Monabug Retires: Woven Quilts

This is what we did at our Art Group yesterday. It is a very cool technique and I see doing more. Thank you Laura 😍

I'm cheating and copying her notes to us!

“Hi ladies, I'm following up on our planned project of "Woven Quilts" for our next meeting. We also have the book "Woven Quilts" in the guild library for anyone who wants to pursue this topic in more depth. A woven quilt is a very useful background for applique or thread painting. The basic supplies needed are:

Two pieces of coordinating/contrasting fabrics, no larger than fat quarter size
Paper-backed fusible adhesive, enough to cover both pieces of fabric. I've used Steam a Seam Lite successfully.
Quilt batting, sized slightly larger than your fabric
Backing, about the size of your batting
Marking pencil(s)
Pins
Masking tape
Rotary cutter and mat and ruler
Some kind of pressing surface to "build" your weaving on. “

There is never enough time in class to finish it all especially when you get distracted and in order to remember the steps I take pics and post here as my personal classroom.

I began with cutting my 2 pieces of coordinating fabric into a 16” square and pressing fusible onto the back. Find and mark the vertical and horizontal centers on the right side. Then came the hard part...math...you need to have an uneven number of columns and not too wide and not too skinny. I came up with 1 1/4” (with help). Starting from the center mark outwards (remember to divide the 1 1/4” in half for the first mark) accuracy is not really important on this technique! I drew lines all the way down as it helped guide me when cutting.

*note” this marking can be done on the right side or the paper side (before removing the paper)

Number the columns at the top. With a rotary cutter cut gentle curvy vertical lines.

Working with (one of coordinating fabrics) one strip at a time...starting with a center strip...remove paper backing and place right side up on a piece of backing (cut a bit bigger than your fabric). I drew a horizontal line across the top of batting for a guideline.

Pin at the top of each column (or use masking tape to hold in place)

Now the fun begins...lift up every other strip and lay a strip (remove paper backing) of coordinating fabric across horizontally and return the folded back strips to original position. Things to look for...try and match up the wavy curves with the row above..this where matching that center line comes in handy...try and snug your coordinating strip as tight as possible or you can get “holes” in between. I used the tip of a pin to help pushing them tighter as the fabric tended to fray. As you work down alternate the strips that are flipped up creating the woven look.

When finished gently apply a hot iron. Press and hold for a few seconds giving time to adhere the fusible backing. Do not move your iron up and down and across as it can catch the edges (ask me how I know)