Lettie Fischer from Standerton made this lovely bug bedspread. She photocopied pictures from giftwrap and enlarged them onto graph paper.
Size 128 x 90cm
You will need
- giftwrap with bugs and flower design
- graph paper and tracing paper
- 100 x 60cm of each green printed cotton gingham and green plain cotton for patchwork
- 150 x 70cm pink printed cotton gingham for border
- 130 x 92cm printed cotton polka dot fabric for backing
- 100 x 50cm cream cotton fabric for base of appliqué motifs
- 100 x 75cm brown velvet for piping
- 450cm piping cord
- 135 x 97cm piece of batting in a weight of your choice
- remnants of cotton fabrics in pinks, yellow, white and browns for appliqué motifs
- remnants of green satin fabric for appliqué leaves and stems
- appliqué paper
- matching coloured sewing threads
- 10m of white satin ribbon 1cm wide
- small pink crochet flower motifs or other decorations of your choice
- brown crochet yarn for embroidery
- embroidery needle
- pink and brown fabric paint
- fine paintbrush
- pencil and dressmaker’s pencil
Note A 1cm seam allowance is included in all the measurements. Read all the instructions before you begin the quilt; this is a complicated project and there are several different stitch techniques.
To make the templates
Photocopy the giftwrap and enlarge it to the required size. Trace the required motifs onto graph paper and use these as the original template for each motif.
To make the basic patchwork
1 From the plain green fabric and the green gingham fabric cut out six rectangles each 25 x 30cm. Arrange the patchwork rectangles on a flat surface, with three squares in each row and four rows, making sure that different fabrics are placed next to each other.
2 Working with a 1cm seam allowance, take the first two patches and with right sides together join down one side. Press the seam open. Now join the next patch to the other side in the same way and press the seam open. This completes one row.
3 Continue in this way until you have joined the three rows. Now join the rows together, in exactly the same way, pressing the seam apart as it is completed until you have one piece of patchwork fabric.
To appliqué
1 When the patchwork section is completed you can start the appliqué design. Start off by preparing the bug motifs; apply appliqué paper to the wrong side of the required fabric remnants.
2 Trace the complete outline of the motif on the graph paper directly onto the cream cotton fabric using a dressmaker’s pencil. Do not cut out, this is for the base. Now trace the smaller pieces such as the wings, leg, shoe, glove and spots on the required pieces of fabric. Cut out these smaller pieces.
3 Build up the motif on the base fabric in layers from the bottom to the top and as you place them in the correct order, iron the pieces together so the appliqué paper adheres. Refer to the original gift paper when placing the layers in order.
4 Set your sewing machine on a small zigzag stitch with a short stitch length so it forms satin stitch and appliqué the fine detail such as the spots using a matching coloured thread. Every time you appliqué a different piece change only the top thread and leave the bobbin thread. It is a good idea to use a cream thread that matches the cream coloured base fabric.
5 When the fine detail is completed, paint the facial detail with fabric paint. Leave the paint to dry. Iron on the wrong side of the fabric to heat set the paint. Leave the motifs at this stage.
6 Now, in exactly the same way, prepare the flower motifs. Apply appliqué paper to the back of all the bug and flower motifs (this is the base fabric) and cut out carefully around the outline. Starting with the flowers and stems, place them on top of the patchwork until you are happy with the position. Keep referring to the photograph as you position the design as the quilt is so detailed.
7 Appliqué the stems and leaves in place first. Appliqué the flower petals and when completed, make ribbon loops from the white ribbon and place the ends in the centre of the flower with the loop outwards. Appliqué the centre of the flower over the ribbon ends to secure.
8 Now position the bugs in place. When you are happy with the position, appliqué them in place, completing all the detail at this stage using the correct coloured thread.
9 At this stage you can add further detail. In this quilt small crochet flowers have been stitched onto the lower stems of the flowers and candlewicked embroidery (refer to the photo) is used to embroider the child’s name and the smiling mouths on the daisies.
To make the border
1 Cut strips of brown velvet on the bias 3cm wide and join together to make one strip sufficient in length to fit around the outer edges. Fold in half with the right sides uppermost, place the piping cord in the fold and using a zipper foot cover the cord. With the raw edge of the piping and the patchwork aligning and with the right sides together, sew the piping around the outer edge. Clip the seams at the corners diagonally.
2 Cut the pink gingham fabric into strips for the side edges 12cm wide and, with right sides facing, sew strips in place to the piping seam. Now cut two strips for the top and bottom edge to fit the finished width 15cm wide and sew in place as before. This completes the front section.
To complete the quilt
1 Place the batting on a flat surface and smooth out all the creases. Place the front of the quilt directly on top of the batting with the right sides uppermost. Leave the excess batting around all sides; as you tack the layers together it will shrink at the sides. Now tack the batting in place. Work the tacking stitches from corner to corner diagonally, around the edges and through a few of the patches so that the batting cannot slip.
2 Work a row of top-stitching around the outer edge of the velvet piping, making sure the stitching is caught through all the layers of fabric. Trim the excess batting at sides to fit the front. Place the backing fabric right side uppermost and check that the finished front section is exactly the same size. It will be necessary to trim the front fabric around the borders so it matches the same size as the backing at this stage.
3 Now, with the right sides of the backing and front together, sew around the outer edges, leaving an opening in one side for turning. Clip the corner seams. Turn through to the right side through the opening and close the opening.
4 Top-stitch a row around the entire quilt 1cm from the outer edge of the border strips. Make sure all layers of fabric are caught in the stitching. Work any other quilting detail, if required. Now remove all the tacking stitches carefully.
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