Owl Panel Quilt made easy using pre-printed fabric

Next week I am releasing my owl panel quilt pattern called “Kinship” featuring the Hoffman Fabric’s Call of the Wild pre-printed fabric, this one called S4722-126 Birch. I fell in love with this wintry scene and had to design a pattern for it.

I have seen many pre-printed panels through the years but it took me a while to begin designing patterns with them. I am careful to add borders that enhance the panel, bring some of its colors to the ‘outside’, and frame the artwork as a gorgeous wooden frame might.

“Kinship” measures 62″ x 48″. The snowflake border is machine appliqued with shapes that are large enough to handle easily, so no sweating here!

I spent some time in my studio preparing a couple of blocks with the snowflake shapes. When I designed the border, I divided it into 5″ x 7″ blocks so I could figure out the snowflake motif placement. So, that border is 5″ wide, it is not cut up in blocks but uses a long strip instead, and the applique’ will fit nicely.

Notice that I placed the shapes about 3/4″ from the edges to allow for the 1/4 seam and leave a little space between the seam and the applique’.

Steps to machine applique’

First, I trace the shapes onto the fusible web (I use Heat’n Bond Light – here is a post showing one of my tricks when using it with larger shapes), cut them about 1/8″ outside the lines, and fuse them to the wrong side of the fabrics.

Next, using a sharp pair of scissors I cut around the shapes on the outline, making sure straight lines are kept straight, and round edges are very smooth. Even if I did not draw them perfectly, here is where I clean all the lines.

Then, using 40 wt thread (in this case I am using white Aurifil) and the clear presser foot, I begin the machine applique’ with the blanket stitch – my all-time favorite way to applique’. I use the standard settings for this stitch from my Bernina, and occasionally change it if I want the stitches a little longer (it is when I using contrasting thread and want it to show well).

I always like to match the thread to the fabric. Sometimes, if I want a more primitive or 1930s look, I will use a dark, contrasting thread.

Check out this short post with details about the presser foot, and its position on the shape to be stitched.

Some of you may be wondering why I did not use interface on the back of the applique’. Well, my stitches without the interface are so perfect that I totally skip that step. However, if appliqueing with finer thread or on lighter fabric, you may want to use it.

Finally, I do not want to forget to tell you one of my tricks for using lighter applique’ onto a dark background: make sure the light fabric is tone-on-tone! Its texture will add another layer of color and the background will not show through!

For the last border on my owl panel quilt, I use Hoffman Fabric’s S4713-176 Ice fabric from the Call of the Wild collection. The ice on its print paired perfectly with the snowflakes, don’t you agree?

“Kinship” will be available sometime next week in my Etsy Store (@piecedbrain) and also for wholesale. I will show you on Monday another pattern using a panel, this one super easy, and the pattern is already out! Mark your calendar! In the meantime, have a great weekend.