A mad determination hit me to stitch a soccer ball and a baseball after Hannah bought one at the quilt show. Could I interest the grandchildren? I found several tutorials on-line: Mitali Ruths' and Lorie Hanson's. First, I made the "baby soccer ball" using hexagons and pentagons...wow! 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons. This former medical student at Baylor College of Medicine is into details. She had a quite a helpful diagram to follow to sew the pieces. Wanting to make more balls, I realized it might be fast to make a 12 hexagon ball from Lorie's blog. I printed up Tim van de Vall's pentagon templates to freezer paper and ironed these to fabric for easy cutting out.For Lorie's 12 hexagon ball, I used a pencil to mark each side 1/4" from all the five sides, stopping 1/4" from each edge! I did not pin or use papers, but was careful in the stitching (wrong sides together. The two sides of the ball came together fast, except I made a big mistake to the children's great amusement. In sewing the two halves of the ball together. I misplaced the points and as I stuffed it with fiberfill, the ball turned out to be a star. I was glad the fabric had stars. Quickly, I made another easy soccer ball.
How to make the baseball! On to print a pattern for the baseball and stitching technique, again finding both on-line. I used fleece and a crochet thread. It helped to mark the holes 1/4" from the sides and use a curved needle. I used Hub Pages for a terrific baseball pattern and then searched for another sewing stitch. Maribel was clever to find one example at an aviation manual site. There are several versions on line. Typically, I did the opposite. I sewed from top down everywhere Maribel goes from bottom up. Hannah caught on immediately and we shared a big laugh when I demonstrated the stitch sewing the two ends of the fabric together...No, she finally convinced me, they have to be placed ends to centers to make a ball.
The journal quilts speak for themselves. The bird quilt was collaged. I chose the striped fabric and spray-glued the birds, leaves and stars to attach, finally, with a machine blanket stitch and invisible thread. The backing is the same stripe, folded over on the edges and hand sewn for a border.
The second one is a fragment of a grandmother's garden quilt I found from my grandmother. I appliqued the hexagons! onto a more modern fabric. The hand-sewn hexagons were so sad and worn looking I added white rik-rak cheer up the piece. I used muslin under the batting and left the sides unfinished with a pinking shear edge. It was a UFO, unfinished object in Big Mom's chest. I am so glad to have this memory.I made another bird in her chosen colors to take to Hannah the evening of her violin recital. I used a hot glue gun to attach the bird to the branch.
Hooray... I just figured how to re-enable my Comment section after losing it.
Your journal quilts are an inspiration! I have a quilt of my grandmother's. You make me think. And, as usual, you make me smile with all the grandchildren fun you revel in! Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog so clearly showing and telling. Rita
ReplyDeleteWhat a good post! Those balls are darling, and the two journal quilts, outstanding. What a good way to use a portion of an old quilt. And the birds are beautiful. What brand invisible thread do you use? When I used mine recently (and it was a brand that was highly recommended: Superior Threads extra fine polyester), I found that my stitching was too obvious, too shiny looking, and I thought it detracted from the quilt!
ReplyDeleteLove the journal quilt - birds and colors - but I am a bird person. Then the grandmother quilt - so sweet. Touches my heart. Told Y you were making baby soccer balls in honor of the World Cup.
ReplyDeleteNM
I loved this the first time I read it and love it still. The little balls are darling and I also loved the two quilts. The bird one is beautiful, and the one that utilized the portion of the grandmother's flower garden quilt is a great way to recycle an old quilt!
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