Cotton + Steel Scout Embroidery Pillow by Pamela Cox

Transcription

1 Cotton + Steel Scout Embroidery Pillow by Pamela Cox

2 Familiar birds returning to backyards plus colorful flowers peeking into the warm sunshine are sure signs that Summer is in the air! And Spring is the perfect time to change out throw pillows bringing new life inside our homes as well. Patchwork templates offer endless combinations of color, layouts and even projects for pillows, quilts, table runners and more! Curving seams add panache to the mix! Although the pattern may look complicated, this is not a difficult project by any means. The trick is all in the preparation. 2

3 Project Overview Fabric: 13 square piece of Duck cloth or canvas for the embroidered patch Fat Quarters of Cotton + Steel 100% cotton fabric: Minimum of 4 prints for the pillow front and piping 5/8 yd Muslin - pillow backing Thread: Cotton + Steel 50 Wt. Cotton Thread by Sulky for embroidery Supplies: Embroidery Designs from Scout by Cotton + Steel : Medium Lovebird design # Happy Daisy design # pillow form 2-1/4 yds of 9/32 cable cord or pre-made cording Sulky Soft n Sheer Stabilizer Organ Needles Top Stitch Size 90/14 Buttons - optional for flower accent Pattern material for tracing template Downloadable Patterns: Download the PDF Work Sheet» 3

4 General Instructions: Pre-wash, dry and press all fabric prior to using. Patchwork sections are stitched right sides together with 1/4 seam. 1/2 seam joins the front and back panels together. Understanding a curved seam: Curves will intercept the bias grain and therefore it is important not to stretch cut edges out of shape. Each joining seam has an inside curve and an outside curve. 4

5 General Instructions - continued Always stitch with the inside curve facing up Pin from the center of each joining seam out towards each side gently opening the inside curve to meet the outside curved edge. 5

6 General Instructions - continued Clip each seam going up to but not through seams. Sharper curves need more clips placed closer to each other than gentle ones. Press each seam after stitching. The seam will naturally want to follow the path of least resistance to lay flat. 6

7 General Instructions - continued Turn to the right side and press again. 7

8 Plan the Pillow: A black and white Work Sheet has been provided to help plan fabric placements. Depending on your computer skills, the file can be opened in a Paint program, coloring in squares to represent fabric or, you can print a copy and tape small scraps of the fabric in each proper place. Use as many fabrics/colors as you please, but go into the project with a plan. 8

9 Download the Pillow Template: Print the pattern at 100% /2 square Trace each patchwork section: Add grain lines to any section that does not include a vertical outside seam. Draw a line, parallel to a vertical outside line within the section. 9

10 Pillow Template - continued Add a 1/4 seam allowance to all seams. 10

11 Pillow Template - continued All seams are curved, even if subtlely and not necessary visible to the naked eye, such as the lower third of section L. 11

12 Pillow Template - continued Use a small ruler to measure out 1/4 placing a series of dots. Connecting dots will preserve curves. 12

13 Pillow Template - continued Keep organized by labeling each section with its capital letter. It will prove helpful to label joining seam names as well. 13

14 Pillow Template - continued Place each pattern section with its intended fabric and cut all at the same time. Keep pattern pinned to fabric sections. It may be helpful to lay the cut pieces back on top of the template in the proper position for assembling. 14

15 Plan the Design: Open a 260mm x 200mm workspace in an editing program, or directly on your embroidery machine. Center the Lovebird design in the hoop area. Add two Happy Flowers to the design: Placing them exactly as shown is not necessary. Have the bird flying towards the two flowers which are somewhat centered around the head. The combined design should not measure more than 8-3/8 wide and 7-5/8 high. Color sorting is optional. If accenting flowers with buttons, rather than stitching their happy faces, stop stitching after the first color of the flower petal. 15

16 Embroidery: Secure the stabilizer directly in the embroidery hoop making it as taut and wrinkle free as possible. Please Note: That although Sulky Soft n Sheer was listed in supplies, there are several other Sulky stabilizers that are applicable for this project: Cut-Away Plus Tear-Easy, Sticky+ or Stiffy Mark the center of the Duck cloth and match it to the hoop s center markings. Secure it to the stabilizer. Match the machine needle center to the design center Slow the machine down to at least half speed, and embroider the design in the rich colors of Cotton + Steel Embroidery Thread. 16

17 Embroidery - continued Trim the jump stitches and excess stabilizer. Cut the embroidered patch, tucking the design down into the lower corner of the pattern piece, clearing seam allowances. Hand stitch the buttons in place, if applicable. 17

18 Join the patchwork sections within each block: Block 1: Stitch A and B to the embroidered block Block 2: Stitch C to D Stitch E to the C/D patch Block 3: Stitch F to G Stitch J to K Stitch I to the J/K patch and add L Top I/J/K/L with H Stitch F/G to the top of H 18

19 Patchwork Sections - continued Stitch the Blocks together in the following order: Stitch Block 1 to 2 Stitch Block 3 to Block 1/2 If need be, re-square the pillow front removing the minimal amount. 19

20 Piping: Cut 2 bias strips. Join enough strips to equal 2-1/4 yds and cover the cording. Recut the seam allowance to a uniform 1/2 Begin basting the piping to the pillow front, 2-1/2 in from the lower left corner leaving a 3 tail free from stitching. Stitch around the pillow, bending piping around the corner and clipping the bias strip. 20

21 Piping: - continued Stop stitching about 8 after the lower right corner. Release 2 of stitching on the beginning strip and cut the cording back. Turn under a hem on bias angle and trim to 1/4 Tucking the end strip inside the beginning, cut the cording so the ends just butt up against each other. Encase the end by folding the starting strip over it and finish stitching the piping to the front. 21

22 Pillow Backing: Along the selvage edge, cut two pieces of the muslin: 19 on selvage 12 deep 19 on selvage 10 deep With right sides together and the selvage edge facing towards the pillow center, stitch the three sides of the 12 piece of muslin to the front panel using 1/2 seam. Stitching should be snug up against the cording. Stitch the 10 piece of muslin in place, overlapping the selvage edges. 22

23 Turn the pillow right side out. Slide the pillow form inside the envelope back. Hand stitching the back overlap closed is optional. However, this style of backing makes it easy to change out pillow covers, reusing the same pillow form. Now, sit back and celebrate Spring! 23