Gracious Alive...just a short few weeks till Easter Sunday...

and I have NO Bunny kitchen towel for my oven front...

I ask you...how in the world does this happen?

I am an embroiderer/applique person...I do this kind of thing...

EVERY...SINGLE...DAY!

How do I NOT have a cute kitchen towel for each and EVERY Holiday known to mankind?

I digress...

I must remedy that...real quick, fast, and in a HURRY!

Today...I decided I needed a little something more on the “boyish” side of cuteness...

So I chose the Sweet Bunny Boy Face Applique...purely on my LOVE for his Bow Tie!

It just doesn't get much cuter than that!

Let's get started...

I began this project by prepping my 8x8 inch FULL Fast Frame with Sticky Stabilizer...

and loaded the biggest size design of the 8x8 to my machine, via the USB Stick.

I also fused a piece of No Show Mesh Cutaway Stabilizer to the backside of my towel...

I want a permanent stabilization for my design and the No Show Mesh keeps it locked in place BUT...soft in hand.

I like to go BIG with my Kitchen Towel designs...

mostly because I want it to have that WOW factor when I enter my kitchen...

so the big 8x8 size fits the bill!

I am using my rule of thumb for centering my applique...

by measuring up 2” from the bottom edge of the towel to the bottom of the design.

It's the PERFECT number for my design stats...

6”wide X 7.62” tall (approximately)

14,124 stitches (approximately)

This particular design only has TWO fabric panels...

but he packs a powerful PUNCH...if you get my drift!

The details are simply FABULOUS!

Here she goes...

In the picture above you can see that I have used my favorite little red clippies...

for extra added hold during the stitching process...

I am completely obsessed with this cuties...

they are just so darn convenient and any time I can avoid using pins...I do!

I also slapped a piece of WSS on top, once all my fabric panels are in place and trimmed nicely.

You know...

Because...that's how I roll!

NOW...just because I can...

I made a couple EXTRA Bunny Towels to give away as gifts too...

I am really set for Easter Sunday here in South Carolina...

How about YOU?

 AND...

Don't you just LOVE how the same design, with the same fabrics and threads make a different 

statement on a Colored or Patterned Kitchen Towel?

OMG...

The POSSIBILITIES are ENDLESS!

Get INSPIRED...

and turn on that Embroidery MACHINE!

TOOLS OF THE TRADE...

-Sweet Bunny Boy Face Applique Design (I used the 8 X 8 size) (www.babykaysappliques.com)

-Fast Frame (I used the FULL 8X8 inch size)

-Perfect Stick Stabilizer (I used Floriani Brand)

-No Show Fusible Mesh Cutaway Stabilizer(I used Floriani Brand)

-WSS (off Brand)

-Heat and Bond Lite (Hobby Lobby, Joann's, Walmart and Amazon)

-Clover Wonder Clips (Hobby Lobby, Joann's, Amazon and Quilt Shops)

-White Kitchen Towel (Bed Bath and Beyond)

-Colored/Patterned Kitchen Towels (Costco)

-Fabric...Light Tan for Bunny...Fusions #5573 by Robert Kaufman-Green Plaid for Bow Tie...Gramercy#3509 by Kitty Yoshida for Benartex Fabrics.

-Thread-Exquisite Brand...Cream/Tan #812-Black#020-Dark Gray (Whiskers) #588-Sage Green #950-Blue #409

-Water Soluble Pen for Marking Center of design

Gracious Alive...

it is suppose to be approaching Spring and since last week it was almost 70 degrees here...

the flowers were starting to emerge from their winters sleep.

Instead...

the whether in South Carolina today is COLD, and very CRISP...

and YES, you can see your breath outside! 

What's a girl to do...

With a huge assortment of Fabulous Spring time Applique designs at hand...

I am sure to find the PERFECT one to bring a smile to your faces today!

Everyone LOVES my pillow wraps...

-Friends and Family

-The Neighbors

-The UPS Man

and all the many followers here at The Quilted Story!

And since my foyer bench needs a welcoming pillow...

that's what's on the agenda TODAY!

Let's get started...

Since I love to re-purpose things, by giving something a “face lift”...

I am using the same 20” pillow form that I have used for the last two pillow wraps in the past

and only purchased the actual pillow cover in a pretty HOT pink!

There is method to my madness...

Not only do I have just a couple “pillow covers” and “wraps” to store...

I only have ONE pillow form that serves every pillow wrap I make. 

Now...that's a WIN WIN situation for sure!

I decided on one of the newer Spring Designs...

the Bunny with Umbrella Applique and I chose the 8X8 size. 

I added a little cute text in the Penguin Grins Font

(check out the Tools of the Trade at the bottom to get all the details)...

simply because it looked so darn cute together!

Pillow Wraps are so easy to make...

you will want to make a gazillion of them!

TIP...be sure to refer back to the other two pillow wraps I made in the “Believe” Blog Post...

and the “Together is my Favorite place to be” Blog Post...

as I am using basically the same technique!

My design will be rather large...

however...

you can use the smaller applique size and font sizes

to achieve the perfect dimensions for your special pillow wrap.

Here are my stats...

-Design Size...7.5” high X 11.75” wide

-29,683 Stitches (well worth the count!)

First...

I prepped my Full 8X12 Fast Frame with sticky stabilizer...

and cut the following sizes out of my materials for the wrap itself...

-Pink and White Plaid Fabric-9.5” high X 40-44” wide (depending on the size pillow you used)

-100% Cotton Batting-8.5” high x 40-44” wide (depending on the size pillow you used)

TIP...Don't forget that the Cotton Batting serves a dual purpose...

it gives the wrap “Body” around the pillow itself AND it also gives the design permanent control and HOLD over time.

I then put the batting onto the sticky first, and layered the fabric on top of the batting...

centering it, so that there would be “excess” fabric (top and bottom) to make a hem out of over the batting...

when you finish your embroidery work.  

I also added a few of my flat head pins along the top and bottom edge...

to secure the top fabric layer and the batting to the frame. 

You will notice that I used the straight edge of the fabric to match up with the straight edge of the frame itself...

and this assures me that I am loading it evenly across the frame. 

My batting is the same height as my frame...

so it is placed even with the frame itself FIRST and then the fabric is on top of that. 

I also have my center marked with a water soluble pen for a reference point.

Here she goes...

Be still my HEART...

I LOVE this BUNNY so!

I used my RED Clippies on the sides of the frame...

where I needed it to hold my fabric and batting more securely along those edges.

And YES...I slapped on a piece of WSS...

because it makes my heart sing!

LOL!

Once I removed the finished work from the frame...

I press the top edge over to the backside of the top and the bottom and hemmed it.

After I hemmed both the top and bottom with a nice top stitch...

I put it on the pillow I planned to use and trimmed the length of it to fit with a slight overlap. 

I secured it onto the pillow by sewing velcro at the overlap. 

I just LOVE it when a plan comes together...

How about YOU?

Kathleen

TOOLS OF THE TRADE...

-Bunny with Umbrella Applique Design (www.babykaysappliques.com) (I used the 8X8 inch size)

-Penguin Grins Font (www.babykaysappliques.com)...in the following sizes...

(Waiting-1.5” size) (on the-1” size) (BUNNY-2” size)

-Fast Frame (I used the Full 8x12 inch size)

-Perfect Stick Stabilizer (I used Floriani Brand)

-WSS (off Brand)

-Cotton Pink and White Plaid Fabric for the Wrap itself (Hobby Lobby)

-100% Cotton Warm and White Batting (Hobby Lobby, Joann's and Quilt Shops)

-Flat Head Pins (Hobby Lobby)

-RED Clover Wonder Clips (Hobby Lobby, Joann's, Amazon and Quilt Shops)

-Hot Pink Pillow Cover (IKEA)

-20” square Pillow Form (Joann's)

-Velcro (to hold the wrap closed on the back of the pillow)

-Fabric...(Gray for Bunny-”Hello World” by Abi Hall for Moda) (Aqua for Umbrella-”Stitch Square #CX-5944 by Michael Miller...I found this at Hobby Lobby)

-Thread-Exquisite Brand...Hot Pink #325-Light Pink #305-Aqua #444-Light Gray #1707- Medium Gray #588-Black #020

-Water Soluble Pen for Marking Center of design

Gracious BE...after making my set of 4 Easter Chick Placemats...

I simply could not resist in adding this ever adorable Kitchen Towel to the group.

Who says more of a good thing is a BAD idea?

Certainly not a Machine Embroiderer... like ME!

Here's the skinny...

I used the same applique design, fabrics and threads as I did previously on my set of placemats...

only I used the larger size at 6 x 10...and Boy...she packs a serious PUNCH!

Here she is...

up close...

and personal!

So get a jump start on your Special Spring and Easter Holiday decor with this Super Cute design...

you will not be disappointed!

Kathleen

With Easter just around the corner...

I simply gotta get some super cute Holiday Placemats for my Kitchen table made! 

How about YOU?  

Thumbing through the Easter and Spring section of my Embroidery Files is like being in a Candy Store...

but with no CALORIES! 

LOL!

The choices are simply FABULOUS to say the least and I had a difficult time choosing just ONE...

But..

I MUST...

I CAN...

So I WILL!

I just LOVE the Chick in an Egg with Bow Applique design...it is so dang cute...

you almost can't stand the cuteness overload!

It's the perfect applique for my Aqua colored placemats I found at my local Old Time Pottery store.

Let's get started...

I selected the 5x7 size which will give me the following design stats...

5.5” tall X 5” wide (approximately)

12,027 stitches

I prepped my Full 8X8 Fast Frame with Sticky stabilizer and

found the perfect placement on the bottom left corner of the placemat...

just to give me plenty of room for my dinner plate, napkin and silverware on top...

without covering up the cuteness of the design! 

I also fused a piece of No Show Mesh Cutaway onto the backside of the placemat...

in the area where the design will be stitched out.

The reason I used my 8x8 frame was because I wanted to have plenty of room to stitch the corner...

all while using the straight edge of the frame itself to line up the bottom edge of my placemat. 

This assures me that my applique will be straight on the placemat itself...

 EVERY...SINGLE...TIME!

I added a few flat head pins along the edges to give it extra added hold...

because these particular placemats were a heavier woven textile.

Here she goes...

As you can see in the above picture that once I had all the fabric panels tacked down and trimmed...

I slapped a piece of WSS on top and used my red clippies to hold that in place on the frame. 

I really believe this particular style placemat needed the WSS...

to help prevent the satin work from getting “buried” in the holes of the actual woven textile.

If you were in any way unsure of just how CUTE this Sweet Little Chick Applique really is...

Here's the proof in true form...

And if you want to see this little gem up close and personal...

Here she is...

BUT wait...

I needed a FULL Set...

Here's all FOUR!

It's official...

My table is ready for Easter Breakfast!

Kathleen

TOOLS OF THE TRADE...

-Chick in an Egg with Bow Applique Design (I used the 5x7 size) (www.babykaysappliques.com)

-Fast Frame (I used the Full 8x8 inch size)

-Fusible No Show Mesh Cutaway Stabilizer (I used Floriani Brand)

-Perfect Stick Stabilizer (I used Floriani Brand)

-WSS (off Brand)

-Heat and Bond Lite Fusible (Hobby Lobby, Joann's, Walmart and On Line)

-Clover Wonder Clips (Hobby Lobby, Joann's, Amazon and Quilt Shops)

-Flower Head Pins (Hobby Lobby, Joann's and Quilt Shops)

-Cotton Canvas weight Placemats (I got mine at “Old Time Pottery” Store)

-Fabric...Yellow-Big Pinwheel #LH04025 for Lakehouse Direct Fabrics...Pink-Moda Dot Essentials...Aqua-Stitch Square #CX-5944 by Michael Miller (I purchased this at my local Hobby Lobby)

-Thread-Exquisite Brand...Black #020-White #010-Orange #650-Aqua #444-Yellow #4117-Pink #305

-Water Soluble Pen for Marking Center of design