In my QUILTsocial blog post from December 2022, I showed you how to use a variety of Rit All-Purpose dyes to create some special effects on fabric. Rit dyes are readily available in craft and art supply stores. This week I’ll show you how to use some of those hand-dyed fabrics to create a unique wall quilt for Valentine’s Day and also some smaller items to use up the leftover fabrics.
Valentine wall quilt, Valentine card and mug rug
materials
fabric
- ⅞yd [0.80m] for front and back of quilt
- ⅓yd [0.30m] for binding cut 3″ wide for a ½” finished-size binding
- Small scraps (4″ – 9″ square), fat eighths or fat quarters
- 23″ x 27″ [60 x 70cm] batting
Fabric for the Valentine quilt
notions
In addition to the hand-dyed fabrics, I’ll be using the following:
- HeatnBond EZ PRINT FEATHERLITE iron-on adhesive 8½” x 11” [22 x 28cm]
- Mary Ellen’s Best Press Starch Alternative
- Best Press Spray and Misting Bottle
- Oliso PRO TG1600 Pro Plus Smart Iron
TIP When using the Oliso iron, simply touch the handle and the iron lowers, ready to work. Take your hand off, and the patented scorch guards lift the iron off the board preventing scorches, burns, and tipping. It’s not only safer to use, but also saves time as well as your wrists!
Oliso Pro Plus Smart Iron and Best Press for perfect fabric preparation
- SCHMETZ Microtex (Sharp) Needles (size 10 or 12)
- Omnigrip OmniArc Circle Cutter Ruler
- Komfort KUT Rotary Cutter 28mm
- UNIQUE Quilting Double Sided non-stick reusable applique sheet
Supplies for this week’s projects
Let’s Get Started
For this project, I quilted the background before I did the applique. My background, backing and batting were cut to 22″ x 27″. I sprayed the fabric with Mary Ellen’s Best Press Starch Alternative. This removes all the wrinkles from the fabric and gives it a little extra body. And of course, my Oliso PRO TG1600 Pro Plus Smart Iron was so easy to use for pressing the fabric!
After the pieces were layered, I stitched straight lines ¼” to ⅝” apart, using my open toe, even feed (walking) foot.
Now the background is ready for the applique shapes.
Quilting with an open toe foot
Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you how to prepare all the applique shapes for your Valentine wall quilt!
This is part 1 of 5 in this series
Go to part 2: Cutting out hearts and circles for applique