Gale's Gallery IV: Quilted Wallhangings Anyone Can Make

As I've said before, I really don't sew...but if you classify it as crafting and durability isn't an issue, I can get by.  It has to be simple though, with impressive results of course!

My first original design was this stained-glass style show Yorkie.  From the collection of Barbara Alexander.

This Yorkie wallhanging was made with the "simple" stained glass technique.  I designed the dog, cut it into parts, then fused it onto black fabric leaving a space between.  Then I stitched the pieces down using decorative stitching where possible.  I added a border, then layered it over batting and a backing fabric. I pinned well and quilted by using black thread and "stitching in the ditch" so you can't see any mistakes LOL!

I added some beads and a bow for some additional accents and texture.  I gave this quilt to my dear friend and Yorkie breeder Barbara Alexander as a Christmas gift.

This one I made for my terrific neighbors Gerald and Diane Graves.   Pattern from Details by Diane.

The Iris wallhanging was from a pattern (ugh--I had to follow directions!)  I took a class at Quilttrends in Columbus, OH because I was determined to actually sew something.  This is my first quilt project that was actually completed.  There are many patterns like this and they are by http://www.detailsbydiane.com/index.php and are also available at quilt stores.

(I have a large quilt that has taken 8 years so far to finish.  I will see if I can snap a photo of the it in progress.  Another wonderful friend, Kim Nelson has been hand-quilting it for me.  It was not an easy task for many reasons!  Bless you Kim!  When I get it back I will have fun adding more embellishments!)  That can be a post for another day...

I decided to make a couple more wallhangings for gifts that year.  What was I thinking???? I barely got the last one done Christmas Eve afternoon.  This year, I didn't make anything!

Here is my wonderful stepmom Betty with her wall hanging.  However, as you can see below, she made a much more awesome hand-quilted full size bedspread for my daughter Audra out of fabric from clothes she had made her over the years.   

So, Audra and I just finished making Betty some squares so she could have a full size quilt without me actually constructing it....that way I know it won't fall apart!  See below.

These are called "Mary's Garden" flowers that will go on blocks.  I cheated and used non-woven fusible web.  Really easy!  This is really bright so it will look great at Betty's Florida winter home.

Behind the kids is a vintage (60s or early 70s) completely hand stitched quilt by my grandmother Louise Williams.  She used to poke her finger every stitch to make sure it went through.  Yikes!  Each butterfly is different and you are only seeing about a 1/3 of it.

Some good resources are at your quilt shop, library or online.  Try Alex Anderson's "Simply Quilts", "Quilt-In-A-Day" with Eleanor Burns, Fon's and Porter's cable shows if you can find them.  They all have written bunches of books also.

Unlike the knitting rules, I don't have many sewing ones (I'd break most of them anyway.)  My seam ripper is my most used tool:(

Da rules:

1.)  Even if you don't want to rip it out, nothing is a mistake if you can make it part of the design.:) 

2.)  Start small (large projects are hard to sew)  Do as I say and not as I do.

3.)  Seriously, don't scrimp on fabric.  You will regret it.  I only use quilt store fabric and thread that is heavier and colorfast.  A clerk at JoAnn's said instead of raising prices, they just order the fabric thinner.  UGH!  You will pay more, but you will have a better project for sure.  I use my 40% coupons on tools. 

4.)  Always buy enough fabric for your project.  I never learn! 

5.)  Fat quarters cost more than a straight 1/4 yard cut, but straight 1/4's are really narrow!

6.)  Actually read your sewing machine manual.  I keep mine with my machine as I always forget stuff.

7.)  Measure twice, cut once.  Unless you are like me and just never do anything requiring exact measurements:)

8.)  Never use your fabric scissors for anything else!  (Never use hair shears for anything else either!)

9.)  Always unlock your rotary blade before you lay it down and make sure there is something (a thick ruler, etc.) between it and your other hand when you are cutting.

10.) Take a class--that way you might not have to learn everything the hard way. 

11.)  Throw away your thread every few years as it will get brittle and break off in the middle of a strategic spot.  This is hard for me too.  I hate to waste supplies, but it must be sacrificed for the good of your next project!

12.)  You don't need a lot of gadgets, so be careful when shopping to get multi-purpose tools.

13.)  Organize and store your stuff-- I spend more time hunting then crafting as I like things put away.  I also re-buy stuff now and then because I don't see it, then there it is...

14.)  Finish what you start!  No UFO's (unfinished projects)!


Well, I hope this inspires you!  I would love to see your projects!


Quote of the Post:


"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing." George Bernard Shaw


Until next time,
Gale

Gale's Gallery: Art Anyone Can Create

I can't paint, draw, sew or throw a pot on a wheel.  I have zero understanding of most museum art (just like I hate figuring out the meaning of different types of poetry.)  I supposed that makes me a bit "simple."  Oh well, simple doesn't actually mean dumb, just uncomplicated!  Why clutter my mind with all that useless information????  However, I do like making things and always have.  My very first "project" was likely one of those "loomed" pot holders or a very simple embroidered piece.  I remember "painting" a candy tray (that resembled an ash tray) with a holly on it during a Brownie meeting.  I learned to crochet in 3rd grade, but it took me until 2007 to learn to knit.  It just looked too complicated!

So, I plan to periodically share what I think are interesting techniques, new tools (we all know I'm a bit of a supply hoarder) and books, as well as photos of any kind of thing one can make by hand.  I promise you if I can make it, so can you!

I will mention places that have the cool supplies reasonably priced when I can.  Often it will not be a craft store:)  For my current project I actually had to walk into a tatoo parlor a couple days ago.  I was mortified someone would see me and I parked my Jeep behind the store LOL.  I really needed tiny o-rings.  Of course, they had no clue.  

I love variety and I hate mass producing, so I rotate between mediums (the craft kind, not ethereal!) so I don't get bored.  You won't be interested in every post, but follow because you will surely like something.  It helps to study projects that you don't plan to do because often there is a technique or a tool that will apply to something you do like...

Mostly I will show projects I've done myself, but I plan to ask some experts to "guest blog" when I see something cool that they do.

So follow me to the craft room... in my case the "craft pit" in our basement.  

I would like to start with something that uses scrap fabric, is portable and only requires one tool, some cotton string and the same canvas some of us hooked rugs on as kids.  It's called "Locker Rug Hooking."  There are several books and if you google it you will find complete instructions.  (I modified them of course.  I decided not to sew my strips together, but instead knot them by splicing them and looping one through the hole.  That works better when you aren't sure which color you will use next.)  

I always make my own patterns.  Just find something you like that isn't full of "round" objects and draw it on the canvas.  Beware that these projects use quite a bit of fabric if you have to buy it.  A 1/4 yard will get you maybe 8 square inches.  I like to use vat dyed fabric because the front and back are the same color and if it gets twisted it isn't a big deal.

Although the technique is simple, just pulling up fabric from the back and hooking it with the string to secure, I usually spend several weeks to a couple months working on one project.  A large project is kind of difficult to manage as I like to hold it by the edge to steady it.

My Locker Rug Projects:

"Country Church"

This is actually not a church, but my neighbor Kim's house.  It's a view from my bedroom window, embellished a bit.   I added a wheat field with golden fur yarn for texture.  The stained glass window has several Swarovski crystals.  There is a button for the door handle.  If you look closely (and this photo doesn't do it justice) I change greens for the grass and evergreens as well as the direction I hooked for vertical movement.  The fabric for the roof is a gradient gray to black.  It took about $80 in fabric for this one, so you might want to start smaller.  The size is roughly 3 ft X 2 ft.

"My Monet Impression"

This was my first project.  This is a path (with buttons for rocks) winding through a field of flowers and going into the woods.  I added more fiber to make the trees have texture and crystals in the the pond for reflection (you can maybe see one next to the yellow water lily on the right edge.  The idea was to learn to combine light and shadow for added realism.  Not sure I hit it right there though.  Size is about 18" x 36."

"Patrick"

This was my 2nd project and a Christmas gift for my friend Barb.  We co-bred Patrick and he became a Champion Yorkshire Terrier.  Again, I used horizontal looping for the background and vertical to show how the coat would hang.  I used buttons for his eyes and an authentic show bow.    Since a yorkie is a shaded color breed, I mixed several fabrics to try to show this.  Notice I border all of my projects in black.  You don't have to do that, it's just my thing!  Size is about 3' x 2.'

"Wild Flowers!"

This was my last project.  I used sky fabric (and lots of it) which saved a lot of time.  The table is looped horizontally and the pattern of the fabric looked better to me done vertically.  There are several shapes and sizes of yo-yos all adorned with different button centers.  The fabric for the vase was nasty and shredded easily.  You can't see it, but about half of the flowers are wired and pop out of the wall hanging.    I hand-dyed a doily just for fun.  

I hope you enjoyed this mini art lesson!  I plan to do one once a month until I run out of ideas!

Take care!

Gale