Finishing Touches
In my new book, Beyond Crazy Quilts: Piecing, Patchwork & Embroidery for Unique Designs, published by C&T Publishing, I have created 12 projects, using 6 block patterns that I have designed for this book. The book focuses on helping you the reader to create pieces from your stash, every step of the way.
Something that I think is unique about this book, my work, and these projects, is that I like to add unique touches. I have included a variety of construction ideas, as well as finishing options to choose from, with a few surprising final touches.
1. Bits and Pieces
In this section I include ideas for small details that you can make to enhance your creative designs. You can use the same fabrics and ribbons left-over from the block designs, or you can introduce scraps that you have left-over from other projects.
Caption: Wabi Sabi, Tic Tac Toe
This is the Crazed Crumbles Block Table Covering project. I made fabric circles from a silk fabric and metallic embroidered sari ribbon. The mock prairie points on the crumbled strip border, are made from a vintage kimono. The fabric circles on the outer edge are made from a variety of cotton fabrics.
2. Sashing and Borders
Next, we explore ideas for customized sashing, which can be a trim, or sections of fabric. Choose from a variety of border designs, including stripped borders, disappearing seam borders, prairie point or mock prairie point borders, and foundation pieced borders.
Caption: Rainbow Gala
This is the Wedge-Pieced Block Wall Hanging project. The blocks include lined prairie point borders and are sewn together with folded edge fabric strip sashing. To finish the design, I included a strip-pieced foundation border.
3. Finishing Techniques
This book includes instructions for a variety of hanging, binding, and finishing options. These include bound edge assembly, firm-back assembly, border edge assembly, ribbon edge binding, and soft edge assembly.
Caption: Jaipur Spring
Pictured is the Stripped Crumbles Block Table Covering. The crumble-pieced border is used for the border edge assembly technique and is finished off with the ribbon edge binding.
4. Final Touches
Lastly, I give you a variety of ideas for the final touches that you can use to finish off your designs. These include couched cord edging, yo-yo edging, and signature labels that you can create with the precious left-overs from your project.
Caption: Celtic Country Crumbles
Pictured is a gallery piece, that incorporates several techniques, including crumble-pieced foundation, ribbon sashing, mock prairie point border, crumble-pieced binding, and fabric yo-yo edging.
You can find the details for my new book, Beyond Crazy Quilts, Patchwork & Embroidery for Unique Designs, here.
Happy Stitching To You! ~Christen
...
Christen Brown teaches embroidery, quilting, crazy quilting, ribbon work, mixed media, and beadwork in her best-selling books. With a degree in fashion design, she has shown her work in galleries and fashion shows internationally. She lives in Escondido, California. christenbrown.com
