Saturday, December 15, 2012

Stable Stack Folk Art Christmas Decor


Need a super-quick Christmas gift? I’m sure I spent more time deciding on fabrics for “Stable Stack” than I did actually cutting and sewing it!

There’s a link at the bottom for a printable template page.

Here are the supplies you’ll need:
            Background    5 ½” x 14”
            Border            (2) 1 ½” x 14”
                                   (2) 1 ½” x 7 ½”
            Scraps for Stable—Outer and Inner
                                    Halo
                                    Cow
                                    Camel
                                    Angel           
                                    Star
            Backing          (1) 9” x 17” approx.
            Thin Batting   (1) 9” x 17” approx.
            Fusible Web    1/8 yd
            Ribbon (12”) or Small Hanger

Print the template page and trace each element onto the paper side of your fusible web, leaving at least ½” between the designs. Trace on the dotted line for the Inner Stable. Cut the pieces out ¼” or more away from the traced lines.

Press each traced design to the wrong side of the fabric you’ve chosen for it, following the fusible web instructions. Cut out each one on the line you traced.

Remove the paper from the wrong side of the pieces. Crease your Background rectangle in half lengthwise to provide a guideline for centering the designs. If you have a light box, you may simply lay the template page under your Background fabric to see how to place the pieces. Once they’re in place, press them to the Background.

Sew the 14” Border strips to opposite sides of the Background and press. Add the 7 ½” strips to the top and bottom edges and press.

On your work table, lay the batting, backing (right side up), and pieced top (right side down) as shown in the photo and pin. Begin sewing near a lower corner and sew ¼” from the edge all the way around, leaving a gap for turning.

Clip the corners and turn the piece right side out. Press. Topstitch 1/8” away from the outer edge all the way around, sewing the gap closed. Quilt if you like or leave it un-quilted.

Tie a knot at each end of your ribbon. Use small safety pins on the back going through to catch the knots to hold the ribbon in place, or hand sew the knots to the hanging.

Merry Christmas, Friends!