Reverse Applique Pillow - February ASG Challenge

Reverse appliqué heart pillow

      For the February ASG demo/challenge we learned reverse appliqué.  At the meeting we were given the two fabrics, patterns and a piece of stabilizer.  I chose to use the hot pink fabric on top with the print behind.  I centered the larger heart with the smaller heart overlapping off to the side.  

Reverse applique detail

     I layered the right side of the print fabric to the wrong side of the solid fabric.  Then I used black thread and the triple straight stitch to stitch the shapes.   I used my appliqué scissors to cut out the front fabric, leaving about an 1/16" to 1/8" edge.  I remember doing something similar to this with sweatshirts many years ago.

Flange detail

     I decided to make this piece into a pillow.  From my stash I found some coordinating colors.  I framed the piece with lime green thin flanges.  The pieces were cut 1" wide, pressed in half and then sewn with 1/4" seam allowance, leaving a 1/4" flange.  Then I used some turquoise fabric to make the piece large enough to make a small pillow.

Finished pillow front

Back side of pillow front

     Here are some pictures of the finished front piece from the front and the back.  I added some black covered cord and then sewed up the pillow and hand stitched it closed.

Cording on, before stuffing

     It was a fun project and I liked the technique.  I may use it for some other items.

Finished detail

Circle Basket - January ASG Challenge

Finished circle basket

      In my neighborhood ASG group we have a monthly challenge.  For January the challenge was to make a basket from circles.

Folded pattern paper

Cutting the pattern

     To get the pattern for my circles, I folded a piece of pattern paper into quarters and then used my Cut A Round ruler to cut a 15" circle.

Cutting the fabric

Ironed on to the Flex Foam

Stitched circle

     I cut two circles from my fabric and then ironed one onto Flex Foam 2 sided fusible stabilizer.  I then cut the Flex Foam.  I layered right sides of the fabric together and stitched around with a 1/4" seam allowance.

Marked lines

Marked squares

Squares cut out

     I folded the circle in half and snipped at both ends.  Then I drew a line 2" on either side, so 4 inches apart.  I then drew a line perpendicular to that, 4"inches in from the edge.  I cut out that 'square'. 

 

Inside pressed to Flex Foam

     I then turned it right side out and pressed the other fabric (lining) to the flex Foam.  I did have a little bit extra, I believe from the turning the lining was slightly pulled in.  I just ironed a nice crease down the center.

Inside showing stitched fold lines

Circle quilting lines

Ends sewn together

     I stitched lines where the basket would fold and then stitched three lines following the curve of the circle to quilt the layers together.  Then I matched the raw edges of the cut out square to from the basket and stitched them together with a 1/4" seam allowance, being sure to bring the same side over first.

Adding the binding

Nice neat binding

Tacking the ends together

Ready for the buttons

      I covered the raw edges with a piece of binding, making sure to fold under the ends.  I then used the button sew on stitch to tack the ends together to give it more stability.    The last thing I did was sew a button on over the tack stitch, just to make it look pretty.  I think I will be making more of these, they were fun and easy.

Sewing Sweatshirt #1

 

Finished embroidered sweatshirt

     Just a quick post today.  As the JoAnn Fabric store near me is getting ready to close I decided to get myself a couple of sweatshirts to decorate.  I am hoping to go to quilt retreats again with my friends but in the meantime I will do stay-at-home retreats twice a year.  I wanted something special to wear on those days.  I already have a 'Sew Now, Wine Later' one.

Embroidery detail

     For this hooded one, I chose a design from Embroidery Library.  I did it in the largest size on my sweatshirt.  I liked the openness of the design, it meant it wasn't 'bullet proof' so the shirt maintained it's softness.  I ironed a poly-mesh stabilizer to the inside and then hooped the sweatshirt.  At first I chose the wrong extra large hoop and couldn't figure out how to get the sweatshirt onto the machine.  I realized I needed to use the one that had the clips on the inner hoop and not the outer one.  After that, it was smooth sailing.

Floral Funky Square Pillow

 

Funky square pillow

     Several years ago I made a funky square pillow from a black and white cowhide print ultrasuede fabric.  I made a new one to do a demo at our local ASG meeting.

Cut 14" square

Serged with lining

     I cut two 14"squares from the floral fabric, centering a different flower on each.  I then lined the square with flannel interlining and serged around the edges.

Cutting cord fabric

Trimming the covered cord

     I cut two inch wide bias strips from a coordinating purple fabric and then covered a foam cord.  Usually this cord is used in outdoor pillows and cushions but I wanted to try it in this pillow to make sharper corners.  After covering the cord, I used my trimmer to cut it so it had a 1/2" seam allowance.  I sewed this cord to one of the pillow squares.

Matching center to corner

     I then snipped the center point on each side and that got matched to the corner of the other  square.  I sewed all around with a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving an opening to turn.  After turning it right side out, I stuffed the pillow and hand sewed the rest of it closed.

Second side of the pillow

Side view of the pillow

     After finishing it up, I pinched the corners to crease the cord.  This made for a sharper corner to accentuate the unusual shape.

Raspberry Truffle Log Cabin Quilt

 

Raspberry Truffle Quilt

     I finished a small lap quilt.  My friend Joni gave me a quilt kit she no longer wanted.  She was going to make a king-sized quilt but I knew I didn't have the patience for that with all the small pieces.

Block detail

     I cut it out at home, started piecing it at the March 2022 retreat and finished at the October of 2022 retreat.  As I had several quilts to be quilted, I put this to the side for a bit and finally got it quilted in February of 2025.

Border and binding detail

     It wasn't a hard quilt to do, just tedious with all the small pieces.  I like log cabin quilts as you can play with the blocks to achieve different patterns.

Label 1

Label 2

     I used a pretty quilt label frame from Embroidery Library and lettering from MasterWorks to make my label on my computer and then stitched them out.  Normally I have just used a satin stitch frame from another program, but I think these make for a prettier label.  No reason the back can't be as pretty as the front.

Backing and quilting detail

     Barb and I chose a leafy vine pattern that mimicked the pattern on the background and backing fabric.  Nice to have another finished project.