Coasting………

A few weeks ago Terry and I attended a machine quilting class. I won't say that either of us were bowed over by the class…that's a story for another time, but I did hang on to the fabric that I purchased to practice on at home.

You can't see my stippling very well on the fabric as I used a thread that was very close in color, but over all I was really pleased with the results…..but what the heck do you do with a 1/2 yard piece of fabric in a color that is definitely not one of your favorites?  Hmmmm…………

A few weeks ago I was reading one of my favorite quilting blogs and stumbled upon this tutorial. (thanks Christina!) 

Wow……..how perfect and timely for my stippled fabric that I just couldn't bear to throw away!  Now mind you, I prefer Christina's bright cheery colors against the linen, but I also knew that the pink and brown matched the living room of the potential recipient, so yay it would work!!

Basically what I did was cut 3.25 inch squares from my quilted fabric, followed by 2 4 inch squares from my other fabric.
(I differed a bit here from Christina's directions)

Using a glass for my circle template, I traced it onto the top of the brown fabric and then randomly stitched 3 times around….easy peasy.

Next a little reverse applique.  Just cut the fabric inside of the circle that you stitched and then stitch 1/4 inch around the outside of the fabric.

Extra special treat… I got to play with a toy I bought earlier this summer.  Ken will tell you that I am a sucker for gadgets and I will tell you straight up I swooned when I saw this antique singer pinking machine on a quilting blog.

A quick search on ebay and one was mine for a ridiculously inexpensive..ok…cheap amount of money.  (MUCH less than the link…so hang in there for a cheaper one…they are out there)

Works a charm on pinking edges….sooooooo much easier than my clunky pinking shears!