6.17.2008

teen patchwork & plates

Our soon-to-be-15-year-old's birthday comes only 14 days after our son's birthday. And since I just finished his BuSy & BoLd airplane/baseball quilt, I have to hurry and get her quilt finished.
But I had help. She is so excited about receiving a quilt that she wanted a tiny bit of input into the design and fabric selection. She drew out her design and color scheme and went fabric shopping with me. After loading up our cart with her vast array of choices, I got busy following her colored diagram.

After I laid out the blocks we both realized that the quilt needed to be revamped and enlarged because she wants it to be huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge and fluffy.

We'll trace the dinner plates on corresponding fabric and and sew those down. Anyone have any savvy (read=simple, simple directions for my lack of mathematical ability) ideas on how to 'do' the circles??? I guess I am scratching my head about getting a perfect, precise circle and then how do I attach it? I don't want raw edges, but still desire something very uniform looking without it being too time-consuming.



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13 comments:

  1. Unknown17/6/08 2:28 PM

    Hi Dawn, I love the quilt! I just did some wedges that I posted on my blog and I did not want raw edges either. What I did was got some very light weight fusible interfacing. Then I laid it down on my cut fabric circles RIGHT sides together. Bumpy side of interfacing to right side of fabric. Then I pinned it, stitched 1/4 inch from the edge of the fabric. Trim the seam down to about 1/8 inch. When done with that you make a slit in the middle of the interfacing big enough so that you can turn it right side out. Once it is right side out, finger press the seam and then place on the quilt where you would like it and fuse into place. Then you can use a decorative stitch by machine, hand applique, or what I did use rick rack around the edge of the circle stitched down.

    It really doesn't take much time and the result is terrific. Check it out on my blog. I did post pictures about 2 posts ago and while you are there enter my giveaway! Good Luck and happy birthday to your daughter!!

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  2. StitchinByTheLake17/6/08 3:59 PM

    I agree with Jackie...the easiest way to do circles is to sew them to something lightweight and turn. That's if you're using cotton. I you're using something like Minkee that's a different story. I'd use a big dinner plate for the template. Draw around it onto poster paper or plastic instead of freezer paper cause with something that big you need it to be a little more sturdy. Let us know how it turns out!

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  3. Cathie17/6/08 4:29 PM

    Remember to flip the dinner plate upside down before you trace it.

    Jackie's suggestion is the best one I've ever heard! I'll remember that one!

    Cath

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  4. willywagtail17/6/08 5:09 PM

    Hi. It is great that your daughter had input in her quilt. At that age she will appreciate it even more. I would use a plate or bowl or the bottom of a paint tin or clean plant pot - there are always round things to be found somewhere. Then I would applique the circles use an iron on method such as vlisofix with a machine applique stitch. This will be neat and withstand loads of washing. Cherrie

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  5. SewAmy17/6/08 6:55 PM

    love you daugters design and color choices. I agree with Jackie on the circles. Can't wait to see the finished quilt.

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  6. Sally17/6/08 7:28 PM

    Instead of using interfacing try using tulle...it makes it even lighter and softer.

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  7. Dandelion Quilts17/6/08 8:48 PM

    Wow, I have learned a lot tonight from you ladies.

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  8. QuiltedSimple18/6/08 7:54 AM

    Love your daughter's colors and design - and I agree with Jackie - that would be about the quickest and easiest way to do this. Can't wait to see it finished,
    Kris

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  9. Cara18/6/08 8:27 AM

    Hi Dawn! Gorgeous quilt (is there a future quilter/designer in your midst? : ) ) I agree with Jackie but instead of doubling them just cut them out and machine applique them with the rick rack covering the raw edge and/use a decorative stitch from your machine to cover the raw edge and make it washable. Yu could also make small piping and use that around the edges of the circles and then stitch them down "in the ditch".
    If you do use fusibles, I recomend Misty Fuse- it is very lightweight and wonderfully washable! Can't wait to se the finished porject and Happy Birthday to your daughter!

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  10. Knot Garden18/6/08 12:40 PM

    I love your daughter's choice of those zingy sherbet colours. She will love the finished quilt even more knowing she has had some input into it.
    To attach the circles I would probably tack the fabric around a circular freezer paper template then sew it down, just because that's the way I'm used to, but it would be quite time-consuming. The freezer paper can be removed through a small slit in the back afterwards. You could also fuse them down and machine blanket stitch around the edges.

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  11. meggie19/6/08 1:41 AM

    What a great bright design, & the idea of using the fusible, & turning them out is great!

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  12. Anonymous19/6/08 9:36 AM

    I love the quilt and the colors. I'm afraid I can't give you any advice about appliqué though, I'm only a beginner myself.

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  13. willywagtail19/6/08 4:47 PM

    Hi, I just wanted to say a big thankyou for your very encouraging comment on my blog. I still don't get many comments as I am new at this game but the ones I do get mean so much. Cherrie
    P.S. The valance was a wedding present - a crochet table cloth spread straight across the curtain rod and tied with leftover ribbons.

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