A beautiful pattern of tulips and pussy willows, by our creative friend, Karen Lamp. We tried to fit this design into the magazine for spring, but ran out of pages! Karen has generously allowed us to share her work with you on our blog. Do you think you could stitch it in time to hang on your door to greet your Easter guests? No pressure.
a spring bouquet
designed by Karen Lamp
materials
Homespun*:
a 14-1/2” x 19” piece, for center
1/4 yd. for border
1/4 yd. for binding
Fat quarter for backing
Fat quarter cotton batting*
Prewashed (felted) wool*:
Blue plaid, an 8” x 12” piece (watering can)
Off-white, a 4” x 4” piece (pussy willows)
Pink, a 4” x 9” piece (tulips)
Lavender, a 4” x 5” piece (tulips)
Green, a 8” x 10” piece (leaves and stems)
#8 or #12 perle cotton in colors to match wools, plus color to match center fabric*
Embroidery hoop or Q-Snap frame, embroidery needle, fabric glue, freezer paper, iron and ironing surface, light box or well-lit window, pencil, pins, ruler, scissors, sewing machine, tracing paper, washable marker
*Available through Country Craft Cupboard.
Country Craft Cupboard: (330) 893-3163, countrycraftcupboard.com
instructions
For pattern, see below for PDF’s to print out.
1. For border, cut two 3-1/2” x 14-1/2” strips of fabric and sew to top and bottom of center. Cut two 3-1/2” x 23” border strips and sew to sides of center. Press.
2. Cut cotton batting to fit quilt front and pin to back.
Note: It is helpful to trace the design onto tracing paper; this becomes your guide when placing the wool.
3. Using pencil and light box or well-lit window, trace all pattern pieces onto paper side of freezer paper. Allow space between pieces and add a little to parts of watering can that lie under another. Note: Pussy willows are off-white ovals, cut at random.
4. Cut around all shapes, not on lines, and iron to wool, shiny side of freezer paper down. Cut them out on lines.
5. Use washable marker and light box or well-lit window to trace outline of watering can and all stems onto homespun center. Place traced pattern over center and position wool pieces. Peel off paper and pin or hold in place with a dot of fabric glue.
6. Allow to dry, then whipstitch around all wool pieces with matching perle cotton. Stem stitch all pussy willow stems with green, then sew in place with a single long stitch from bottom to center; this allows edges to remain free, and gives a bit more dimension.
7. Veins in leaves are backstitched with green.
8. Place backing on reverse side of quilt and pin in place. Hand baste or machine baste outer edges so you can remove pins.
9. Using a hoop or frame, sew a running stitch around watering can with perle cotton that matches center fabric. Sew a running stitch along border as well. Optional: Stitch around all tulips and leaves.
10. Trim all edges of quilt so layers are even.
11. Cut 2-1/2” wide strips of binding fabric. Cut a 45˚ angle on both ends and sew end-to-end until you have enough to go around quilt. Press in half lengthwise.
12. With right side of binding to right side of quilt front, raw edges even, sew binding in place with a 1/4” seam. Miter corners as you go, and overlap where you started.
13. Fold binding to the back side and slipstitch in place.
14. For hanger loops, cut two 4” x 6” pieces of binding fabric. Fold in half lengthwise and press. Sew all open sides using a 1/4” seam, allowing an opening to turn.
15. Clip corners, turn, and press, then slipstitch opening closed. Make two hangers, and sew in place along binding on back.
For questions regarding this design, please contact Karen at karen@countrycraftcupboard.com.
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