A Quilted Wallhanging for Your Creative Space

Every sewing space deserves recognition. Whether you work at a dining room table, in a basement corner, or in a dedicated studio, your creative space is worth honoring. This 24″ [61cm] square quilted wallhanging does exactly that. It features an oversized shoofly block, a charming tomato pin cushion applique, and the words “sewing happens here” worked right into the design.

Choose the colors you love most. The sample uses two shades of turquoise for the background with white lettering and bright applique accents, but feel free to make it entirely your own.

materials

fabric

• 20″ [51cm] each of 2 background fabrics (two shades of the same color work well)
• 20″ [51cm] of lettering fabric (white or a light solid)
• fat quarters for the tomato applique: red, green, yellow, black, white and pink
• 39″ [99cm] of backing fabric
• 20″ [51cm] of fabric for binding and hanging sleeve
• 30″ x 30″ [76 x 76cm] square of cotton batting

thread and notions

• cotton thread to match your fabrics
• fusible iron-on adhesive web
• pencil
• lightbox or a bright window
• paper scissors and fabric scissors
• iron and pressing surface
• downloadable free PDF pattern: Sewing Happens Here
• rotary cutter, quilting ruler and self-healing cutting mat

Part 1: The Oversized Shoofly Block

Taking a traditional quilt block and super-sizing it is a satisfying way to build a large design with minimal piecing. The shoofly block suits this project perfectly. The finished block measures 27½” square.

Cutting the pieces

Background fabric

• 4 squares at 9½” x 9½”
• 2 squares at 10″ x 10″

Shoofly fabric

• 1 square at 9½” x 9½”
• 2 squares at 10″ x 10″

Making the half-square triangles (HSTs)

You need 4 HST units. Work with the two sets of 10″ squares, one set from each fabric.

• On the wrong side of the lighter fabric squares, lightly draw a diagonal line corner to corner with a pencil. Then draw two more lines, each a scant 1/4″ from the centre line, one on each side.
• Place one light square and one dark square right sides together.
• Stitch a scant 1/4″ seam along each of the outer pencil lines.
• Cut along the centre pencil line to yield 4 HST units.
• Open each HST and press the seam toward the darker fabric.
• Trim each unit to 9½” x 9½”.

Assembling the block

Arrange the pieces in a 3 x 3 grid: HST units in the four corners (oriented correctly), plain background squares on the four sides, and the single shoofly square in the centre. Sew the units into three rows, then join the rows, matching seams carefully. The completed block measures 27½” square.

Part 2: Preparing the Fusible Applique

Fusible applique is quick, accurate and beginner-friendly. Download the free Sewing Happens Here PDF pattern and print all the template pieces. All shapes in the pattern are already reversed for you.

Tracing and fusing

• Using a lightbox or bright window, trace each applique shape onto the paper side of the fusible web with a pencil.
• Cut out each traced shape about 1/4″ outside the pencil line.
• Fuse each piece to the wrong side of the appropriate fabric, following the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions.
• Cut out each shape along the pencil line. Precision is helpful, but small imperfections are perfectly fine.
• Repeat this process for all pieces: the tomato body, tomato top, all letters, small hearts and sewing pin details.

TIP There are many pieces to cut. Work at a comfortable pace and take breaks as needed.

Part 3: Applying the Applique

With all shapes cut and backed with fusible web, lay the shoofly block flat and arrange the pieces.

Arranging the design

Position the tomato body first, then add the tomato top. Next, lay out the lettering across the lower portion of the block. Finish with the hearts and small accent shapes. Step back often to check the spacing, especially between the letters.

Once you are happy with the layout, take a photo for reference before ironing anything down. The piece is large, so consider laying it on folded towels on the floor and ironing it there, where you have room to step back and check your work.

Fusing the shapes in place

• Remove the paper backing from each shape just before placing it.
• Work in sections: fuse the tomato first, then the lettering, then the hearts.
• Press each section firmly following the adhesive instructions.

Making the pin details

The tomato pin cushion needs three small sewing pins and three round pin heads.

• Pin heads: fuse a scrap of adhesive web to the back of your chosen fabric, then cut 3 circles at 2″ in diameter.
• Pins: fuse adhesive to a narrow strip of pin-colored fabric, then cut 3 strips at a scant 1/4″ x 4″. The adhesive backing keeps the strips straight.
• Fuse the three pins onto the tomato at slight angles, then add the round pin heads at the top of each pin.
• For the tomato face, cut small circles and a curved smile by hand and fuse them in place.

Part 4: Quilting and Finishing

Press the completed appliqued top before assembling the quilt sandwich.

Preparing the quilt sandwich

• Lay the backing fabric right side down on a flat surface and smooth out any wrinkles.
• Center the batting on top of the backing.
• Lay the appliqued top right side up on the batting.
• Baste the three layers together using pins or thread.

Quilting

Simple straight-line quilting suits this design well. Stitch in the ditch around the shoofly block seams, then add parallel lines across the block for texture. Stitching around the edges of the applique shapes is optional but gives a neat finish.

Binding

Cut 4 strips at 2½” x WOF from your binding fabric. Join the strips end to end with diagonal seams, press in half lengthwise (wrong sides together), and apply using your preferred binding method.

Adding a hanging sleeve

• Cut a rectangle at 4″ x 26″ from the backing fabric.
• Fold and stitch the short ends to neaten them.
• Fold in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press.
• Stitch the sleeve to the top back of the wallhanging after the binding is complete.

Find the perfect spot to hang your finished piece, and celebrate the fact that Sewing Happens Here!

Original series by Tania Denyer on QUILTsocial.com. Photos by Tania Denyer.