Quilt designer Debora Konchinsky and her husband Paul join host Alex Anderson to discuss their unique business--producing animal quilt patterns. First, Debora shares one of her most popular critter patterns actually inspired by the family cat. Next, Debora shows how to create the cat from the pattern, and demonstrates how to use the sewing machine for several different applique tricks. Finally, Debora shares some of her favorite critter quilts, which feature themes such as
Noah's Ark and the
Wild West.
Materials:
paper-backed fusible
light, medium and dark fabrics for the cat body, ears, eyes (Debora uses gold lame)
background fabric
thread in coordinating colors for the fur and facial details
Konchinsky's cat faces pattern
permanent black marker
scissors
iron
tear-away paper
Steps:
1. Fuse the paper-backed fusible to the underside of the cat body fabric with a warm iron according to the manufacturers directions.
2. Center the fabric underneath the pattern by holding the pattern up to the light, and pin in place.
3. Use scissors to cut along the cat body shape and remove the pins.
4. Attach fusible webbing to the back side of the ear fabric, and pin the pattern to the fabric.
5. Cut along the outer design lines to make the ear section. Remove the pattern.
6. Score the fusible backing of the ear section with a sharp pin and remove the paper from the center out.
7. Position the ears in place on the cat body, and fuse in place with a warm iron.
8. Re-pin the cat body pattern to the fabric and cut out the eyes with sharp scissors.
9. Remove the pins from the pattern from the fabric, and peel the top of the head back half way. Place the gold fabric on the eye holes.
10. Iron over the fabric to secure the sections in place. Note: Be sure to place a cloth over the eyes to avoid burning the sensitive fabric.
11. Remove the fusible backing from the cat body fabric in the same scoring method used for the ear section.
12. Place the pattern beneath the fabric and trace the cat's facial details using a permanent marker and a light box or window.
13. Position the fabric cat on the background block. Allow the bottom of the cat to fall off the bottom edge of the background.
14. Fuse the cat to the background using the cloth to protect the sensitive eye fabric from the iron.
15. Position tear-away paper to the back of the block and use an open-toe sewing machine foot to satin stitch the body to the background. Start the stitch width at 0" and increase the width to 2-1/2" with tension between three and four. Note: Stop at the outside of the curves and turn the fabric to create smooth corners.
16. Straight stitch the hair details with the reverse stitch to create a textured look.
17. Satin stitch the cat's nose and straight stitch the mouth and whiskers. Note: Try leaving a few whiskers loose at one end for a three-dimensional embellishment.
18. Use an echo pattern around the cat body for the final quilting stage.
Resources Critter patterns
Critter Pattern Works
Website:
www.critterpat.com
Guests Debora Konchinsky
Quilt designer and owner of Critter Pattern Works
Website:
www.critterpat.com
Paul Konchinsky
Marketing Director for Critter Pattern Works
Website:
www.critterpat.com
Also in this Episode
)
