Instructions
I pieced the background fabric with the strips along the bottom and added the black border. On hindsight, I wish I'd had more of the sky fabric because I think it would look better if you could see a bit more sky above the tree. I think it may be looking a little squished. But anyway, I ran out of fabric so this is as big as I could make the border.
I then cut out the tree trunk. So relieved it turned out right because I was too lazy to try and sketch it up on the fabric first or even decide on a design! It was a bit flimsy though and was already starting to fray so I ironed it onto some heavy fusible interfacing and them cut it out again so it was less fragile. Next time I will iron the fabric to the interfacing before I cut out the trunk. I also cut out a whole heap of leaves from a commercial leaf printed fabric.
I arranged the lot on the quilt top and pinned it down. At this point I added the batting. Then I put a darning foot on my sewing machine and dropped the feed dog and got busy top stitching everything down.
I added the backing fabric, stippled the sky, sewed around some of the leaves again so they would really pop and give a trapunto effect and stitched in the ditch for the grass and dirt layers at the bottom.
Last step was to bind it by simply folding forward the backing fabric and top stitching it down! Oh, and add a hanging slip!
I pieced the background fabric with the strips along the bottom and added the black border. On hindsight, I wish I'd had more of the sky fabric because I think it would look better if you could see a bit more sky above the tree. I think it may be looking a little squished. But anyway, I ran out of fabric so this is as big as I could make the border.
I then cut out the tree trunk. So relieved ...
Read full instructions »
Difficulty:
Category: Quilting
Type of item: Home Decor
For: Home
Style: Traditional,
Outdoorsy
Materials
Commercial print quilters cotton fabric, thread, reclaimed woolen blanket for batting and heavy fusible interfacing to stiffen up flimsy tree trunk and make it easier to work with!
What was your inspiration?
I've been collecting fabric with leaves and bark like effects since I started quilting with the intention of doing something like this, but never got around to it. This came together in a day so I have no idea why I procrastinated for so long!
What are you most proud of?
It doesn't really show up in the photos but I really love how puffy the leaves are. I also like the raw edge effect around the tree trunk and leaves. I have never done it before because I thought I preferred smooth edges, but I think I will definitely do it again.
Add your comment: