I've been playing around with the idea of denim crazy quilt squares, since I have a huge pile of old jeans to do something with. The squares are still works in progress, but I made denim placemats in a crazy quilt design that I love! If you're not familiar with how to put crazy quilt squares together, see this past post.
Materials:
*various colors of denim - real thick, heavy denim doesn't work well for this project because of the thick seams you'll get
*optional scraps of contrast fabric - I had some denim that looks like it has a lacy overlay
*backing muslin
*backing fabric
*about yards of bias tape
1. Cut rectangles of backing fabric - I made my placemats 12 by 18 inches.
2. Sew your first piece of denim onto the center of the backing fabric. I use a larger stitch (not quite basting length - in between basting and regular) so it's easier to take off if I don't like where I put the pieces or if I end up putting them on the wrong way. Which happens every time I crazy quilt!
3. Add the rest of your pieces one at a time and pressing after each addition.
4. On the right side, sew on top of each seam with a decorative machine stitch.
5. Cut a piece of backing fabric, line up with the crazy quilted side, and baste the edges together. These placemats are reversible, so you can either back it with another crazy quilted piece or a coordinating fabric. I used the same white on white paisley print I made the bias tape from.
6. I like rounded corners ...
7. Finish the edges with bias tape. See this past post for how to make it yourself and how to attach it.
Happy Creating! Deborah
I enJOY using crazy for using up scraps. These place mats look great. I never have good luck with binding. I always skip stitches on the backside and my binder foot doesn't help. Wonder what I'm doing wrong? Thanks for sharing. Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm not usually happy with how my binding looks when I totally machine sew it either, so I usually open it up, machine sew it to the edge, and then fold it over and hand sew it into place. See http://artthreads.blogspot.com/2010/08/wednesday-sewing-bias-tape.html down near the bottom for a better explanation.
DeleteI find it faster and easier to attach binding the "old-fashioned" way I learned it in high school. Open one side of double-fold binding, attach it first to the back only, then fold closed and over the front, topstitching close to the binding edge.
DeleteTrying to attach it to the back and front simultaneously just has too much going on to do it well and look nice. This only seems like it would take twice as long; it actually goes faster because you're dealing with only one thing at a time.
Yes I learned it that way, also - back when high schools still had home ec and sewing! I'd still rather hand sew the second edge (just personal preference, though) on most things. But, yes - that is another good option for attaching seam binding! Thanks!
DeleteThese are great! You should come and enter them in the competition I'm running... http://thecraftersapprentice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/something-old-something-new-competition.html
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!
ReplyDelete