Joy, at Joyful Quilter asked me how I made the leaf. I made another one yesterday and tried to take photos along the way. I know I should have taken a couple more, but going to make do with the photos I took. This post is photo heavy, and will may be boring to some of you...don't feel bad or feel like you have to comment...I tried to write how I did it without photos to email Joy, but it is just not the same as with pics.
(Please note, I forgot to change the copyright from Lorelei to my name...she did not take the pictures.)
I used a piece of paper and folded it in half, and cut out the leaf shape.
I opened the shape and cut in half from top to bottom, cutting a slightly curved edge down the middle. As you can see I drew an angle on both pieces while they were laying face up, together. This is a sort of guide/safety measure. to give me a straight line to lay your first fabric strip against. And also, this is to ensure I make halves that fit together when completed.
Above we see first fabric pinned to the paper...it is lined up on one of those lines, though you don't see the line. I will place another strip of fabric right sides down, along this piece and sew. Then flip the fabric open and press. Then place another fabric on top of that.
If I don't like how wide the fabric is, I can bring my next fabric back away from the edge and sew. I continue on till the half leaf shape is completely covered by fabric strips. I used a basic 1/4 inch seam through out, but this is one part that the seam does not have to be exact. And in a case like above, I trimmed away the excess of the fabric on bottom but that is not absolutely necessary.
I totally forgot to take a pic from the top of the piece...but as you can see, it looks a mess till trimmed. I always prefer to lay on the cutting mat and trim with rotary cutter along the edge of the paper foundation.
Next I choose a fabric for the stem. I want it a bit longer at the top especially, and I should have left more room at the tip than this shows. I lay the fabric RIGHT SIDE UP and then place one leaf half RIGHT SIDE UP on the chosen fabric.
Again, use the rotary cutter and trim along the edge of the half leaf.
After sewing, use iron to press the fabric away from the leaf. See how nice and flat it lays...
Then take the other half of the leaf and place on top of the stem fabric. Remember both should be RIGHT SIDES UP. I usually start at the wide part a bit over an inch wide and then angle it till it gets narrower. I don't really know if anyone will try this, but if anyone does, if you make the vein too narrow there can be a mess with the seams being too close together. I don't mind the little bit at the tip, but not sure if it could be made to press flat if it was that narrow all along the vein.
Again, trim along edge of leaf half, remove paper, and place right sides together and take to sewing machine.
Very cool, especially for someone who doesn't sew like me :)
ReplyDeleteMath and measuring! It looks so hard, and so many steps. I could never do it, you are brilliant!
ReplyDeleteWow! Looks and sounds like a lot of work, but I do like the end result.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Great tutorial! The pictures really help, I wasn't getting how you added the stem from your email. Curves are not my favorite thing but I really want to try this. Great way to use up scraps - I can visualize a whole quilt with the leaves.
ReplyDeleteYou give an excellent tutorial! I've been wanting to do a table runner of leaves similar to that. I have a book called "Skinny Quilts" that has a large leaf pattern. You do so well designing your own that you don't need a pattern!
ReplyDeleteI too love the end product! Gorgeous, warm, colors. As I've said before, I admire those that can quilt. I know the amount of work & time involved. Your work is exceptional. And reading your instructions, it "sounds" like you enjoy every minute!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI love the finished product, the colors and fabric are beautiful.
You do such a great job on the quilts! Enjoy your day, wishing you a great week!
You give great instructions.
ReplyDeleteOkay so I only sped read through the words but I did look at every picture and I think it's totally amazing that you can do this and also I know that Joey will be able to understand fully what you're saying even though what you were writing might as well be written in Greek for me. Totally amazing that you can just create something like this and have it come out so beautiful
ReplyDelete~smile~
ReplyDelete🌼🌽🌼🍅🌼🍆🌼🍉🌼
Very good tutorial---you have the knack.
ReplyDeleteMB
absolutely love - now got me thinking I could do that with my papers, maybe not machine sew - or maybe that would be a challenge. Don't hold me to doing it right now though ...thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a lot of work involved to make the leaf beautifully matched. I admit that I do not have the patience. The end result is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI've made some small pieces with a similar method, so it makes sense to me. They're beautiful leaves. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a good tutorial.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Wow! I love your leaf...just perfect for fall!
ReplyDeleteI wish I hadn't read this post. Now I want to go upstairs to sew and see if I can do what you did but instead I must spend the afternoon shelling beans. The floor in the kitchen is covered in piles of beans just picked from the garden. I want to play at my sewing machine and not work! You have ruined me.
ReplyDeleteJeannie@GetMeToTheCountry