Tuesday, August 6, 2013

All that metallic! Christmas table runner - how to quilt it?

Over the last couple of days I have done something different; machine appliqué.
Perhaps I should start from the beginning! :) When I started quilting about 7 years ago, it was all about fabric! Fabric! Fabric! When we finally got Internet connection, a new world opened up and I went totally crazy and hoarded fabric like each day was the last one! LOL 
One web shop in the US had sale on all Christmas fabrics and I bought 4 yards cream and 1 yard red traditional Christmas Poinsettias! I love the design, but what I do not like is the metallic! OK, it looks beautiful, but to work with the fabric covered with this stuff is not so fun.... It's a bit stiff and difficult to iron. When I bought it, I wasn't aware of all that metallic stuff and as I can recall it was not well enough stated either.... Oh well.... :)  
I don't know how many times these fabrics have been out and in of the shelf, before I came up with a solution; 

a table runner!

I had a green metallic fat quarter too, some gold and came up with the idea to machine appliqué trees and stars to the centre piece. 


This is the first time I'm using the sewing machine for buttonhole appliqué. 
I had so much fun making it, so the plan is to make a square table topper too using the same pattern. It all depends on how much green metallic fabric I have left for the trees......


... and now to my question; how to quilt the table runner? 
The applique holds the top and batting, I have not appliquéd through all three layers.




10 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I like you do not care for the metallic's to work with I don't like the thread either! good luck in what you choose to do with it.
I think I must have started to blog around the same time as you and that is when I too started to collect so many fabrics and patterns - I went crazy thinking I had to have it all.

Hilachas said...

Those trees with the metallic stars came out lovely. I have no idea about the quilting though I'll be watching to see what you come up with.

Rosemary Dickinson said...

That's always the hardest question! It's so hard to figure out how to quilt our projects. I always like to meander or paisley for the background. Other than that, I don't know!!

Quiltefia said...

Hei!! Jula kommer før vi aner!! Bra du er forberedt!!:-) Veldig hyggelig søm!! AnneKari:-)

Anne-Kristine / Hjertesøm said...

Ser ut til å bli en kjempekoselig juleløper Astrid :-) Men så blir jo alt det du lager så fint.
Hvorfor ikke frihåndsquilte rundt applikasjonene, eller bruke skyggequilting rund stjernen på midten og trærne?
Uansett hva du velger å gjøre så er jeg sikker på at det blir superfint :-)

ria vogelzang said...

This looks gorgeous, Astrid!!
And I too understand your dislike for the metallic fabrics...., but this is a great way to use them!
And to quilting...; well.... that's rather a way of choosing a design to your liking, I quess..
Couldn't you go around the stars and trees and do some little star-like quilting in between? Or swirls....?
I always like to show some wind in my christmas-quitls... the cold winds comes with the season, I think...
Enjoy choosing a design, love, Ria.

Karen said...

This is a great result for using these fabrics. Lovely ideas!

InGa said...

Jeg er enig med Anne-Kristine, litt eco quilt og noe frihånds mellom det hele...
Ser ut til å bli flotte löpere.
Sommerhilsen fra Ingrid
( jeg er ikke på Twitter, men på Facebook, om du vil)

Sheri said...

That is very cute! I know what you mean taking fabrics in and out! I get everything cleaned up and put away and then start dragging stuff out trying to match or see what works in a new project! Although I love neat and clean, I have to admit it's usually the other way.

Carrie P. said...

very pretty fabric for the trees.