All "Puffed" Up

One of the techniques that we explore in my "Puffs, Tucks and Pleats" class is making puffs. This simple technique can be used to add excitement to your next quilting project.

To make a puff, cut a circle that is twice the desired size. The outer edge of the circle can be left raw-edged or can be finished off by any number of sewing (or serging) stitches.

Make a secure knot at one end of your thread and hand stitch an inner circle. I like to use a quilting weight thread so it is less likely to break as I draw up the stitches.

Next step: Draw up those stitches, gathering the fabric into a puff. Pull the gathering thread to the wrong side and knot.

Yes, it's as easy as that.

Here I've used free-form circles to make flower shaped puffs. Three puffs grouped together created a fast and easy corsage.

Leaning on the Fence

Last September, I relaxed and had fun hand piecing a sunflower block. Cotton batik fabrics were used for the flower and a linen fabric was used at the background sections. As you can see, the block made its way into a quilt where it was machine quilted and hand beaded. It was joined by several other sunflower blocks.

At that time, I had no idea that I would later finish this quilt and enter it in the New Quilts from Old Favorites - Sunflower competition sponsored by the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY.

Yes, I finally finished my sunflower quilt. Here is a detail of a hand pieced sunflower. I think I used more different techniques in this quilt than any other quilt I've made. I hand pieced blocks, machine pieced blocks, paper pieced blocks, hand appliqued blocks and machine appliqued blocks unto the quilt.

Is this creativity or lack of focus?

I did enjoy each technique and making the quilt, even though at times I felt I would never get done. Did you ever have a quilt that seemed to take over your life?

More sunflowers

I'm definitely in a sunflower mood. I found this traditional sunflower design and decided to hand piece it. I've never done much hand piecing, always in a hurry.

With the short curved pieces, I thought it would piece as quickly by hand as it would on the machine (and I think it did).

I found the process of hand piecing very relaxing and certainly more portable. Maybe I'll try more. How about you?