with seam allowance. The measurement is adequate for a cushion or wall hanging but it all depends on what you plan to do with the pattern.

Place the leaves around the pansy on the fabric and pin it. Then you need to baste it or you can attach it by using applique glue before you start appliquing.

Now you are ready for appliquing. When you finish appliquing, embroider on the center and on the petals with yellow thread as in the photo.

The top’s finished and ready for quilting. Enjoy it!

free templates

baby playmat with free pattern and tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Monday, March 26, 2018

I’ve been working on this patchwork baby playmat for the last few weeks. It’s been made for a baby expected due May. As it is a baby girl and it is spring time, I planned to use some patterns with indicators of spring. It is a kinda garden scene with various flowers, leaves, butterflies, ladybugs, bees and even a rabbit hiding below the flowers.
Since I like dealing with little pieces and I’m a fan of appliques, I enjoyed doing it very much. Here are the instructions and patterns in PDF format if you want to make one.

Instructions

Firstly, it is a good idea to decide the layout of the design. You may draw on a paper to have an idea and decide what to add to the surface. I’ve been inspired from various designs on the net but I drew my own one. Nevetheless, I had some changes as the work progressed.

I had four different flower patterns. Below are the patterns of the flowers that you can download free templates, print and use.

leaves and flowers pattern in PDF

While making flowers I machine sewed the petals. After filling in the petals I sew them on the fabric. But the orange flower is paper pieced, batted then appliqued to the fabric. Here are the photos of how to make the flower.

The petals of the yellow flower is machine sewed together with batting material and laid out as in the picture above and then the center is applied.

Animals are great fun to make becasue they are so cute. Below are the free templates in PDF downloadable patterns for ladybugs, birds, bees and the rabbit.

ladybugs, bees, butterflies patterns in PDF

All patterns are prepared by epp and then appliqued to the fabric. The little bee is in format of a toy, have a close look at it. It is stitched to a thick thread to the flower so that the baby can play with it. Similarly, rabbits ears are stitched from the bottom and free from the ground fabric. I’m sure the baby will like pulling the ears!

In the photos below are the steps of making the bunny. But before download the free template and print it out.

bunny pattern in PDF

The center of the playmat is left blank intentionally for the baby to be laid on. When all the pieces are appliqued and sewn to the fabric, I made the quilt sandwich, thickly padded, I used to layers of batting. It is hand quilted. I quilted around the patterns with a thread the same color of the ground fabric, which is grey. Finally I used pink binding to finish the playmat.

The finished measurement of the playmat is 34”x38”

Baby quilts are always fun and easier to make due to its size. Baby quilts are lovely. I enjoyed making this quilt and am happy with the result. What do you think?

bunny pattern and tutorial

bunny baby quilt

By Hatun Comak → Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Baby quilts are adorable, especially those with animal patterns. This bunny baby quilt has a different pattern of bunnies with long ears which are stitched to the fabric only at the bottom of the ears so that the child can play with the them, pull them. If you like it you can give a try. It is simple. I want to tell how to make it. Here are the steps to make the bunny baby quilt.

Instructions

Below is the template for english paper piecing to prepare the bunny pattern. You can print out the photo and use it as template.

The bunny is made with english paper piecing. You may start with the ears. For ears use the pattern at the top of the page . Make four of the pattern and prepare four of them. Firstly stitch two pieces together so that you can complete the one side of the ear and another two stitched together. then you stitch these two pieces together to make one ear. You will need to make two ears.

When you stitch the four pieces together, take away the papers and turn the right side of the fabric. Don't forget that you won't stitch the bottom side because we will stitch the ears to the head.

Once you prepare the ears, now you should continue with the bunny. It is also made by english paper piecing. For number 3 and 4 you had better choose a colorful or flowered fabric as the dress.

After completing the bunny with epp, don't forget to iron and then remove the papers, then the bunny is ready for appliquing to the fabric which is a 5"x 5" (13cm X 13cm) square.

After finishing the applique you need to stitch the ears to the top of the head.

Pay attention to the picture below that shows one of the bunnies. The ears are pretty long and go out of the square.

I used nine squares of bunnies for this quilt and added heart shapes to the borders. It sizes 32"x32" (80x80 cm). In this baby quilt what I like most is the ears. Don't you think they are lovely?

patchwork playball

patchwork playball tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Thursday, March 8, 2018

I like making any kind of stuff related to kids. These palyballs are perfect as baby gifts. Since it is handmade, it is unique. I like the idea that there is not another one similar to that. Whether it is for your own kind or planned to be a gift, here I tell the easy way of making th playball.

The ball is made with english paper piecing and sewn all by hand. It doesn’t take long, you can finish it in a few hours. Let’s start then.

You will need 12 pentagons for the ball. You should baste fabric to each hexagon. If you are new and haven’t got an idea about how to english paper piece, you can see my english paper piecing tutorial

Once you baste pentagons, you should press on them with iron and then we are ready to put them together. Select one of the pentagons to be in the center and start whipstitching the petals of five which will make a flower.

When you finish stitching the petals, it will look like this:

Leave the papers in, place the two flowers on top of one another. You will see that they fit together and continue stitching the two pieces together. Leave two lengths without stitching so that you can turn the right side and stuff it.

Remove the papers. Turn it to the right side of the fabric. Stuff the ball completely.

Finally stitch the opening and it is completed.

cushion

flowers in pots hand applique

By Hatun Comak → Saturday, March 3, 2018

It is time to hail the arrival of spring with colorful flowers and butterflies! I've just finished this cushion. I've intended to do something with flowers due to the approaching season spring, which is my favourite.

While making flowers, I used three different types of flower patterns. I used buttons to put in the centers of the flowers. I even used a huge button to use it as a flower itself. Have a close look at the details. In my next post I will be telling how to make flowers and the butterfly.

Petals of the flower are sewed in the machine and then hand appliqued only in the center of the flower with the button.

The butterfly is appliqued as in the flower above so that it can give the effect of movement to the butterfly. It is as if the butterfly is flying over the flowers.

I intend to use it as a cushion, however it is also perfect as a wall hanging. So hail the spring!