Sparkling Vases: Section 3

If you've ever aspired to make an art quilt but didn't know where to start, this is the project for you. Here is section three of six in this inspirational quilt design.

Filed under: Quilting, Crafts, How To, Fabrics

We're making the third section of this six-month quilt project—the Golden Rods panel.

Designer Tom Russell breaks up the process in six simple sections with this stunning wall art design called Sparkling Vases—a quilt that's sure to bring out the quilt-lover in those with even the most contemporary of tastes. Just start with Section 1.

The Golden Rods panel is named for the gold-toned vases and spindly flowers. The fabric flowers are accentuated with embroidered, stylized stems and leaves, and crowned with bugle bead tops.

Materials and Tools:

fusible webbing
color-variegated thread
green pearle cotton floss
dressmaker's chalk
fabrics
- background
- left vase
- center vase
- right vase
- three flower fabrics
- three accent square fabrics
- table

Use this image as a reference when cutting applique templates. You'll cut just one template for this section—approximately a 1-1/2-inch circle for the flowers.

2. Draft and cut a flower applique template by drawing approximately a 1-1/2" circle, referring to the image at the right for a guideline. Label the template as 3B. Some may find it easier to cut and piece the panel first, then return to draft the applique pattern in order have a better size perspective.

Cutting

From background fabric, cut:

8-1/2" x 7-1/2" rectangle
1-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangle
6-1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangle
1-1/2" x 8-1/2" rectangle
1-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangle
two, 1-1/2" x 9-1/2" rectangles
3-1/2" square
1-1/2" x 5-1/2" rectangle

From left vase fabric cut:

2-1/2" x 12-1/2" rectangle

From center vase fabric cut:

2-1/2" x 9-1/2" rectangle

From right vase fabric cut:

2-1/2" x 15-1/2" rectangle

From each flower fabric cut:

flower (template 3a) (three flowers total)

From each accent fabric, cut:

1-1/2" square (three squares total)

From table fabric cut:

2-1/2" x 9-1/2" rectangle; reserve remainder for other panels

Figure A

Block Assembly

Top Half

1. Join 1-1/2" accent square to 1-1/2" x 6-1/2" background rectangle to make a strip.

Figure B

2. Join the strip to the 8 1/2" x 7 1/2" background rectangle. Set aside until bottom half is assembled.

Figure C

Bottom Half & Assembly

3. Join 1-1/2" accent square to 1-1/2" x 8-1/2" background rectangle.

Figure D

4. Join 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" background strip to the other side of accent square to make a strip.

Figure E

5. Join strip formed in step 4 to left side of left vase fabric rectangle and set aside.

Figure G

6. Join 1-1/2" x 9-1/2" background strip to left side of center vase fabric rectangle. Add 3-1/2" background square to top to form the center vase.

Figure H

7. Join left and center vases made in steps 3 through 7.

Figure I

8. Add 6-1/2" x 3-1/2" background strip to top of the two-vase unit from step 7. Set aside.

Figure K

9. Join 1-1/2" accent square to 1-1/2" x 9-1/2" background strip. Add 1-1/2" x 5-1/2" background strip
to the other side of an accent square to form a strip.

Figure L

10. Join this strip to the right side of right vase rectangle to form the right-vase unit.

Figure M

11. Join the right-vase unit to right side of two-vase unit to complete bottom half of panel.

Figure N

12. Join top and bottom halves of panel.

Flowers

1. Use template pattern 3A and tailors' chalk to transfer stem and leaf embroidery patterns to the block at the top of each vase. Using fusible webbing, applique the three fabric flower cutouts (template 3B) in position at the top of the stem transfers. Blanket-stitch the flower edges with color-coordinated, variegated thread.

Figure O

2. Stem-stitch over the stem and leaf embroidery patterns using a strand of green pearle cotton floss.

Beading

See section 6. Because it’s difficult to quilt around existing embellishments, you’ll add the beading to the flowers on the panel once the project has been quilted.
Sparkling Vase: Section 4