Iron Craft Challenge 6 - Applique Snowflake Quilt Square

This week's Iron Craft challenge was to create something to fit the theme of winter. I'm surrounded by winter to you'd think this would be an easy one but really it took me a long time to come up with an idea. Then I was inspired by this appliqued quilt top tutorial over on Badbirds. I thought a winter quilt done in whites, pale blues & grays would be beautiful. The quilt will feature white squares with white snowflakes appliqued on them. Now I didn't have time to do the quilt this week but I got the first snowflake square done.

(Ok, I have to say I'm not real thrilled by the shape of the points of the snowflake & how they look a little like a part of the male anatomy. I didn't notice it until I was half done & didn't have time to restart. Or is it just my mind in the gutter?)

Susi & I have been talking recently about white (or solid) space on a quilt, someplace to give the eye a rest, which is why I went with the white on white. I added some texture though by using cotton flour sack dishcloth for the snowflake because it has a great crinkly to it. I think the blanket stitch around the edges gives it a wonderful folk art feeling. My plan it to have about 10 different snowflakes sprinkled throughout the quilt in 6-inch squares.

Here's how I did it...

1. I cut the snowflake out from a material called trans-web which lets you turn any fabric into an iron on. It's great for applique & doesn't get stiff at all.

2. I ironed the snowflake cut out onto the dishcloth & then cut it out.


3. The paper backing then gets removed from the trans-web & the snowflake gets ironed on to the quilt fabric. I cut the square to be big enough to fit my embroidery hoop but the finished square will only be slightly bigger than the snowflake.

I had a few places that didn't iron on very well so I used a little fabric glue which didn't show through at all.

4. Using three strands of white embroidery thread I blanket stitched around the snowflake.


This week's Iron Craft challenge is also a contest to pick the Iron Crafter Winter 2011. I'm not in the running as I'm providing the prizes but you can vote on the other entries starting Friday on Iron Craft.

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