Hey everyone! Today we're making a striking wall hanging, and I'll show you how simple panels let a bold geometric batik do all the decorating.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is the Banyan 80320-33 MODERN GEOMETRY PLUMROSE 45" wide fabric per yard from Fabric Fanatics.
It's a batik. It's 45" wide. It's made by Banyan. And it's sold by the yard here at Linda's.
The name tells you the look. Modern Geometry is the design name. Plumrose is the color. So you get clean, modern shapes in a rich plum and rose tone.
Batiks press crisp and hold an edge well. That matters here, because this project is built on straight cuts and long seams. A crisp edge keeps those shapes looking sharp.
The project: a modern geometry wall hanging
We're making a wall hanging that finishes about 24" wide by 32" long. That's a nice size, folks. Big enough to notice. Small enough to finish this week.
The design is three vertical panels, each finishing 8" wide. No tiny piecing. No fussy points. Just long, honest strips of that pretty plumrose print.
Why does this fabric suit it? A geometric print needs room. Cut it too small and the pattern gets lost. In wide panels, the shapes stay whole and modern. One fabric, one simple layout, and it looks like art.
And here's the permission beat. Your panels do not have to be perfect. Your quilting lines do not have to be ruler straight. You're your own worst critic, I promise. Take your time. It's not a race.
Materials
- 1 yard of Banyan 80320-33 MODERN GEOMETRY PLUMROSE for the panels, sleeve, and binding
- 3/4 yard of a coordinating 45" wide fabric for the backing
- One piece of batting, at least 28" by 36"
- Thread to blend with the plumrose
- A wooden dowel or hanging rod, about 26" long
- Rotary cutter, long ruler, and mat, plus pins or clips
- An iron, and a walking foot if you have one
Brief steps
One. Press your fabric first. Cut three panels, each 8 1/2" wide by 32 1/2" long. From a 45" width, those cuts sit side by side nicely. Set the leftover aside for sleeve and binding.
Two. Lay the panels out in a row. Turn the middle panel around, top to bottom. That flips the geometry and adds movement. Step back and look before you sew. Completely up to you how they land.
Three. Sew the panels together with a 1/4" seam allowance, an 80/12 needle, and a stitch length of about 2.5. Press both seams toward the middle panel. You should be right around 24 1/2" by 32 1/2" now. Just like that, your top is done.
Four. Layer the backing wrong side up, the batting, and the top right side up. Baste it well. Keep the layers smooth, because a wall hanging shows every ripple.
Five. Quilt it simply. Stitch in the ditch along both panel seams first. Then add straight lines about 2" apart, at roughly 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Go slow, and let the walking foot do the work.
Six. Trim to 24" by 32". From your leftover, cut four binding strips at 2 1/2" wide and join them end to end. You need a little over 112" to go around, plus extra for corners. Sew the binding on, fold it over, and stitch it down.
Seven. Make the sleeve. Cut a strip 8 1/2" wide by 23" long from your leftover. Hem the short ends, fold it in half lengthwise, and sew the long edge with a 1/4" seam. Stitch it along the top back edge, slip your dowel through, and hang it up.
Practical tips
Press every seam as you go. I know, it's tempting to skip it. But a pressed top quilts flatter, and a wall hanging needs to hang flat.
I have absolutely sewn a panel in upside down and hung it up before I noticed. The fix is easy. Pin a note to the top of each panel first. Learn from my mistake, y'all.
Slow down when you quilt those long lines. If you rush, the layers creep and your line wanders. That's not a ruined project, though. From six feet away, folks just see really really pretty color.
Want it bigger? Add a fourth panel and finish near 32" wide. Want it smaller? Use two panels and finish near 16" wide. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Oh my goodness, this is my favorite kind of project. Big pieces, bold print, and a finish you can enjoy the same week. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks for sewing along with me, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Banyan 80320-33 MODERN GEOMETRY PLUMROSE 45" wide fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
