Project: Using Batiks

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Just Completed a Flower Garden

 


Last September I started doodling the beginnings of this quilt in my idea journal; this project has been fermenting in my imagination for quite a while. On November first, I finally plucked up the courage to put the idea to fabric using the batiks in my fabric stash. It was finished the day before Thanksgiving. 

This quilt was paper pieced by hand. In this process the shape is cut from freezer paper, ironed on to the fabric, and cut with 1/4 inch extra on all edges so the seam allowance can be folded over the paper. The shape is placed over another prepared piece with right sides together and seamed with a whip stitch. Then the seam of the joined pieces is pressed flat and ready for the next addition. Before a quilt is sandwiched with batting and the backing, the freezer paper templates are easily removed and can even be reused.

This is a detail of the wrong side of the quilt showing pieces joined together with paper templates intact:

The paper template has been removed from the top green piece on the right. 


The modest size of this quilt can be credited for its faster than usual turn around time. Measuring 25x35, it is the right size for a wall hanging,- it wouldn't keep anybody warm at night. 

I still have lots of batiks left, so I consider this the prototype for future quilts.


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