Quilting By Design

Potholder Wannabe

     Well, Sunday started like any other day; rushed and hectic. I had an interview and review slated for Monday, however, the information I needed from my resource is still not here (and it’s 9 pm). So, I reluctantly decided that I needed to whip up a quickie project as a filler and this is it!
     All of the necessary supplies for this project include: Basic sewing tools, a photo printed on fabric, 1.5″ strips of a contrasting fabric to “frame” the photo, a piece of backing fabric (large enough to accomodate the photo with frame), a piece of insulated batting (about the same size as the backing fabric), 2.5″ strips of a contrasting fabric to be used as the binding, and approximately 4-6″ of rick-rack trim.

     Begin sewing the 1.5″ strips to the top and bottom of the potholder, then sew the side strips on. Be sure to press after sewing each strip on, away from the photo.

     Layer the potholder, placing the backing right side down (facing the counter or flat surface you are working on) down first, followed by the insulated batting, and finally, the photo top piece.

     Using a decorative stitch, quilt the layers together. It is best to begin quilting within the photo first. For instance, I quilted around the three sides of the “photo frame” in the picture that are on the left, right, and top. This anchors the center of the potholder. It is not a good idea to quilt over faces.
     At this point, it is time to use the 2.5″ strips to attach the binding. You would be sure to fold the rick-rack and sew it when you sew on the binding, too. After you are finished, either sign or label the back.

     ”What?”, you say? “Where is the finished photo?” Well, to make a long story short, absolutely nothing went as planned in this project because I was in a hurry and my heart was not in it. I actually made quite a few of these for Christmas gifts last year and gave them to all of my aunts. They were the hit of our reunion! However, you can tell from the final photo shown on the right exactly how frustrating tonight’s project has been for me! I printed off the photo four (4) times before I got a good print! Then, I ruined the first one I began when my thread really, really messed up during the decorative quilting stage (actually, just a couple of minutes after the photo above of me sewing the stitch!). So, I began another one, using my second best printed photo and it turned out worse than the first. What a major fiasco!
     Someday, I will tackle this again, when I want to… and not when I need to come up with something at the last minute! I will provide you with accurate instructions and good photographs, and above all, the finished project! Ironically, I have searched my laptop over and cannot find the photographs of the ones I have already made. I am sure I will run across them when I no longer have a need for them!
     It was just not a good day for me to sew. I promise, I really can sew and quilt. Just not today!!! Do you ever do this?????

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Original article first published by Terry Crawford.

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