Hey everyone, today we're making a simple wall hanging that lets a bold, geometric print do all the decorating for you.
Here we go. Let's talk fabric first.
This is Flock Together Fractal Multi Cotton, from In The Beginning Fabrics. The designer is Jason Yenter. It is 100% cotton, and the width of fabric is 44"/45". That's what the product listing tells us, plain and simple.
The print is abstract and geometric. The tags name pieces, pixels, and shapes. The color story is multi color, so picture lots of color broken into small, busy pieces.
That is why I like it on a wall. The fabric is the picture. Just like that, the work is mostly done for you.
Why this fabric suits a wall hanging
A wall hanging is one big, flat panel. That makes it perfect for a print like this one. The fractal pattern gets room to repeat. The little pieces can spread out. Nothing important gets chopped up at the seams.
It suits real rooms, too. A busy multi color print plays nicely with a lot of furniture, and it hides a little dust between cleanings. That is a win in my book.
My preference is one whole piece for the front. No piecing at all. But you could add a border if you want it bigger. Completely up to you. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
What you'll need
- 1 1/2 yards of Flock Together Fractal Multi Cotton, 44"/45" wide, 100% cotton, for the front and the hanging sleeve
- 1 1/4 yards of a backing fabric you like
- One piece of low-loft batting, about 40" x 48"
- Matching thread for construction, and a thread you like for simple quilting
- A wooden dowel or slim rod, about 38" long, plus a way to hang it
- Your usual basics: rotary cutter or scissors, a long ruler, pins or clips, a marking tool, and a size 80/12 needle
This plan finishes about 36" wide by 44" long. That is a nice size over a desk or in a hallway.
Here is the cutting math. Cut the front 37" wide by 45" long. That includes a 1/2" seam allowance all around. Cut the backing the same size. Then cut one sleeve strip 9" wide by 36" long from your leftover fabric.
Brief steps
First, press your fabric well. Then square up the edges. Check which way the shapes run before you cut. Keep the pattern going the direction you like best. Go slow here, because a straight cut now saves fussing later.
Second, layer your pieces. Backing right side down. Batting on top. Then the front, right side up. Smooth from the center out. Pin or baste well, about every 4 inches, so nothing shifts while you quilt.
Third, quilt it simply. Stitch in the ditch is not needed here, because there are no seams. Try straight lines about 4 inches apart, or a gentle meander across the whole piece. Use about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Let the print lead. You really cannot go wrong.
Fourth, trim the sandwich square. Trim it to a clean 36" by 44". Then bind all four edges with your favorite binding method. Miter those corners as best you can. Take your time, it's not a race.
Fifth, make the sleeve. Hem both short ends of the 9" by 36" strip. Fold it in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press. Stitch it to the top back edge, raw edges even, then hand stitch the folded edge down, leaving a tiny bit of ease so the dowel slides in easy.
Sixth, slide the dowel through the sleeve. Hang it up. Step back and enjoy it. Just like that, you're done.
My tips from the sewing room
Tip one: test your quilting on a scrap sandwich first. Check your stitch length and your tension. I've skipped that test before. I've also had to rip it out before. Two minutes now saves real time later.
Tip two: press before you layer. Wrinkles trapped under batting show up later. A good press makes the sandwich behave.
Tip three: slow down at the binding corners. Rushing a thick corner can bend a needle. Turn the handwheel by hand for those last few stitches if you need to.
Tip four: it doesn't have to be perfect. If a quilting line wobbles a little, leave it. You're your own worst critic. From across the room, folks just see that happy color.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Super duper easy, and it makes a really really big difference on a plain wall.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Flock Together Fractal Multi Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
