Technique Tuesday: Using Veggie Fabrics

Happy Tuesday! We're thrilled to have Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts here with us today, sharing one of her entertaining Technique Tuesday posts. She's playing with an especially fun collection--Maria Kalinowski's What's in My Pantry line for Kanvas. Debby will show you a design idea that lets large focal prints to shine. She may even throw in a few tips on eating vegetables... :) 

Here's Debby!

As a parent, it seems I was always urging my 3 daughters to "Eat your veggies!" It was a battle, let me tell you. Now, as adults, they don't shy away from their vegetables and even have found clever ways to get their own children to eat them. How come no one shared that secret with me years ago?

Today I am sharing about a new collection called "What's in My Pantry?" and again, it's all about vegetables. You may doubt it once I get going, but trust me, OK?

What's in My Pantry? fabrics from Kanvas

First, let's begin with one of my "go to" patterns for a Fleur de Lis. I have used this many times for quilts in magazines. One of them used a previous Benartex Collection called Normandy. What do you think?

Charlemagne Quilt as seen in Fons and Porter Magazine

I printed the template page (which is 1/4 of the pattern) and traced it onto a piece of freezer paper which was folded into quarters. (Yes, I will offer the pattern at the end; stay with me.) Note that a hair clip is just as useful as a paper clip. They do the same job!

Tracing the Fleur de Lis pattern onto freezer paper

Now I fold the freezer paper in fourths and staple them to keep them from slipping as I prepare to cut through all four layers. Note that I stapled OUTSIDE the lines:

Fold, staple and prepare to cut out

 Notice in the pattern that I wrote where the fold lines MUST be. It is helpful to transfer those words (but I didn't in this instance) onto your freezer paper.

Four layers cut out. DO NOT CUT ON THE FOLD!

The cutout template looks like this, ironed to a piece of red fabric (another Benartex Collection) with fusible webbing on the back:

Layer: Freezer paper, fabric (right side up) - with fusible webbing on wrong side

And now it's time to cut out the applique shape:

Cut around Fleur de Lis template

 And the result:

Full size Fleur de Lis

I plan on five Fleur de Lis blocks which will finish to 10" I cut five 10-1/2" squares of a white background fabric. Now it's time to fuse the red Fleur de Lis to the background square. I finger pressed diagonal lines on the white fabric. My template is not perfect, but I'm not going to change it. "It's good enough for the camera," is my motto.

Centered Fleur de Lis; fused; ready for machine applique

I also cut out circles for the center using one of the featured Veggie fabrics

Now for my plan. I have another "go to" pattern for a quilt assembly that is so fun. I first used it in a quilt using Gypsy Song (Benartex) 10 years ago. Here's the quilt:

Gypsy Song Collection

It features 9 squares that each measure 10" x 10". They are offset using rectangles. This works wonderfully (as in this quilt) when you have a gorgeous motif you want to feature.

For my Veggie Quilt, I cut two squares (10-1/2" x 10-1/2") each of two of the veggie prints. Two of the tomatoes and two of the chili peppers. I added my strips cut 2-1/2" x 10-1/2".

Uh oh! Where is she going here? I mean, she's using these with the Fleur de Lis? Did she get a chili pepper caught in her brain?

10-1/2" squares of veggie prints with strips

No to the chili peppers in my brain. Yes to combining these with the Fleur de Lis. I cut 4 strips 2-1/2" x 10-1/2" and 4 strips 2-1/2" x 12-1/2". Each block looks like this:

Fleur de Lis blocks with strips added

OK. Now for the reveal. WARNING: Put your coffee or tea cup down - NOW!

Sometimes things just get out of control in my studio. I do think, though, this will delight any child under the age of 8. The green inner borders finish to 1".  I cut 8" wide borders of the canned veggie print. It is directional and I needed to use another print from the collection for the top and bottom borders. And then I cut 8" (not 8-1/2") squares of the light tomato print.

This is what's in My Pantry! - 51" x 51"

I love these bright fabrics. I plan on placemats and an apron or two (maybe I should have gone that route from the start?)

Here is the FREE template for a finished 10" block. It's a one page pdf. Fleur de Lis Pattern

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