The Ticker Tape table runner is done, and I know already, it's not my last. My daughter Lydia is working up several gifts, and the lavender, green and white "checkerboard" shared space on the quilt frame with mine, isn't it sweet, too.
On mine, I cut 18" by 44" wide heavyweight muslin ($2.48 per yard at Walmart-!), and my floral prints are from dresses, purses and general stash accumulation over the years- don't ask, but the stash has its own room!-
I cut my pieces no larger than 3 inches, but the most of them were no smaller than 1" by 2"; some 2" squares, some 2-1/2" by 1-1/2, you get the idea. There are some longer 1-1/4" by 3 inch strips, too.
I started gluing from the center of the muslin. With Elmer's washable school gluestick, I just put a dab spot as needed on the back of the 'confetti' floral, and go on. There is no need to glue to the edges, you are just saving yourself the grief of pinning! I eyeballed the placement, no measuring. After all, accuracy of the raw edges against one another goes out the window when you wash it, and they draw up as they will.
As you work your own 'mosaic' pattern, occasionally you will have a small blank space to deal with. (I wish I could get my pictures to post where I want them to!?! ) That is when I decided to either move an already piece down to absorb some of the space, or just cut a small piece to fit.
(I'm referring to the top photo, see the tiny, little blue squares? about 1" cut size.)
I sewed two times around each piece, quilting as I went. I cut my thread between each piece, but I bet you wouldn't have to.
Then, it was off the frame,to bind and then to wash. I felt like Linus, the Charlie Brown character, standing by the dryer to get it out :-} !
I want to do more!! Can you see these in:
-Christmas prints -sweet designer coordinates -plaids -pastels
I mean, really. I love the simplicity!
Now, on Lydia's checkerboard runner, she went with a basic measurement of 3 inch strips of color, and white on white. She has 6 squares across, and 16 squares long. Her finished runner is slightly smaller than mine. It was the first time she quilted using the frame, and she enjoyed the feeling of completion. She did great, actually!
I really was working to complete this week, so I could I could post on Amy's Sew-and-Tell Friday. Yes, I take motivation from any direction, when it is positive progress!
Sorry to be so gabby, but I had to answer some questions; I hope I was clear. Try this project. I bet you will like it, too. And if you don't-hey, it's getting time that you can give it as a gift,
right? *smile*
Happy Quilting, pokey
