If you keep something long enough... Have you made that same statement? I've said it many times. It was certainly true with this project.
When my oldest son Jeff was in 3rd grade, his teacher was extremely creative and got the kids really involved in Arts and Crafts. Each student did a hand-quilted fabric picture which could then be made into a pillow or wall art in a hoop. Jeff really liked outdoors and wildlife, so he chose a deer print to hand-quilt. He did a great job! I then added a ruffle and sewed it into a pillow for his room.
His fabric panel was sold in a set of two, and his other picture featured bears in the woods. Only 1 panel needed to be completed at school, so Jeff's plan was to finish the second project at home. I cut a piece of cream cotton fabric for the back with batting sandwiched between the cream fabric and the bear fabric panel.
Soon Jeff lost interest, and the bear was never completed. Likewise, I did a little stitching on it, but my busy schedule prevented me from completing it. (At least that's my excuse!)
Jump ahead quite a few years, and now Jeff's youngest son Alex was about the same age as Jeff was when he started the bear picture.
We had moved, and I was going through some craft crates when there it was! I couldn't believe how good it still looked! It was still in the hoop, just waiting to be finished.
I shared the story of the hand-quilted pictures with Jeff's kids (my grandkids) and showed them the partly finished project. I told them I thought we should finish it. Alex was especially interested in working on something that his daddy had started.
I helped Alex to thread a needle with quilting thread and tie a knot in the end. I showed him how to make small running stitches around the designs that he wanted stitched. His sister Mia sewed a few stitches. He showed me which parts he wanted me to sew around, also. Teamwork!
Alex caught on really quickly, and his stitches were small and neat. Alex decided he would hang the picture on the wall of his room when it was completed.
- A printed fabric panel
- Batting
- Fabric for backing
- Quilting thread
- A hand sewing needle
- Embroidery hoop
- Additional fabric if you are making it into a pillow when completed
- Ruffle or lace (optional)
Alex's Hand-Quilted Bear Picture |
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