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Adding quilted details using the PFAFF quilt expression 720

Adding quilted details using the PFAFF quilt expression 720

by Sarah Vanderburgh

Embracing the cheerful decorating possibilities that spring brings, this week I’m making a quilted umbrella cushion. In yesterday’s post, I cut and assembled the units to make the umbrella block using PFAFF quilt expression 720. Today I’ll rely even more on the IDT system to easily add quilting to the front side of the cushion.

Quilted umbrella cushion and PFAFF quilt expression 720

Quilted umbrella cushion and PFAFF quilt expression 720

To start, join the units of each row, then join the rows together.

Press all of the seams in the top row to the right and all of the seams in the second row to the left.

Then sew the two rows together, pressing the seams towards the bottom of the block.

Sew the two lower sets of blocks together with the top row’s seam pressed to the right and the bottom row’s to the left. Then sew them together, pressing the seam to the bottom.

Sew the four patch to the right side of the handle unit, pressing the seam to the four patch.

Now sew the two halves of the block together, again pressing the seam to the bottom.

The completed block should measure 16½″ square.

Umbrella block with one more seam to join

Umbrella block with one more seam to join

Layer the block for quilting

Cut one of the fat quarters for backing into a 16½″ square. Place it, right side down, on a pinning surface.

Place a 16½″ square of batting on top.

Then place the umbrella block, right side up, on top of the layers and pin through all three to secure.

Umbrella block layered and pinned for quilting

Umbrella block layered and pinned for quilting

I started quilting with a light thread and stitched in the ditch around the umbrella block. Then I did two rows of echo quilting around the umbrella handle, using the marks on the presser foot to help guide me and keep my rows of stitches spaced evenly apart.

Guides on presser foot used to echo quilt.

Guides on presser foot used to echo quilt.

Two rows of quilting around the rick rack handle.

Two rows of quilting around the rick rack handle.

Then I switched over to black thread in both the bobbin and on a spool to quilt lines across the top and bottom of the accent squares. I did a second line of stitching to add emphasis.

Then I stitched curved lines around each accent square which end up looking like circles when they were all completed.

Straight and curved quilting lines on the umbrella block

Straight and curved quilting lines on the umbrella block

I also added curved stitching lines along the bottom edges of the umbrella block. I’m really happy with how even my stitches are and how easy it was to execute thanks to the PFAFF quilt expression 720. The quilting added so much to the whimsical design.

Come back tomorrow when we start work on creating the reverse side of the cushion.

Quilted front of the umbrella cushion

Quilted front of the umbrella cushion

This is part 2 of 5 in this series.
Go back to part 1: Celebrating spring with a cheery quilted umbrella cushion

Go to part 3: Honoring Earth Day: use your stash to make a quilted patchwork cushion

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