I have developed a couple of special projects for folks in the Williston quilt guild.  It wasn't easy since you are all strangers, and I don't know your skills and interests, and the techniques are new to everyone. But I think I have succeeded at last! I think these projects will be easy enough for everyone and will allow more adventuresome quilters to add there own creative touches.

Standard tools and supplies for all Hot Ribbon projects:

Tools and supplies (be sure to put your name on them):

• A Clover mini-iron
• A heavy mug to park the iron in while it's hot
• A cutting surface and pressing surface (a June Tailor combination, 13" square or 13" x 20" would be good).
• A Bear Thread Applique Pressing sheet or something very similar (Teflon and translucent enough to trace through)
• Optional: a piece of regular window glass about 6" square or larger
• Steam a Seam2 bonding sheets or other fusible material (sew through type, if you think you will launder it)
• A Glue stick
• A sharp pair of small scissors for precision cuts
• A larger pair of scissors for cutting fabric backed by fusible web and paper
• A rotary cutter
• A couple of grids. There should be a variety of sizes available in the classroom (6" squares, 12" squares, 15" squares, and 6" x 24"), but they are needed just briefly, and you don't need to bring all the sizes yourself.
• A sewing machine is not needed unless making a project which can take a lot of laundering (use a fusible material which can be sewn through).
• Hot Ribbon (not available in stores yet; I will bring it with me. You might plan to spend $10 to $15 for ribbon.

There should also be available for the whole class to use:

• 2 or 3 regular, large irons and ironing boards
• 2 or 3 sewing machines
• Some big cutting mats

All-day class, Saturday April 25

These projects are closely enough related that you can do one while your friend does the other. Each project can be quite simple or as rich and detailed as you want.
 

Project 1: Christmas Table Runner

This table runner is about 14" x 46" and features a string of lights on a pine needle or holly background. On each end is a cluster of Christmas tree ornaments.

Fabric:

• 1/3 yard of green fabric (see notes below)
• A 9" x 12" sheet of Steam-a-Seam2 or your favorite brand of fusible web (no-sew type if you don't think you will wash the project; sew-through type if you think you will want it to be washable.)
• A variety of scraps (batiks in bright colors are ideal) for the lights and balls. Or a fat quarter of a fabric which has a sequence of bright colors, such as the Aurora Collection from RJR. Or you can trade scraps with friends at the class. I'll also bring some fabric to share.

Simple version:
Find a background fabric which looks like holly or pine needles of a Christmas tree. Use bold geometric prints for the balls.

Fancier (and more educational) version:
Decorate the background fabric with holly or pine needles made from the ribbon. Decorate your own balls. That will give you experience molding the ribbon into a variety of shapes.

More original version:
Add some other ornaments, such as stars (they are very easy), bells, bows, angels, etc. I'll bring some designs, or you can make your own, copying real ornaments or Christmas cards. If you e-mail me, we can work together to plan a fancier runner. You can keep going on this design as long as you want, adding people's names to ornaments, adding strings of garlands, etc. and might end up with a masterpiece!
 

Variation: A Christmas border

You can make a border 4" to 6" wide instead of a long table runner. Balls in the corner are optional. The border shown would fit a block about 14-15" square, but it could be adapted to other sizes (see the alternate project below).

Fabric: Same as the table runner (If you have a fat quarter a green fabric that is just perfect, you can use it if the border is kept to 4" wide)

Alternate project: A border of leaves and vines.

Instead of making the bulb shapes a variety of colors, make them all green and call them leaves! Make a border to go around a block or small quilt.

These are easier than the table runner once the calculations have been worked up. The curves in the vines have to come out even and turn the corners gracefully and that can be tricky. You can draw a diagram of wobbling vines to fit your quilt, or I'll help you work up the calculations ahead of time if you send me an e-mail with the dimensions of the block or quilt you want to put a border around. Tell me whether you want single leaves or double leaves (which take almost twice as much time and ribbon).

Also tell me whether you want the flowers in the corner. Petals are the same shape as the leaves.

How hard is Hot Ribbon?

Hot Ribbon is new to everyone, so you are all "beginners." But some of you will find it very easy, while others may feel awkward. It will depend on your manual dexterity and confidence. If you have done hand sewing, painting, ceramics, and crafts (or if you are dental hygienist or have another career where you do skilled things with your hands) you'll probably catch on fast. If you have arthritis or other problems, don't get too ambitious.

Tip: Short, straight lines are easier than curves, and irregular shapes are easier than perfect circles. If you think you'll have trouble, do the easier Glory Circle project I am teaching on Sunday (below).
 
 

Short Hot Ribbon class, Sunday April 26

Glory Circle Stained glass project

This easy project is from my Introduction to Hot Ribbon Art book. You can do just the center part (8" diameter) or add the edge pieces for a project about 11" square:

Fabrics
Cotton (bright glowing fabrics, batiks or other low contrast designs, less than 1/8 yd. each):

• Scraps of purple (a busy design, dark enough that fabrics below it won't show)
• Scraps of blue and green
• Fusible web material - 1/2 yard or two sheets of Steam-a-Seam2 or other fusible.

Super Sixteen class on Sunday

You'll make 16 Woodpile blocks and find a lot of different ways to arrange them into a wall hanging. Here's one way:

Here are some others:

See Sizzling Quilts from a Simple Block for an overview of the general technique.

For supplies and fabric, go to the Super Sixteen instructions. You need sewing machines and usual sewing supplies for this class.
 

Return to Anita Hallock's home page

Page updated 4/3/03   Copyright by Anita Hallock