Quilted Pineapple Cushion Cover QAL – Day 3
Now that we have our patchwork top completed, we need to get our layers basted before we quilt.
For this project, we will be pin-basting the sandwich (top + batting + backing = sandwich). You may baste using thread if you prefer.
For basting supplies, I use a roll of painter's tape, curved basting pins, backing fabric, batting and the patchwork top. The BATTING should be larger than your patchwork top, and the Backing should be larger than the batting piece. This helps you to center your top properly and most importantly, it ensures that you will not have insufficient batting/backing at the edges of your projects when you experience some shifting in the layers.
Step 1) Lay your Backing fabric Wrong Side facing up on a flat surface. Start by placing a piece of tape on 1 side, and then taping down the opposite side. I usually do a Right/Left/Top/Down sequence, repeated until I'm confident that the backing is secured to the work surface. And SMOOTH the fabric with your hands as you go. It should not be too taut or have excess fabric rippling through the back. You can release some tapes and smooth out the bumps and wrinkles.
Backing Fabric secured down to work surface
Step 2) Lay your batting piece over the backing fabric, even out the creaselines and wrinkles with your palms.
Layer batting over backing and smooth out the bumps with your hands.
Step 3) Place the patchwork top over the batting and once again, smooth out the layers with your hands so that the sandwich is flat and smooth.
Step 4) Begin pinning from the center of the patchwork top. Thereafter I pin to right of the 1st pin, then left, top and bottom. Work your way out in a radial path and smooth, smooth, smooth the fabric outwards to the edges as you go along.
TIP: When pinning, I use a very exclusive and powerful tool to help me close the pins. A disposable wooden chopstick. I place the tip of the chopstick near where I want my pin to come up from the layers. Then I sweep the the stick under the pin and it helps to support and push the pin closed. No more pain in your fingers!
Check out this 'Behind the seams' of us closing the pins!
I place my pins about 1 fist spacing apart and when you are done with the pin-basting, remove the painter's tape from the backing fabric.
Step 5: ** Quilt as desired **
You may like to install the walking foot on your machine, use a Quilting Needle size 90/14 with a 50wt or 40wt thread. Length your stitch length to about 2.8mm or 3mm.
Step 6: Trim your completed quilt to 21" x 21" square.
Step 7: For the envelope backing, prepare 2 pieces of 15" x 21"fabric.
- On ONE long edge, fold 0.5" towards the wrong side of the fabric and PRESS. Fold in 0.5" again and PRESS. Top Stitch 1/4" from the edge of the fold.
- Repeat for the 2nd piece to complete hemming for both pieces
Step 7: With the quilted top RIGHT SIDE facing UP, lay 1 piece of the cushion backing RIGHT SIDE facing DOWN, aligning to the top edge - you may like to pin or Clip around the 3 sides in place. Lay the other piece RIGHT SIDE facing DOWN, aligning to the bottom edge - there will be an overlap of the 2 backing pieces.
Step 8) Sew on around ALL 4 SIDES of the cover with a 0.5" Seam Allowance and you may like to finish the edges on the serger or zig zag stitches on the sewing machine so that the fabrics do not fray and will hold up to repeated washing.
Turn your project right side out and stuff the Cushion insert into the cover and enjoy your harvest!
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