Monday, December 31, 2012

Maybe next christmas

Shortly before the holidays a friend asked me if I was ready. I thought about it and decided that I was nearly ready for LAST year's holiday season. Things just seem to go faster and faster. Before we know it, it will be summer, and then it was be winter holiday time again. 

I didn't get this done in time for this year, so I'm getting a jump on things for next year.
Holiday Tree Wall Hanging

This is a small (~16"x18") paper pieced wall hanging. 

It is an original design, but loosely inspired by several christmas tree blocks I've seen floating around. 

EQ7 Design
I designed the entire thing in EQ7, printed the foundations, pieced, quilted (see picture of back) and then embellished with small felt balls (cut in half), and rick rack. The wool felt balls are beautiful and come in lots of colors and sizes (Tami Pfeil, http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandbehgFELTS). I actually had to order more balls, because the dog ate all but a few of the first set while my back was turned. 

The background fabric was not the best choice -- a little too much pattern to show the dense, swirly background free motion quilting. The back shows the quilting a bit better.


Back of Wall Hanging

I used Fast Finish Triangles in the upper corners for hanging (http://www.alzquilts.org/paqdisplay.html). 

It looks like the Fast Finish tutorial link is no longer valid, but here is another link -- or just google. http://www.heirloomcreations.net/sewing-tips/how-to-hang-small-quilts/

For the Fast Finish Triangles, you basically cut 2 squares of fabric that are about 1/3 or so of the width of the quilt, fold on the diagonal and iron (I sometime put a little fusible tape next to the fold inside and iron again to make it firmer). After the quilt is quilted and you are ready to bind, position the right angles (cut edges) of the folded triangles in the upper right and left corners of the quilt. I usually stitch them down in the outer seam allowance to make sure they stay put while I sew on the binding. 


Leave a comment and your email if you would like the instructions and PDF's of the foundations.

Happy New Year and happy quilting.


7 comments:

  1. I really like the differentiation between the straight lined quilting on the tree and the swirly FMQ around the tree. It's really nice.

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  2. Hi Susan,
    I love Christmas Trees, and yours is sooo cute! I would love the Foundation patterns.
    Thanks, and keep up the good work!
    Mary Parker
    mross8@comcast.net



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  3. Hi, I loved your christmas tree. I saw some in the internet, but yours is really cute? Could I have the pdf to make it also? We have July now and I am starting with my Christmas pieces. I would love to be able to make it, I am a fanatic paper piecer... Thanks in advance, Ingrid (ipreuhs@gmail.com)

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  4. Your design is wonderful.....would love the pdf or EQ file.....thanks for sharing!
    Sheri in Iowa
    leshsheri@gmail.com

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  5. Sherri -- thanks for the positive feedback and happy to share.

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  6. This is an amazing tree design and the perfect size that I could finish. Love the fast finish triangle idea. How inventive. I would love to have the PDFs and instructions.
    Susan, in CA country. kswatkins80@gmail.com

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  7. I love this tree pattern. This size is so doable and the fast finish triangles are such an inventive addition. I would love to have the PDFs . Thanks. Susan
    kswatkins80@gmail.com

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