Fabric for Christmas
Hands up in the air those people who received fabric for a Christmas present or maybe a leaving work gift?
Are you a seasoned quilter or a brand-new beginner to quilting or maybe someone who is in the middle?
Whatever you class your own status as there is one question that all of us will need to answer.
That question is What are you going to do with this fabric?
Let us start with a beginner. One of our most popular Christmas kits was a selection of pre-cut fabric squares, some hand sewing needles and some thread.
If you received one of these gift packs then this is your motorway into a lifelong hobby of quilting. Believe me, this is how many started and still go on today, many years later.
When you look at this pile of square material then you could be forgiven for thinking that you may need a little inspiration to begin with.
If so here goes.
1. If you place two pieces of fabric face side to face side and sew small in / out stitches about ¼ of an inch away from the edge on one side you will end up with 2 squares sewn together. Obvious really but what then if you do it again with 2 more squares? Then again sew these 2 squares together to the first 2 squares.
You will either have a long strip of 4 squares sewn together or a square of 4 blocks sewn together. Whichever you have then that is the start of a foray into the magical world of quilting.
If, like many your fabric comes in 5” squares or a 5” charm pack as it is known then your long strip of fabric could become a wall hanging on its own. A simple selection of fabric squares that you can use as a decoration for your wall. If you could find a piece of twig or tree branch that is maybe about the thickness of your little finger and about 6” – 7” long, then you can fold one end of your fabric length over the twig and sew the fabric together to form a type of long loop then your stick will slide through it. To the ends of the twig, you can simply add a piece of thread, wool, lace or whatever takes your fancy and fix it to both ends of the twig. This will help you find the middle and when you have found the middle you can put this onto a nail in the wall and there you are a simple wall hanging.
Like wise you can do this with your four-square piece of wall art and display that also.
But why stop there? If you like the idea of hand sewing, then why not add to the fabric pieces with other bits and bobs you haver lying around. Maybe sew a small cotton bobbin onto it, do some embroidery and sew into the fabric. Use some lace or buttons to make a feature of your work. You can also carry sewing in long lines of say 5 squares into one row. Then do the same again with another 5 squares. Continue until you have used 40 pieces of fabric sewn together in 8 lines of 5 squares. If you then sew these together on the long edge, again face to face you will end up with a piece of work in size of Approximately 25” x 40” long. Actually, if you take off the ½ inch for each join you will have a piece 22.5” wide by 36” long.
This can make a nice table runner, a piece of wall art, a small quilt and many more pieces of work. You could then cut these rows up and turn some of them around to make different shapes.
You could get adventurous and cut the work in diagonal pieces then re-stitch them together and form a different piece of work.
You are only constrained by your imagination so go on, have a go, and see what you end up with. This could be a wild new adventure for you are a solitary pastime to while away the time in your own little world away from the stresses of work and COVID-19 19.
You can always contact me and show me your work or ask for advice all free and given with humour.
Happy sewing
Alan