Prague Posy

Prague Posy Table Runner

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....yes, I've seen the Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  It was awesome!

But really, I did this design a while ago on the blog:


Here's the link to how I designed it:  Prague Posy Design Process  

This design was based on a ironwork railing in Prague, Czech Republic.

I decided it was finally time to make the pattern into something.  So I decided to make a simple table runner that I could have fun quilting.  



This is as far as I've gotten.  I started designing with the pink and purple fabric you see in the accent on the posy.  I find it's nice to start with a two or three color fabric so you have a palette to work with.  I also have decided that I need to use more variety in my greens, thus the lime and grassy greens above.  

So far I have stitched the pink backgrounds and the greens.  I used a 100 weight InvisiFil thread by WonderFil Threads for both of these.  The darker green pieces I wanted to have a little more weight so I used a 40 weight Rayon thread from Wonderfil called Splendor.  It's fabulous to sew with.

I also learned a valuable and surprising lesson when stitching these pieces.  I had been free motion machine quilting and then switched to blanket stitch.  I changed my sewing machine foot and put in a small needle since I was going to use 100 weight thread.  I did, however, forget to change my throat plate from a single-hole throat plate (perfect for free motion machine quilting) to my regular throat plate which has room for the needle to move from left to right.  This is critical when making a blanket stitch.  As I was sewing along, I couldn't figure out why it looked like my needle was moving the fabric.  I finally figured out that I hadn't changed the throat plate when I changed to the thicker 40 weight thread and actually broke my needle!  The stitching around the pink pieces isn't perfect due to the needle moving the fabric, but it was good enough and I really didn't want to rip out double blanket-stitch.  It's a pain.  Ask me how I know....yeah, been there, done that.

Also, you can see from the image above that I will often sew across an area that I'm going to cover later (making sure the fabric to be put on isn't lighter than the thread I'm using....you can guess how I figured that out...oops!) so that I don't have to cut threads.  This makes for quicker sewing and since I did the stitching between them in a simple straight stitch the line won't show through the piece nor add any bulk since it's 100 weight thread. 

The dark green pieces above were also a new test for me.  The width was 1.6 and the length was 2.0.  I usually use the same width and length.  However, which this thin piece a 2.0 length crossed over the center of the piece and I knew it would look funny.  I am probably the only one who would ever notice that the stitches aren't the same width and length.  I am happy with the results and will most likely do this again.

Prague Posy Tablerunner Part 2

Here are the pictures I took as I completed appliqueing Prague Posy.




I stitched the pink and purple accent pieces in a 100 weight Invisifil Thread by Wonderfil in purple.  It accents the piece nicely I think without taking too much away from the print.


Here I've added the small circles I used a lighter green on the small green circles to try to make them stand out from the other lime green fabric.  I'm happy with how it looks, but next time I think I'll darker in thread color instead of lighter.  I've also added the stems of the flowers.



Now the large circles in the center of the flowers are added.  I used a matching thread because I didn't want the thread to stand out.


Here is the finished applique.  I love the way the dark blue circles help tie everything together.  Originally there was going to be one circle connecting the two stems, but I decided to add two and I'm glad I did because I think it makes it more interesting.


Here is a a closeup of the completed Prague Posy.  Now I get to decide how to quilt my table runner!
Hope you all had a fantastic winter holiday!

Quilting Prague Posy

Instead of Inspiration Monday today is completion Monday.  I finally finished quilting and binding Prague Posy from December.  To see more about it's construction check out these posts:

Designing Prague Posy
Prague Posy Table Runner
Prague Posy Table Runner Part 2

I decided I wanted to play with some new, more modern patterns from Christina Cameli's newest book Step-by-Step Free-Motion Quilting.  I started withe the design below.  I marked straight lines 1/2" apart.  You can see the design I chose inside the central diamond.  The marked lines helped me keep the design evenly space.  I think it was called spindles.


Then I decided on a circular design for the outside quilting.  I wanted it to really pop, so I choise this large circle fill with 1/8 inch outlines.  I started with this section below.  I ended up with large shapes that are not very circular in nature.  This isn't what was in the book and wasn't what I wanted.  So I had to figure out what went wrong.  This was when I realized the puffs weren't circles.


Here is the next section I was stitching.  The shapes are getting a little more circular, but still not quite what I wanted.


Finally I realized that to get a complete circle all I had to do was make one and then stitch the outlines around it.  This was the last corner I quilted and I'm really happy with the final result.  I will definitely  use this fill again.


One of the reasons Prague Posy's circles stand out so much is that it has Hobbs Heirloom Wool inside it.  I love to use wool because it makes all the unquilted areas really pop.

Another thing I learned on this table runner was to be careful about marking straight lines.  The center diamond on one side stops just before the binding, but on the other side it stops just inside the binding.  Oops.  Next time I'll be more careful about checking this!


It feels to have it done and I really like the way the circles pop!  One happy quilter!

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