Thursday 11 February 2016

How My Brain Works

A couple of weeks ago I told you I had joined another swap and I showed you my idea for the cushion cover I was thinking of making.

So last week I sat down with paper and pencil and drew up the template that I needed for my little curved appliqué pieces.


I pulled some low volume fabrics and quickly knocked up sixteen quarter square triangle blocks that would eventually finish at 4" for the background. And then I had a happy little browse through my stash picking fabrics for my half orange peel shapes and started appliquéing.


As per normal with me I chose the fabrics a couple at a time and did the appliquéing, then I would place them together before I decided on which colours of fabrics to add next. Eventually I had sixteen circles.


I pieced it all into a 20" cushion top and then I did a teeny tiny little stipple in all the low volume areas. This gave it a really cool texture (well, I thought it did).


I was really happy with the way this looked, only it didn't look finished to me. So my brain - as per the usual - turned to the perle cotton.


I thought the stem stitch worked better with this project than hand quilting a running stitch. I wanted to emphasise those circles.


And that is a little project, from inception to completion (other than the cushion back and a zipper). When I have my ideas I seldom actually know what the finish will look like. It just evolves in its own happy way. Each and every one is just a wee little adventure in sewing for me. Which is one of the reasons I love this quilting lark so much.

Susan

14 comments:

  1. I like the way your brain works :) Also, I love your fabric choices. And the stitching looks a bit as if you went around the circles with colourful fineliner pens - I like the effect very much.

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  2. your brain works well, constantly evolving. And cotton perle is really your signature mark isn't it?

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  3. It's lovely, your brain works in a great way! I agree that it didn't look finished and needed that outline.

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  4. I wish I could spend time inside your brain . . . think I have said that before!
    It would be so much fun.
    This is superb.

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  5. Hi Susan! I love love this! Thank you for sharing your process! I want to make a mini like this for my sewing room! x Teje

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  6. Lovely brain and mine works similarly! I find it more exciting that way! You never disappoint Susan - keep it up!

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  7. This turned out beautifully, I really love the stem stitch, great choice.

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  8. I love this, but then it is no surprise because I love nearly everything you make. You really do have such a way with colour. x

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  9. Lovely! Nice to see it from idea to panel too.

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  10. What a good idea and how beautiful the result !

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  11. you do such wonderful work ..

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