Hey everyone. Today we're making a simple wall hanging that lets one bold batik do all the talking, so you can hang a finished piece this weekend.
Here we go. The star is the Essence Circle in Circle-Multi Blue Purple Batik from Lumin Fabrics. It is 100% cotton batik. It runs 44"/45" wide. It comes per yard, in the Essence collection.
The pattern is right there in the name, y'all. Circle in Circle. Rings inside rings. The colors are blue and purple in a multi mix. No two spots look exactly the same. That is the beauty of a batik.
For a wall hanging, that matters. A small piece has nowhere to hide. You need a print that holds a wall from across the room. This one does. The circles give you movement. The blue and purple give you depth. You do not need ten fabrics fighting each other.
The project: a circle-forward wall hanging
We are keeping the cutting simple. Big pieces. Let the circles stay whole where you can. I am picturing a finished piece about 28" by 36". That is a nice size over a sewing table. It works in a hallway too.
Why this fabric suits it? Batik cotton is tightly woven. It presses crisp. It hangs flat. And that circle print becomes the quilting design too. You can stitch in the ditch around a few rings. You can echo the circles with freehand quilting. Completely up to you.
Materials list
- 1 yard of Essence Circle in Circle-Multi Blue Purple Batik for the front panel and binding
- 1 yard of a coordinating solid or backing fabric, 44"/45" wide
- Batting, about 32" by 40", so you have a little extra all around
- Thread to match or blend with blue and purple
- An 80/12 needle for piecing and quilting
- Rotary cutter, ruler, pins or clips, and a hanging sleeve fabric strip if you want one
Brief steps
First, press your fabric. Batik presses really, really nice. Take your time here.
Second, cut your front panel 28 1/2" by 36 1/2". That includes your 1/4" seam allowance if you add a border later. Want it plain and modern? Skip the border. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Third, layer it up. Backing face down. Batting in the middle. Panel face up. Baste it well. I pin about every 4 inches. You can spray baste instead. Completely up to you.
Fourth, quilt it. Start in the center and travel outward. Echo two or three of the big circles. Add a meander in the spaces between. Keep your stitches even, around 8 to 10 per inch if you are hand guiding. Slow down on the curves. That is the moment of risk. Rush a tight curve and your quilting line wobbles. It will still be fine, folks. Just slower is smoother.
Fifth, square it up and bind it. Cut binding strips 2 1/2" wide. You will need about 130" of binding for this size. Join the strips, press in half, and sew with a 1/4" seam. Add a hanging sleeve on the back before you finish the top edge of binding.
My honest tips
I have cut into a print like this too fast. I sliced right through the best circle. Oh my goodness, I was mad at myself. Here is the fix. Lay the fabric out first. Mark your cut lines with chalk. Live with them for five minutes. Then cut. Just like that, your favorite circles land where you wanted them.
Prewash or not? Batiks are dyed, so I rinse a test swatch if deep colors worry you. If the water runs clear, you are good. If not, a soak saves your project later.
And here is your permission beat. Your echo quilting does not have to hug every circle perfectly. Nobody hangs a piece and measures your lines. You are your own worst critic here. Step back six feet. That is how everyone else will see it. Super duper pretty from there, I promise.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Pick your favorite circles. Let them shine. Hang it up and enjoy it.
Thanks for sewing along with me today, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Essence Circle in Circle-Multi Blue Purple Batik 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
