How To Create A Scalloped Border For Your Quilt

In my last blog post I shared my most recent mosaic quilt, "Whitney Lake".  If you missed it, you can find it HERE.

I like using a scalloped border, whether it is the inner, outer or edge.  

It really makes a plain border, very elegant and special.

I used it on my quilt, "South of France", as the inner border:

and on my first large mosaic quilt," Keyfetti Fish", created while wintering in Key West. This border is scalloped and a facing was used to finish the edge. (It was photographed on a black background.)

35" x 48"

I have used a few diffferent methods to create a scalloped border for a quilt.  The key to them all is, Curvalicious.It's a cutting guide I developed about 5 years ago.  I designed it to make curved looking quilts, but I found out that I could use it for amazing and complex looking borders.

It measures 24" long.  The Curvalicious website shares lots of ways to use it as well as a link to my YouTube video demoing it as a border tool.

When the quilt's dimensions are divisble by 6, a mitered border might be the best method to use.  Otherwise, the method I used for Whitney Lake works well and is pretty simple.

First, I added a 4" border all the way around the quilt.

 After quilting the border, scallop the border using Curvalicious and a 28mm rotary cutter.

 It is a bit of a challenge to cut through all the layers, but it's so worth it. Sometimes you need a little scissors help. To achieve balanced corners, make sure you stop about 6" from the edge.

Using tracing paper or parchment paper, or any paper  you can see  through, create a curved corner.  I fold  the paper in half to make sure it's symmetrical. I use that template to trim each corner.

Then I made a 2" strip of bias binding.  After stitching it to the front with 1/4" seam allowance, I turned it to the back and with the help of wonder clips, I handstitched it to the back.

And Voila!

A border that really frames a quilt.

My Newest Mosaic Art Quilt

40" x 50"

I have fnished my newest mosaic quilt. I could have named it many things, but I've decided to keep it simple and call it Whitney Lake.  We have had a vacation home on Whitney Lake in Hawley, PA for 30 years.  There is so much Lynch  history there.  While our boys were growing up we spent a good part of the summers there.  There was swimming and fishing and blueberry picking.  There were video games on the rainy days and  a gang of boys that hung together and sometimes got into a little mischief. We spent Thanksgiving there and President's weekend ice fishing on the frozen lake.  I have wonderful memories of quilt retreats with girlfriends and students.  There was a little lull in our visits as the boys got interested in sports and headed off to college.  Fortunately, they both dated girls who loved it there too and both of them  married those girls lakeside. So it's a place with lots of memories.

I started the quilt 2 years ago using lots of photos to "stitch" together and construct the scene and thought often about those two empty chairs on our dock.  It has been a long road.  There was a 1 year hiatus where I just couldn't work on it.  Then when I finally returned to working on it I  had some issues with the lake water and contrast.  (Oh contrast, my nemesis!)
Here's an overview:

First the left side and then the right.

And now it's done, and it feels good!

I did debate wether to use a Curvalicious border since all of my mosaic art quilts include it for the border. So I scallopped the border this time and it's just perfect. My next post will have details of the  quilting and borders. You can purchase Curvalicious HERE and watch how to use Curvalicious to create an amazing border HERE:

"Whitney Lake"has now entered the inner circle of my most favorite quilts.
And what would a special quilt be without a special label.

It's a great time to finish a special quilt.

Indigo Fabric Dyeing @Whitney Lake

I dabble in dyeing, fabric dyeing that is.  It's in my DNA.  My college degree is in Chemistry, so it's rewarding to combine my academic knowledge with my love of fabric.

I just returned from a 3 day getaway with some of my quilting buddies at our lake house.  It's the perfect place to dye fabric outside because there's not a whole lot of grass.  The weather was perfect.  I was not sad that Autumn was not in the air.  It was really a summer extension.

Other than quilting and eating, indigo dyeing was on the agenda.  It has to be the easiest type of dyeing that I have ever done and it seems to be a non-discriminatory type of dye.  Every type of fiber we tried, turned blue! And indigo is such a rich, beautiful shade of blue.  Blue is my favorite color and it's making a comeback in Home Dec and fashion.  I've seen it in a bunch of magazines and in the stores.

Indigo is a plant based dye and the fabric comes out of the dye bath green.

 and as it is exposed to the oxygen in the air, it turns blue!

I made the dye bath up the day before.  We twisted and clipped, tied and stitched the fabric and then dampened it before placing it in the dye bath.  5-10 minutes was all that was needed.  Then the fabric was rinsed, untied and placed on the clothes line to dry.  Easy - peasy.

Everything we tried took the dye.

Denise even took the shirt off her back and dyed it! (It was a white t-shirt.)

Helen brought some very cool fabrics including some doggie bandanas for Bailey

and this sheer curtain type fabric came out beautifully.  I think I'm going to make mine into a scarf.

I bought my dye from Pro Chem as a kit.  It came with very clear instructions.

Make sure you wear gloves or your hands will be blue for days.  Click on THIS LINK, if you want to buy the kit and give it a try.

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NEWSLETTER

Another One In The Books

The weekend in the mountains, started out chilly, but by the time Sunday arrived, it was a beautiful Spring day. The topics for the mosaics were a cat, two dogs and a grandson. The most diverse group to date.

Bailey was waiting for everyone to arrive.

Samples were hung as inspiration.

The first step was for everyone to cut up a bunch of fabrics. There were squares everywhere. Most of us willingly shared our squares. (Hahaha)

Someone set up their sewing machine to have the best view of the lake.

( and I don't blame her).

 

 

The mosaics progressed as the days passed.

 

Over the course of a couple of days, the quilts really evolved.

 

 

We were so busy eating all the yummy meals prepped by my hubby that the only photo I took was Sunday mornings yogurt bar.

Another great retreat. Two more coming up this Spring. I'm dreaming of a show with all these finished pet quilts and one boy. It would be wonderful.

Im starting to gather names for the next scheduled retreat for May 2017. Are you interested?

 

Posted with Blogsy

Good Morning Thanksgiving!

We are spending Thanksgiving at the lake with the entire family. It's going to be a glorious day. Everyone has their assignments. What could be better than that?

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my writings and follow me on this wonderful journey. Wishing you a wonderful day filled with turkey and pie and elastic pants and family. 

Autumn at the Lake

Spending a few days at our place in the mountains. We missed the peak of the foliage colors, but just by a bit. It is still beautiful. 

It rained last night and it's still grey this morning, but it's so cozy with a fire in the fire place. 

The colors make me hungry (actually everything makes me hungry), so I may have to make an apple crumb pie today. 

I shocked my hubby when I didn't pack my sewing machine in the car. I decided to work on my Israel inspired mosaic minis. No machine needed!

I'm teaching it at the AQS show in Daytona Beach, FL in February. I can't tell you how excited I am to be included as an instructor. It has been a goal of mine for years. Im still pinching myself. It is one of two of my classes. I'm also vending at the show, so maybe I'll see some of my Florida friends there. 

Check Out My Guests

Its Pet Mosaic Retreat time and I am so excited for my next group of guests and their puppies.  Yes, it's all canines this time.  Last time Grace, the cat, was the subject of a mosaic quilt.  And Cheryl (not me) finished hers.  It came out great. Don't you love her eyes?

These are the puppies this time.  One's a grandpup named Wilbur, whose owner is named Charlotte.  How cute is that?

Wilbur

Jesse

Riley

Reggie

I'm getting the photos ready

 and keeping my fingers crossed for beautiful weather so that we can take a break and eat dinner on the dock on our little lake. Bailey is looking forward to all the attention that she will get from our guests who will be missing their dogs!

Next retreat? June 9-12, 2016. That's Thursday through Sunday. If you're interested, check out this link.  I can only accommodate 4 quilters, so sign up soon if you love your pet this much!