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"Girl with a Pearl Earring" in a Quilted Frame

For this modern-style quilt we used one of our popular designs the Girl with a Pearl Earring by Jan Vermeer.

We used the commercial hoop (8" x 12" or 200 x 300 mm) version of the design, but you can also use the mega hoop version. We're going to give all measurements for the commercial-size version first, the measurements for the mega hoop are given in brackets.

The finished size of our wall hanging is about 17 1/2" x 22 1/2".

"Girl with a Pearl Earring" in a Quilted Frame image 1

Besides embroidery thread, light-colored fabric and embroidery stabilizer (we used polyester craft felt instead of stabilizer), you will need

strips of batiks in the colors of the embroidery (that's why we recommend to make a stitch-out first and then select your fabrics). We used 3 different batiks;
about 1/2 yard of charcoal batik, also to match the color of the stitch-out;
batting,
quilting threads (charcoal and multi-color),
quilter's ruler and rotary cutter (or straight-edge, graphic pencil and sharp scissors).

Embroidery

Embroider the Girl with a Pearl Earring by Jan Vermeer design on a piece of light-colored fabric with white thread on blue fabric.

After the embroidery is finished, using a ruler and a rotary cutter, trim the stitch-out leaving 1/4" beyond the embroidery for seam allowance.

Cut away the excess stabilizer around the embroidery.

The stitch-out measures approximately 7 1/2" x 11 1/2 (6" x 9"). With seam allowance, the piece will be 8" x 12" (6 1/2" x 9 1/2).

"Girl with a Pearl Earring" in a Quilted Frame image 2

Cutting and Assembly of the Top:

The first frame, or border, around the embroidery is made of the lightest batik in golden-brown hues. We added several bands of a purple batik to match the color of the girl's headband.

Cut a strip measuring 1 1/2" x 12" (1 1/2" x 9 1/2").
Sew this strip to the left edge of the stitch-out.

For the right strip, out of the same batik, cut

a strip measuring 1" x 8 1/2" (1" x 7") and
a strip measuring 1" x 3" (1" x 2").

Out of purple batik, cut a strip measuring 1" x 1 1/2" (1" x 1 1/2").

Sew the strips together with the two brown strips on either side of the purple strip. The new strip should be 12" (9 1/2") long.

Sew the strip to the right edge of the stitch-out.

Out of the same brown batik, cut a strip measuring 1" x 9 1/2" (1" x 8").
Sew the strip to the lower edge of the stitch-out.

Out of the brown batik, cut a strip 1 1/2" x 7 1/2". Subcut it into

2 strip 2 1/2" long,
2 squares 1 1/2" x 1 1/2".

(For the mega hoop stitch-out, cut a strip 1 1/2" x 7, subcut it into

a strip 3" long,
a strip 2 1/2" long and
a square 1 1/2" x 1 1/2".)

Out of the purple batik, cut a strip 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" and subcut it into 3 squares 1 1/2" x 1 1/2".

(For the mega hoop stitch-out cut 2 squares 1 1/2" x 1 1/2")

Out of these pieces sew a new strip in the following order: brown 2 1/2" strip, purple square, brown square, purple square, brown square, purple square, brown 2 1/2" strip.

(For the mega hoop stitch-out, assemble the strip in the following way: brown 2 1/2", purple square, brown square, purple square, brown 3" strip)

Sew this strip to the upper edge of the stitch-out.

The next border is charcoal batik. Cut a strip measuring 1 1/2" x 13 1/2" (1 1/2" x 11") and sew it to the left edge of the working piece.

Cut a strip measuring 1" x 13 1/2" ( 1" x 11") and sew it to the right edge of the working piece.

For the upper border cut a strip 1 1/2" x 11" (1 1/2" x 9 1/2"), sew it to the upper edge.

For the lower border, cut a strip measuring 1" x 11" (1" x 9 1/2") and sew it to the lower edge.

For the third border, we used a brown, purple and black batik. For the left border cut a strip measuring 1 1/2" x 15" (1 1/2" x 12") and sew it to the left edge.

For the right border, cut a strip measuring 1" x 15" (1" x 12") and sew it to the right edge.

For the the upper border, out of the same batik, cut a strip measuring 1 1/2" x 12 1/2" (1 1/2" x 11"), sew it to the upper edge.

For the lower border, cut a strip measuring 1" x 12 1/2" (1" x 11").

The fourth border is once again charcoal batik. The left border is 1 1/2" x 16 1/2" (1 1/2" x 14"). The right border is 1" x 16 1/2" (1" x 14"). The upper border is a strip measuring 1 1/2" x 14" (1 1/2" x 12"). The lower border is 1" x 14" (1 1/2" x 12").

Attach the right and left borders first, followed by the upper and lower borders.

The fifth border is another batik featuring brown, purple and black, with a different pattern.

For the left border, cut a strip 1 1/2" x 18" (1 1/2" x 15 1/2"). For the right border, cut a strip measuring 1" x 18" (1" x 15 1/2"). For the upper border, cut a strip measuring 1 1/2" x 15 1/2" ( 1 1/2" x 14"). For the lower border, cut a strip measuring 1" x 15 1/2" (1" x 14").

Attach the right and left borders first, followed by the upper and lower borders.

The last border is charcoal batik once again. For the left and right borders, cut 2 strips measuring 1 1/2" x 19 1/2" (1 1/2" x 17"). Sew them to the left and right edges. For the lower border, cut a strip measuring 1 1/2" x 17 1/2" (1 1/2" x 16") and sew it to the lower edge. For the upper border, cut a strip measuring 2" x 17 1/2" (1" x 16") and sew it to the upper edge.

Quilting and Finishing:

Now place the backing on a flat surface (table) face down. Cover with batting. Spread your working piece over it.

Pin all three layers together with 1" pins and start quilting. We quilted in parallel lines all over the quilt.

"Girl with a Pearl Earring" in a Quilted Frame image 3

After the quilting is finished, press the work with heavy steam and square the work -- all corners should be 90 degrees and opposite sides should be of the same length.

Finish the raw edges with the binding. For the binding we used charcoal batik.

Your quilt is ready. Enjoy!