Sparkling Vases: Section 4

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 four of six in this inspirational quilt design.

Filed under: Quilting, Crafts, How To, Fabrics

We're making the fourth section of this six-month quilt project—the Marble Column 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. You can join in the fun at any time. Just start with Section 1.

The Marble Column panel is named for the vase filled with marbles.

Materials and Tools:

fusible webbing
color-coordinated embroidery floss
variegated thread
applique template material - paper, plastic, card stock or cardboard
fabrics:
- fat quarter for background
- fat eighth for vase
- three fabric scraps for accent squares
- 4" x 7" rectangles for leaves
- two 4" x 14" rectangles for stems
- three small scraps for flowers
- two, 2" x 16" strips for marbles
- fat eighth for table

Use this image as a reference when cutting applique templates. You'll cut eight templates for this section.

Steps:

Applique Templates

Draft and cut applique templates for the vase feet, stems, marbles, leaves and flower. Some may find it easier to cut and piece the panel first, then return to draft the applique patterns in order have a better size perspective.

Vase feet - On paper, cardboard or template plastic, draw an approximate 1" diameter circle. Cut out and label as template 4a.
Stems - On paper, cardboard or template plastic, draw a 12-1/2" long stem and a 5-1/2" long stem with slightly convex curves. Cut out and label the shorter stem as template 4b and the longer stem as template 4c.
Marble - On paper, cardboard or template plastic, draw a 2-1/4" diameter circle. Cut out and label as template 4d.
Leaf - On paper, cardboard or template plastic, draw a football-shaped leaf template measuring 5-3/4" at the longest point by 2-3/4" at the widest point. Divide the symmetrical leaf by drawing a dotted line down the center of the length. Cut out the leaf on the solid lines, leaving the dotted center line intact. Label it template 4e. Note: The dotted line shows you where to place the template when cutting the leaf from fabric.
Flower - On paper, cardboard or template plastic, draw a 3" diameter circle, a 2-3/4" diameter circle and a 1-1/8" diameter circle. Cut out and label the large circle as template 4f, the medium circle as template 4g and the small circle as template 4h.

Cutting

From background fabric cut:
- two, 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangles
- 6-1/2" x 9-1/2" rectangle
- 1-1/2" x 11-1/2" rectangle
- 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangle
- 1-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangle
- 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangle
- 1-1/2-inch square
- 2-1/2" x 10-1/2" rectangle

From vase fabric cut:
- 6 1/2" x 14 1/2" rectangle
- two vase feet (template 4a)

From each scrap of accent fabric cut:
- 1-1/2-inch square (three squares total)

From each leaf fabric cut:
- one 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangle
(four rectangles total)

From first stem fabric cut:
- top of stem (template 4b)

From second stem fabric cut:
- bottom of stem (template 4c)

From marble fabrics cut:
- 16 assorted marbles (template 4d)

From table fabric cut:
- 2-1/2" x 9-1/2" rectangle; reserve
remainder for other panels.

Figure A

Top Half

1. Join two 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" background strips to opposite sides of a 1-1/2" accent square to make a strip.

Figure B

2. Join strip to top of 9-1/2" x 6-1/2" background rectangle. Set aside for applique.

Figure C

Bottom Half

3. Join 1-1/2" x 11-1/2" background strip to a second 1-1/2" accent square. Add 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" background strip to opposite side of square, forming a side strip.

Figure E

4. Join 1-1/2" x 6-1/2" background rectangle to the bottom of 6-1/2" x 14-1/2" rectangle to make a vase strip. Join side strip to the left side of vase strip.

Figure F

5. Join a 1-1/2" background square and a third 1-1/2" accent square. Add 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" background rectangle to top of these squares with accent square on the right.

Figure G

6. Add 2-1/2" x 10-1/2" background strip to bottom to make right strip.

Figure H

7. Add right strip to right side of vase unit. Add 2-1/2" x 9-1/2" table fabric strip to bottom of vase unit to complete bottom half of block.

Leaves and Assembly

1. Join two different color/print 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" strips. Press open.

2. Join remaining two different color/print 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" strips. Press open.

Figure I

3. Align the dotted center line of template 4e on the seam of the joined strips from step 1. Using the template, cut a leaf from the pieced fabrics. Repeat for the fabric joined in step 2 to render a second leaf. Set aside.

Figure J

4. Place top stem cutout (template 4b) on upper half of block. Place bottom stem cutout (template 4c) on lower half of block. When satisfied with alignment, applique stems in place. Place leaves, matching the leaf and stem fabrics and applique. Blanket-stitch raw edges.

5. Join top and bottom halves of block.

Figure K

Additional Applique

1. Position marble pieces (template 4a) on vase. Applique in place.

2. Position vase feet (template 4a) under the edges of the vase. Applique.

3. Layer flower pieces, largest to smallest, at the top of the stem and applique.

Beading
See section 6. Because it’s difficult to quilt around existing embellishments, you’ll add the dimensional flowers and beading to the panels once the project has been quilted.

Sparkling Vase: Section 5