Project Item #5

Project Complete:

5. Christmas Medallion - table topper

I called this one an orphan block because it was a technique I wanted to try but didn't have any purpose for it at the time. It is a stained glass window design using ready-made fusible bias. So, as the Christmas season approaches it seemed fitting to decide to do a table topper project to get it ready for the holidays.  And, entering it in a contest at the quilting gallery was an added bonus.

There wasn't really much work involved to finish the quilt top as a table topper - sew down the remaining bias at the center and add borders to the finished size I wanted. I decided I was just going to keep it small and so added two borders in the green and gold fabrics that were used in the center. I did add red fabric to add depth to the middle of the design and it really stands out nicely.

Center of Design

Adding red fabric and using metallic gold thread to online the design.

I would rather pay someone else to quilt the layers together, however, there comes a time when more difficult techniques need a fair chance, and so I headed into that task.  I at first tried copying the design's shape but was not happy with my attempt. So, I enjoyed an hour of ripping the stitches out and after a break came back to it and thought, I can do straight lines better, so I really simplified it and added some metallic gold thread to the stitching.

Background of Center block

Quilting with straight lines outside the design

 The completed quilt - size: 28 1/4" x 28 1/4"

I hope you enjoy planning for the upcoming holidays - in all the many ways we celebrate the season.  When I find my notebook, I'll add the designer's name and the book I found this pattern in, later as I started this several years ago.

Happy Quilting and Enjoy the Festive Season!

Project Item #3

Project Complete:
3. Stained Glass Quilt – Flower and Butterfly wall-hanging

Finished Quilt

All that was required was to machine stitch the binding technique to the quilt and it was finished. If I decide to keep this quilt, I think I'd like to put it into a frame to hang on the wall.  It was one of the earlier quilts that I had made so I am not certain which year I started it, but it was sometime before 2005.

Close-up of the Design

I haven't found the book that I wrote down the information from this quilt. All I can remember is that it was a stained glass design without the bias strips that are commonly used to outline the parts of the appliqued pieces. Instead it uses a black background and the design is cut out to appear as it has the bias strips added to complete the design. It was fun to make and since I hadn't done many bindings at that time, I used the technique that brings the backing to the quilt front and then machine stitched it down. I now prefer to use the continuous binding technique for all of my quilts.

I checked on Amazon to see if I could find the book and am not 100% sure if what I found is correct.  So I will correct this information, if necessary, when I can confirm the details. However, this is what I think it is:  "Stained Glass Quilts Made Easy" by Amy Helmkamp.