Completing the Old, Beginning the New...

My tree/sunset quilt is quilted.  Interestingly, I have not titled the piece.  I usually have it titled before it is finished.  Oh well, it will come to me.

The quilting was somewhat minimal which tends to be my style.  I prefer all to be balanced.  As such, the sunset panels were done with simple straight line border quilting and stitch-in-the-ditch inside the panels and around the suns.













The tree panel has stitching to create motion, both in the tree trunk and in the background. 












The gold symbols were inspired and stitched in metallic thread.  Because of their abstractness, they are able to reflect the opinion of the viewer.






To bring in more texture, needlework is being added as the "tails" of the kite-shaped leaves.  The idea is to brighten up the piece a bit and draw the eye to the leaves without overpowering the piece.  These details are time-consuming to stitch and are not yet done.

Once complete, I will have the art quilt stretched on a frame, rather than completing with a binding.  Because of the dimensional aspects (that are difficult to see here) incorporated, stretching it will assist in popping those details.

Now I am on to my newest inspiration:  a butterfly quilt.  Butterflies have been a part of my life in many artistic forms.  The first published Quilt Whimsy pattern had a butterfly in it.  This will be the first stand alone, detailed butterfly I have done.

This art quilt was inspired in a vision.  I began it by drawing a wing on freezer paper.  The wing size is 14" x 17".

As I have not done this style of quilt before, I was a bit befuddled as to how to create the intricate black filigree.  My solution is to trace this wing, and its mirror image, onto fusible interfacing as shown here.  The interfacing pattern will now be fused and stitched onto the black fabric.  Once stitched, I will then be able to cut the spaces out.

Wish me luck.  I will share when I move to the next step.

Love and blessings,
Karri

Unfinished Art Quilt Project in Completion Stage...

This tree (without the leaves) was constructed in a Ruth McDowell class in 2008.  I immediately knew how I wanted to finish it but had not been willing to put the time in, until now.

Luckily, the original fabrics and the majority of the fabrics for completion were kept together all these years.  Work  was begun by appliqueing the leaves.  The applique technique used was turning the edges under and machine stitching with invisible thread.

In the original design, a panel of waning sunsets was part of the vision.  As the construction of the individual sunsets was completed, they seemed to call for more detail.  

One morning while lying in bed, I envisioned these leaves surrounding this sun.  I found the idea interesting and went with it.  As the first one was finished, the two other surrounding designs fell into place.  All details are embroidered with some light beading.

The art quilt construction is complete.  The quilting and some additional needlework details in the works now.  I will post again soon, another unfinished project off my shelf.

Love and blessings,
Karri

Single-fold Binding for Art Quilts and Wall Hangings

My quilting journey began making lap quilts, bed quilts, quilts that are everyday usable quilts.  As such, I was taught how to make a double-fold binding.  It never occurred to me that there was any other style of binding.  So as I transitioned into art quilts, I continued using the style I was taught.  One day, through another quilt artist, I came upon what is called the single-fold binding.

I now questioned the use of the double-fold binding and became informed that double-fold binding is used for everyday quilts used as coverings because that makes them stronger; they hold up better to the tugging and pulling done to keep the quilt on our bodies.  Single-fold bindings on everyday quilts tend to fray when used often.

Art quilts hang on a wall.  As the purpose is to finish the quilt and add a design element, there is no need for the double-fold binding, unless it is used as a design element as I do for some quilts.  A single-fold binding uses less fabric and is easier to manipulate.

Here is how I make a single-fold binding.

Begin by cutting the binding strips 1 1/2" wide.  The inches needed to surround the quilt will remain the same.  Sew the strips together in your preferred way.  Fold one edge of the stripped binding over 1/4" and steam iron the entire length of the stripped binding.

The binding strip will look like this.

Place the raw edge of the strip onto the front side of the quilt.  I begin my binding approximately 1/3 from the bottom edge and leave a tail at the beginning of 8" to 10" to join when the binding comes around the quilt and meets.

When sewn to the front, turn over and hand sew to the back with the needle grabbing the folded over edge.  If you would like to machine sew both sides, begin by sewing the raw edge of the back and flipping the binding to the front and then sewing along the folded edge.

And here is the finished piece, all ready for shipping in plenty of time for my sister's birthday (boy, is that unusual :)  Thank goodness for this UFO. 

Please share if you have another style of binding to use.  I would love to increase my reservoir of binding types.

This is my Show & Tell.  I look forward to receiving any photos you would like to share for Show & Tell.

Love and blessings,
Karri