TECHNIQUE FOCUS
Add volume to your quilted designs with this simplified trapunto (or stuffed quilting) style technique. Create the look of a raised or stuffed motif, using extra batting to create specific areas with a stylish embossed effect. Kate Webber shows us how…
Add volume and an embossed effect to your quilted designs with this simplified trapunto (or stuffed quilting) style technique
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
Together with your usual quilting tools, you will need:
Batting There are many types of batting. To get an effective plump trapunto look, go for a high loft batting such as Hobbs Poly-down polyester batting for the trapunto areas. You can then use a regular cotton batting for the rest of the project.
Fabric The fabric on the front of your project could be a normal quilting weight cotton or even a lightweight linen. Lighter colours show off the embossed look best as the shadows created by the motif show better on paler colours. Textured, heavy weight and highly patterned fabrics will not work well as the design will not stand out.
TRY THE TECHNIQUE
It’s easy to learn the basics of trapunto with Kate’s expert step-by-step guide – let her show you how to transfer your new skills and make a modern and minimal cushion
1You can use this simple trapunto technique on any size or shape of fabric. For this project, Kate used an 18in square of fabric, which she then turned into a cushion cover.
2 Trace your design onto the right side of the fabric using your preferred method of fabric marking. Kate used a mechanical pencil but you could also use removable ink or tailor’s chalk.
3 Kate marked a pair of lines 3in apart on the fabric. Then she marked another pair of lines in away from the first, and continued with this pattern right across the fabric. Kate marked between these sets of lines using the oval template on p82 (Fig A).
4 Place your marked fabric on top of a square of high loft batting, slightly larger than the fabric. Tack or pin baste in place (Fig B). Do not use a glue or spray baste, as some parts of this batting will be removed later.
5 Stitch along the marked lines, making sure to close shapes completely by overlapping the stitch line for each shape (Fig C).
Using a walking foot will keep your layers together as you sew. Draw all thread ends to the batting side, and securely knot. Remove your basting thread or pins.
6 Cut away the excess batting from outside the stitched shapes (Fig D). Take care that you don’t cut into the fabric on the front. Trim as close to your stitch lines as possible, without cutting into the stitching (Fig E).
7 Lay your work on top of your usual batting. Baste with your preferred method (spray baste can be used at this stage). Carefully stitch around your shapes, close to the original stitch line in a thread that matches the front fabric or original stitches. At this stage the shaped sections will look quite puffy (Fig F).
8 Continue to quilt as desired around your motif, leaving the shapes with extra batting unquilted. The more you quilt between the trapunto sections, the more contrast there will be with the raised areas. Kate used organic straight line quilting (Fig G).
NAKE A CUSHION
9 Trim your panel to your desired size. Kate trimmed hers to 17in square. Add a matching or contrasting backing, in your preferred cushion style, using a in seam allowance.
10 Add tassels to the corners of your cushion if desired. Kate used a DK cotton yarn wrapped 80 times around a3 in width piece of card. Find out how to make a tassel here: gathered. how/arts-crafts/diy-tassel-earrings/
Follow Kate’s perfect pouch tutorial to give texture and depth to one of your favourite prints. Here she’s used two prints from the Crescent collection by Sarah Watts for Ruby Star Society.
YOU WILL NEED:
■ PRINT FABRICS: TWO (2) 10IN X 7 1/2 IN (FIG A)
■ LINING FABRIC: TWO (2) 9IN X 61/2 IN
■ HIGH LOFT BATTING: TWO (2) 10IN X 7 1/2 IN
■ COTTON BATTING: TWO (2) 10IN X 71/2 IN
■ ONE (1) 8IN ZIP
CUTTING OUT
1 Lay the outer fabric on top of the high loft batting and tack or pin baste. Choose which parts of the design you would want to raise and carefully stitch around them (see step 5 on p64). Kate stitched around the large moons of one panel and the flower shapes on the other.
2 Continue preparing your panels as described in steps 6– 8 of the technique instructions (Figs B– C). Trim each outer panel to 9in x 6 in.
3 Place one outer panel right side up. Place the zip right side down, centring along the top edge. Layer one lining piece right side down on top. Sew into position using a zipper foot. Press away from the zip.
4 Repeat the process in step 3 to sew the remaining outer panel and lining piece to the other side of the zip. Topstitch neatly along each side of the zip (Fig D).
5 Open the zip at least halfway. Refold the panels so the two outer panels are RST, and the two lining panels are RST. Pin or clip around the outer edge. Sew all the way around the outer edge, leaving a turning gap in the bottom of the lining, backstitching at each end.
6 Turn the pouch right side out through the gap in the lining. Hand stitch the gap closed and push down inside the pouch to finish.