The weather warmed up a little this week-end and it made me think of Spring! And what better way is there to beat the Winter blues than to create something you know you will be using in warmer weather? So I began looking for inspiration – I remembered all the yo-yos I have recently made, and thought of the great spring colors I could make more yo-yos in, then I remembered this quilting book had a great Easter table-runner with yo-yo embellishment.
I went to the store to pick out some fabrics and started my project. Of course I choose bright spring-time colors, and the fabrics used for the yo-yos on the sides of the table-runner are the same fabrics I used for the egg appliqués.
This book is a wonderful book full of appliqué projects for all the seasons. There is also a 4th of July table-runner, as well as a tote bag and sweatshirt for the 4th – one of those may need to be made when I start thinking of Summer picnics! There are also several ideas for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Anyone who enjoys quilting and making new items for holidays, but doesn’t want to make a full quilt for a holiday celebration, should take a look at this book. And here’s the finished project!
I used the Extra large yo-yo tool for the embellishments on each end of the table-runner. And, as you can see in the close-up below, I used buttons to finish the yo-yos and to decorate the egg appliqués. It’s been a long time since I sewed this many buttons on a single project!
There are several places I could see placing this project. Of course, the obvious is the dinning room table – but it could also go on top of the piano or on my dry sink or even the coffee table. It would also be fun to add some stuffed or ceramic bunnies sitting with the runner.
Even though this book doesn’t show placemats – I have decided to make some using the same appliqué shape so they will coordinate with the runner. Watch for that project, and a small pattern just for you, tomorrow.
What are you doing to get ready for Easter and to chase off the Winter blues?
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila
I thought this would be a great idea for someone who buys lots of greeting cards in advance of birthdays or special holidays. You could have up to three month’s worth of cards in easy reach – one month to a pocket. It would also be great for those who make their own cards, or even for scrapbooking enthusiasts as a place to stash photos until everything is ready to create that new page in the book.
The quilting pins helped to stablize the fabric while I was cutting the pattern pieces. Since the pieces for the purse were all rectangular, I decided to use my rotary cutter, and the flat pins worked great for that – the ruler lay over the fabric nicely and my pattern pieces came out perfectly.
Need another idea? How’s this? Here is a jacket and skirt that have been embellished with yo-yos and pearls. It gives a whole new look to this outfit. The skirt and top were made using McCalls Pattern #5542. Hancock Fabrics Demonstrator Carol Prettyman made the outfit and added the embellishment. Heart yo-yos have been used to accent the bottom of the jacket and down the front . Hearts have also been added to each of the sleeves. And if you look carefully at the close-up picture, you’ll see that circle yo-yos dangle from the hem of the jacket to add a little extra movement. Using fabrics that matched and coordinated with the skirt pulls this entire outfit together. The pearls add just that little touch of flash that we all like to see in our clothing from time to time.
Sheila Reinke 