Sorry to be late for this one - forgot to pre-schedule the post - blah... :(
But the good news is - BLOG HOP PARTY AND GIVEAWAY IS STILL ON!!
If you are a new visitor to my blog - WELCOME AND THANK YOU! Click on the link bellow to read all about Michele Foster's QUILTERS GALLERY Birthday celebration and a phenomenal Blog Hop Party and then start hopping and having fun!
For my blog - if you haven't left a comment in previous three posts (Dec. 9, 10 and 11th), leave a comment to enter a chance to win! To double or triple your chance - follow my blog and "Like" my Facebook page and tell me you did it (in a comment). Thank you so much for visiting, come back often and good luck in all the giveaways!
Now lets get to work and make a fun, festive holiday window!
This project is based on classic Attic Window pattern and using either a fabric panel or just an interesting print! It is easy and gives you a bit more creative way of using those lovely panels (or interesting, landscape-y prints).
I you are using a panel, here are some specific things to do first:
- measure panel's width and height and depending on the style of window you would like to make, determine the size of squares or rectangles to cut it into. When I say "style"of window - I mean how many window panes, will they be rectangular or square, etc. I find that 9, rectangular window panes works for me, most of the time.
- another thing to consider is the image itself and where will you cut it - for example, in the image on the right I did not want to cut through the snowman, so I adjusted my cutting dimensions and the position of cuts according to the snowman.
Here is what you will need:
- 1 panel
- 1/4 yard EACH, of two fabric for window side and silt (usually two shades of the same color)
- 1/4 yard of fabric for sashing (optional)
- 1/2 to 3/4 yard of fabric for final border (depending on desired width)
Photo on the left shows you what panel I started from and how I chose to cut it up.
I chose NOT to use the extra images and blocks in the panel, just the middle part. because i did not want to cut through the snowmen, I shifted my image a bit to the left and finally, the size of my rectangles was 5 1/2" x 7".
To make the actual window panes:
- cut 2" strips of the two fabric that will make window side (vertical one) and window silt (horizontal one). The choice of fabric for this is quite important - to get that illusion of a 3-dimensional window! On the right you can see my auditioning of several blue fabrics. Choice 1 was OK but maybe a bit too much difference in shades of the two blues? Choice two was a bit better but I really liked the snowflake fabric from choice 1, so I tried that one in choice 3 and - BINGO! Normally I wouldn't consider fabric with an obvious print (snowflakes), but this one was very subtle and it gives the illusion of snow falling outside the window - YAY! :)
- Once you chose and cut your 2" strips, trim them to be as long as the side of the pane they are going be sewn to + the width of the strip.Example: my panes were 5 1/2" x 7" and strip width was 2" - so vertical strips were 9" long and horizontal strips were 7 1/2". Good news is - they can always be a bit longer! So if you are nervous - just cut them slightly longer! :)
- Next, you need to label a dot in the lower left corner (pointed by pencil) of every pane, on the WRONG side of the fabric. Third photo bellow shows you how to use a ruler and label a dot that is 1/4" from BOTH edges of the fabric.
This dot is a mark for sewing.
Now is the time to sew those strips to the panes and miter the corner! Yes, I did say MITER the corner! ;) I know many of you are intimidated by mitered corners, but there really is no need for that! With few steps to follow - it works every time!
To sew the vertical strip to the left side of the window pane, put the strip and the pane right sides together, with the pane on the top and with the upper raw edges aligning (first photo on the right).
NOTE: pane should be on the top so that you can see that dot you labeled while you sew! Extra length of the strip should be on the on the bottom (where the dot is). Sew with 1/4" seam, ONLY TO THE DOT and backstitch (pointed on the middle photo, enlarged on the last photo, above right).
To sew the horizontal strip:
put the strip and the pane right sides together, so that raw edges are aligning and extra length of the strip is on the side where dot is (A)
- start sewing from the dot (literally lower your needle right into the dot)
- be careful not to catch the previous strip while starting - you need to fold it away (shown with red arrow, photo B)
- once you are done - there should be a small square of the pane fabric left un-sewn in the corner (red arrow, photo C). This will ensure that mitering work well!
To miter that corner:
- lay your window pane on the table as shown
- take the upper right corner and fold it over to the lower left corner, folding the piece on the diagonal (middle photo)
- straighten the piece so that two strips are on top of each other and aligned
- to mark the sewing line, take the square ruler (I used the 6" one) and align the 45 degree line of the ruler (one that goes from corner to corner) with the top edge of the strips (see photo)
-push the edge of the ruler so that it touches the stitching you did (pencil is pointing to the stitching)
- mark the line with the pencil along the ruler. This is your sewing line!
- pin this in place without disturbing or lifting the layers (just slide in one pin perpendicular to the line, like shown)
1. Start stitching from the side closer to the pane, right where the previous stitching ended (pointed in photo 1)
2. Stitch to the end of the line (photo 2)
3. Open up the piece and check that your mitered corner lays flat and everything is correct
.
4. If all is well, trim the excess fabric from the mitered corner and press that seam OPEN (photo 5).
Repeat this for all your window panes (I had 9) and here is how they look laid out:
Isn't it amazing how it looks 3-D? :)
You can choose to leave it as it is and sew 9 pieces together, but I also auditioned having narrow sashing that will actually give it a look of a window - so some white for sashing and a snowy border:
I like this version better!
If you choose to add sashing, first cut 6 strips of the desired width (mine are 1 1/4") and as long as your window panes. Sew two strips in each of 3 rows, joining 3 window panes with them -just like shown on the photo.
Once you sewn those, lay down all 3 rows and cut TWO sashing strips that are the same length as the rows and attach them on the bottom of top and middle row.
Now is the time to add borders! The outside part of the white sashing will be added together with the final border.
I joined each wide, final border strip with one narrow white strip - all long enough for mitered borders:
Four borders, read to be sewn and mitered!
To miter the borders, process is exactly the same as when we were sewing the window panes! Mark the dots in corners, 1/4" away from each edge, sew border strips from dot to dot, fold the quilt and mark the sewing line, pin and sew!
Once you miter all four corners, your holiday window is done!
Remember, this could be done also with a nice print, with a panel with smaller images, etc. - lots of creative options! Have fun!
- Once you chose and cut your 2" strips, trim them to be as long as the side of the pane they are going be sewn to + the width of the strip. Example: my panes were 5 1/2" x 7" and strip width was 2" - so vertical strips were 9" long and horizontal strips were 7 1/2". Good news is - they can always be a bit longer! So if you are nervous - just cut them slightly longer! :) 
If you choose to add sashing, first cut 6 strips of the desired width (mine are 1 1/4") and as long as your window panes. Sew two strips in each of 3 rows, joining 3 window panes with them -just like shown on the photo.
