One thing I have tons of are 1/4-yard-or-so remnants of fabric left over from sewing projects where the suggested fabric measurements on the pattern turn out to be far more than what I actually need. This quilted chevron monogram is a great project to utilize those odds & ends!
Ready to see how it's done? Let's get started!
For this project, you will need...
Fabric Scraps in Two Different Patterns (preferably full-width, selvage-to-selvage pieces)
Rotary Cutter and Mat
Coordinating Thread
Washable Ink Marker
Large Wooden or Cardboard Letter (Mine is cardboard and 9x12x1.5 inches; purchased from Joann)
Pinking Shears (optional)
Hot Glue Gun
Polyester Fiberfill
step 1 / If using full-width fabric pieces, fold your fabric in half, selvage to selvage. Use your rotary cutter and mat to cut your fabric into 1.5" strips from the selvage edge to the fold, so that you wind up with a strip that is 1.5" by the full width of your fabric (typically 45 inches). For my letter, I cut 4 strips of each different fabric. Now, cut each of these strips in half, so that you are left with two strips that are 1.5 by 22.5 inches. (Alternatively, if you are using smaller pieces of fabric, use your rotary cutter to cut 8 pieces from each of your two fabrics that are 1.5 by 22.5 inches.)
Using a 1/4" seam, stitch your pieces together at their long edges, alternating your patterns. Press your seams. (You can see below that I pressed mine open, but I later discovered that pressing them to one side works equally well, and it saves a lot of time!)
step 2 / Take your assembled piece, and use your rotary cutter and mat to precisely square off all of the edges, so that you have a perfect rectangle. Use your washable ink marker to measure in 3 inches from the lower left corner of your piece. Now, take your ruler and rotary cutter, and cut a wedge from this side of your piece by connecting the top left corner and the mark you just made, as shown.
Repeat this step on the right side of your assembled piece. (Refer to the diagram below.)
step 3 / Starting on the left-hand side of your trimmed piece, make a mark on both the top and bottom of the piece that is 3 inches from the outer edge. Make two additional marks on both the top and bottom, leaving 3 inches between each one. From the right-hand side, make two marks in a similar fashion. Now, connect each corresponding mark (the first marks on the top and bottom right, the second marks on the top and bottom right, etc.) with your ruler, and trim along this line to cut your piece into angled strips. (See diagram below.)
step 4 / Lay out your trimmed strips side by side so they form a zig-zag pattern. Use a 1/4" seam allowance to sew all of them together, making sure they stay in the correct order as you work. Press your seams to one side.
step 5 / Take your assembled chevron piece, and trace your letter on top of it with your washable ink marker. Cut out your letter out. (I used pinking shears for this to go along with the zig-zig motif, but regular shears would be fine.) Edgestitch around the outer perimeter of your piece to prevent your seams from coming apart.
step 6 / Run a line of hot glue along just the top edges of your letter. Adhere your trimmed chevron piece to your letter, making sure all edges are lined up as you work. Make sure to adhere glue only to the edges of your letter in a way to create a pocket with your fabric that you will fill with fiberfill to give your project dimension. Tuck some of your fiberfill up into the pocket you just created, working with very small amounts of fiberfill at a time to avoid overstuffing and thus causing your fabric to separate from your letter. (If necessary, use a wooden chopstick or other device to poke the fiberfill where it needs to go.) Repeat this step, working in 2-3 sections, until your entire letter is covered and stuffed.
You are finished!
If you like, you can embellish your letter a bit further with a flower or other pretty element. I used one of my burlap and felt flowers here for added pizazz.
5 comments:
Wow! What a cute tutorial! Love the monogram, might try it out with my own first letter :) Thanks for sharing! This tutorial would be a great one to share in my 100th post summer inspired competition, to get your blog featured for free! :)
Read more at
thecreativemuslimah.blogspot.com/2011/06/100-th-post-get-your-blog-featured.html
-the creative muslimah
Amy that is so cute! I have a ton of fabric scraps that would be perfect for this!