Blending Photos With Fabric

Materials:
book: Blending Photos With Fabric*
8" x 10" beach scene photo image on paper
8" x 10" beach scene photo image on fabric
3 sky fabrics in 1/4-yard increments
1/4 yard of beach grass fabric
4 sand and pebble fabrics in 1/4-yard increments
1 to 3 water fabrics for a total of 1/2 yard
2-1/2" strips of small amounts of miscellaneous fabrics to blend in with the Nine-Patch border blocks
1/3 yard of binding fabric
1-1/4 yard of backing fabric
batting
18" roll of freezer paper
* Book includes information about transferring photos to handmade printable fabric, pre-made printable fabric, and photo transfer software. Consider this article on Scanned Fabric Designs.

Finished size is 32-1/2" x 38-1/2".

Steps:

1. On the paper photo draw an 8" x 10" rectangle around the finished area of the picture. Mark off a 1/4-inch seam allowance inside the edge of the photo and trim to the seam allowance. The picture now measures 7-1/2" x 9-1/2".

2. Cut two 24" lengths of freezer paper. Tape the freezer paper strips together lengthwise on the shiny side, overlapping them a bit to form a 24" x 35" rectangle. The paper represents the center medallion area of the quilt and is larger than needed for the moment.

3. Lay freezer paper rectangle on a table dull side up.

5. Lightly tape the paper photo to the freezer paper. It will be removed later.

6. With a pencil draw over the five main lines that divide the picture horizontally (figure B). Stand back from your work or use a reducing glass to determine the main lines.

7. Lightly continue these lines out in gentle curves across the freezer paper. Erase and repeat as needed. The gentle curves will serve as seam lines.

9. Trace the left and right side edges of the picture onto the freezer paper.

10. Trim the top and bottom of the picture to match the curved lines.

11. Label the sections around the picture with the chosen fabrics (figure D).

12. Remove the taped picture from the freezer paper.

13. The shapes on the freezer paper are the templates for the sections of the quilt top that surround the picture (figure E). Cut each fabric piece from the template adding a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

15. Square up this center area of the quilt to measure 20" x 26-1/2".

Nine Patches

Make 18 nine-patch blocks. Foundation-piece these blocks using colors that blend with the part of the quilt where each block will be positioned. Fill in any gaps with three-patch strips.

Finishing

1. Embroider sea grasses on the fabric area of quilt.

2. Quilt in lines flowing horizontally across the quilt.

3. Quilt pebble areas in a pebble pattern.

4. Assemble the quilt.