Art quilt with lilac embroidery - Advanced Embroidery Designs

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Art Quilt with Lilac Embroidery

This small art quilt features a lilac theme that's perfect for adding a Spring touch to your home. It uses designs from the Lilac Set.
The finished size of the quilt is about 21 1/2" x 24".

You will need :

embroidery threads either polyester or rayon, follow our color card;
about 1/2 yard of the light-colored fabric for the central part and the second border;
about 1/4 yard of purple fabric for the forth border and binding;
small amount of 2 fabrics in lilac hues for the first and second borders;
a piece of light lilac sheer organza fabric for the vase;
light-weight cut-away embroidery stabilizer;
fabric for the backing;
batting;
quilter's ruler;
rotary cutter;
iron;
#12 universal needle;
#12-#14 quilting needle;
a light green fabric pencil, or marker (optional).

Cutting:

Out of the light-colored fabric for the central part and the second border, cut

a piece measuring 12 1/2" x 15 1/2",
2 strips measuring 2" x 13 1/2" and
2 strips measuring 2" x 19 1/2".

Out of the fabric for the first border (we used lilac with purple swirls), cut

2 strips measuring 1" x 12 1/2", and
2 strips measuring 1" x 16 1/2".

Out of the fabric for the third border (we used solid light lilac fabric), cut

2 strips measuring 1 1/2" x 16 1/2", and
2 strips measuring 1 1/2" x 21 1/2" .

Out of the fabric for the fourth border (we used purple), cut

2 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 18 1/2" and
2 strips measuring 2 1/2" x 25 1/2".

Use the remaining purple fabric for the binding.

Assembly:

Note: seam allowance is 1/4", press the seam immediately after you make it.

Sew the 1" x 12 1/2" strips to the upper and lower edges of the central part; then sew the 1" x 16 1/2" strips to the left and right edges of the central part.

Sew the 2" x 13 1/2" strips to the upper and lower edges of the working piece; then sew the 2" x 19 1/2" strips to the left and right edges of the working piece.

Sew the third border 1 1/2" x 16 1/2" strips to the upper and lower edges of the working piece; then sew the 1 1/2" x 21 1/2" strips to the left and right edges of the working piece.

Sew the forth border 2 1/2" x 18 1/2" strips to the upper and lower edges of the working piece; then sew the 2 1/2" x 25 1/2" strips to the left and right edges of the working piece.

Applique:

We made an applique vase. You can either draw your own template, or use ours. In both cases the method of sewing is the same.

Download the template file for the vase. To open and print the template, which is a PDF file, you will need Adobe Reader or a similar program. Adobe Reader is free to download and install.

Template Download (PDF file)

Position the template between the folded piece of organza - the upper edge of the vase on a folded edge.
Pin the template. Stitch along the side outlines of the template, leaving the bottom open.

Paper template of a vase between folded organza fabric.

Cut away the excess fabric with seam allowance about 1/4".

Remove the paper template through the bottom openning. Turn the working piece right side out.

Neatly straight and press the seams and corners. Round the bottom opening and tuck it inside. Press.

Put the applique aside for now.

Embroidery:

Mark the position of the embroidery on the central part. If you have a printer and embroidery software, print-outs of the designs can be helpful. If you do not, you can cut out rectangles of the same size as the designs and arrange them on the fabric to determine the position of the embroidery. Use either the vase template or the ready vase applique in the process too.

Stabilize the chosen area. Hoop the fabric tightly and embroider the designs one by one.

Position the vase applique over the flower stitch-outs.

Position the vase applique on the stitch-outs of the flowers.

With a green fabric pencil continue the stems of the flowers.

With a green fabric pencil draw the stems of the fowers.

On your sewing machine, stitch several lines of running stitches over the drawing.

Sew several lines of running stitches over the drawing.

Position the applique over the quilt top again and with either disappearing fabric marker or lilac fabric marker lightly trace the position of the vase. It's done so you can quilt within the vase outline with a suitable pattern.

Applique over the top again. Trace the outline of the applique.

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 layers together.

We quilted in a free-motion style all over the quilt.