Special Effects for Quilts

Figure A

Fringing Sampler

Materials and Tools:

6" x 12" muslin
6" x 12" tear-away stabilizer
40 wt. rayon thread in yellow, green, red and orange
sewing machine feet - fringe (check with machine retailer), darning, zigzag
topstitch needle 80/12
4 strips of 1/2" x 4" fusible interfacing

Figure B

Steps:

1. Fill a bobbin with green thread and insert into machine. Attach fringe foot (figure B).

2. Insert the topstitch needle and thread the top of the machine with red thread.

3. Set the machine to the zigzag stitch with a length of 0.2 and width to 5.

4. Place the stabilizer under the muslin and pin together in two corners.

5. Place the fabric under the presser foot and bring the bobbin thread to the surface.

Figure C

6. Holding both threads, run a four inch row of stitches (figure C), adjusting the top tension to prevent the bobbin thread from showing. Usually the top tension needs to be lowered.

7. Carefully remove the fabric from the machine and iron one of the 1/2-inch strips over the back of the stitching to secure it.

8. Create two more rows of stitching about 1/2 inch apart.

9. Attach the darning foot, drop the feed dogs and stitch a meandering line over one row of fringing to secure it.

10. Thread the machine with yellow thread, attach the zigzag foot and raise the feed dogs. Select a simple decorative stitch and stitch over the last row of fringing to secure it.

11. Repeat the above three rows only adjust the top tension so the bobbin thread is showing. Tighten the top tension. Secure the stitched rows with the same techniques as before.

12. Thread the top of the machine with the red and orange threads together through the topstitch needle. Check with your dealer for the proper method of threading two threads through the tension system on your machine.

13. Repeat the same three rows about 1/2 inch apart, adjusting the zigzag settings to 0.4 length and 5 width. Adjust the tension so the bobbin thread is not showing.

14. Secure one row with the fusible interfacing, another with a meandering free-motion stitch and the third with a yellow thread and a decorative stitch.

15. Make a fourth set of fringing rows, adjusting the top tension so the bobbin thread does show and secure with the same three methods as before.

16. Label as you stitch for a reference guide.