Christmas tree wall hanging - 2012

I found this design in an old quilting magazine. A hand-quilted, batting-in-the-middle, wall hanging with sequins, buttons, and beads sewn on as ornaments. I machine appliqued garland in yellow thread, and a bright yellow star on top. I hand stitched the star rays with yellow thread. 

The tree was originally supposed to be pieced together with Christmas fabric. But I wanted my tree to be all one pattern piece, so I had to design my own tree pattern, and the green fabric I used actually matches the valance next to it (not shown). 

The white background fabric is a large (about 10" x 16") piece of eyelet. I ironed some fusible webbing to machine appliqué the tree, trunk, and skirt to the eyelet background, and then added the red strips to the top and bottom. The star squares in each corner were hand sewn (because I don't like piecing little squares with the machine), and then the side strips and binding were added. The top tabs were almost the hardest to attach because just when I thought I had them all level and even, one would be too short when I put the dowel through them. Then as a final touch, I added little satin ribbon bows across the top binding. As it is, the tabs are just a hair off, but it's done and over with! 

Not too bad for a first try at this pattern!

The dowel its hanging on is painted light brown and I super glued the wide red ribbon to each end, and tied a large bow at the top.


It was fun to make, so this'll be one wall hanging that we'll keep for years!



A cute frilly blanket for a baby girl that's different from the traditional pinks. 

This baby quilt measures roughly 49" x 49" with a 3" gathered ruffle around the edges and a brown dotted strip at the edge. Large flowers of blue dots on a brown background at each corner and in the center, with smaller flowers circling the center. The top and backing fabric is of pale blue gingham, with a blanket-type batting in between.

(already given away)


New videos are now available on YouTube on how to make your own quilt frames, and how to attach a quilt to the frame. On my blog here, click on the tabs at the top under the Sweet Petal Stitchery title next to "Home" to read the instructions and then click on the "Watch the Video" link. You will be directed to YouTube to watch the video. OR, click the links below to be directed to YouTube and watch!



Sometimes its easier to watch someone do something and follow their direction rather than just read instructions. Hopefully these videos will help fill in some gaps that may occur when you're trying to accomplish the task of making your own quilt. It's really not as complicated as it may seem, both the making of frames, and the setting up of a quilt, and this is what I tried to impart through the videos.

If you've viewed the videos, I'd be interested in hearing how effective they were in helping viewers understand the "how-to's" of it all.

Thanks!

Links:

How to Make Your Own Quilt Frame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEHUiVevEsc&t=3s

Attaching the Quilt to the Frame, Part 1 of 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFiwdcUvt8s&t=1s