Backtracking -

Sometimes when I tell a story -

Or try to explain something -

I tend to think faster than I talk -

And trying to explain something without pictures -

Is like trying to talk without using my hands - LOL -

So before I try to explain my "wonton wrapper" theory -

Let me backtrack a little to yesterday -

I wasn't going to bore you with my "process" photos -

But I changed my mind - LOL - ;))

I started with this and - since it's HUGE - decided to test a Cathedral Window background square type of thing on something a lot smaller -

I started with a plain muslin square -

Pressed it in half - and stitched both ends with a 1/4" seam -

Made a little "pouch" -

And then matched the side seams in the middle - and sewed a partial seam starting at one corner -

Through the center -

To within an inch or so of the other end -

Opened it out - and had the corner "open" so I could turn it inside out -

Did that - and then had a wonky corner that I didn't like -

So - I un-stitched a bit and re-sewed the end of the seam - making the opening closer to the center seam and about an inch away from the corner -

That worked better - the opening is away from the corner -

And the corner is much neater -

Pressed it on the seam side -

And the plain side - looking good -

But then I needed to figure out how to get some batting in there - ;))

So - I tried it again -

Cut another square and centered some fusible batting "on-point" -

Pressed/fused it in place using my teflon applique sheet -

And pinned it in place just to make sure it didn't shift -

Folded it in half - right sides together -

And stitched the ends like I did the muslin one -

Got the same little "pouch" with batting on the outside -

Matched the side seams in the middle - and sewed a partial seam starting at one corner - like I did before -

Leaving an opening in the center of one seam -

Removed all of the pins holding the batting in place -

Turned it inside out -

And pressed it from both sides -

And it worked - same as the other one but with batting inside -

On a small scale -

But on a larger scale -

I wouldn't be able to pin the batting in place -

I would need to baste it pretty well - because even though it IS fusible - it would undoubtedly shift while I was turning it inside out if it wasn't "secured" somehow -

SOOOOOOOOOO -

Today I tested my "wonton wrapper" theory - ;))

I unfolded the monster on my kitchen island - wrong side up -

Then folded one corner in toward the middle -

And pinned it along the edge that would be the "new" side -

Did the same to the next corner -

And then - turned the "new" corner inside out and fiddled a bit to hand-baste about 8" of the corner seam where I thought it should be -

Then turned it right side out again to show you the "seam" side -

Then I flipped the "new" corner up to show you the other side -

The yellow flower-head pin is in the top "new" corner square -

It's funny - because the original layout is "on-point" - this is working out much better than I thought it would - the "new" sides fall along the seam lines of the patches - which is very convenient - LOL - ;))

So now I have two ways I could do it -

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#1 - Cathedral Window Method - I could add the batting - and baste it really well - then actually "sew" the side seams - leaving an opening for turning it inside out - like the Cathedral Window method above -

Which is why I decided to show you how I did that - LOL - ;))

It could get too big to handle - but I could also have nicer/neater seams - I could trim them after I sew them - and then turn it all inside out - press/flatten it out - and hide the "seam opening" with quilting - ;))

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#2 - Wonton Wrapper Method - I could add the batting - and baste it just because - fold the corners in toward the middle - sew partial seams in the "new" corners to neaten them up - and then "fold in" the rest of the side seams and topstitch them down - trimming and matching as I go. Then it could be done in stages and wouldn't have to be turned inside out -

The topstitching could look like additional quilting if I did it right - LOL - ;))

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So - there you have my two days of "testing" -

The "I think this might work" part -

My "process" -

And the "results" - ;))

What do you think? -

Which way would you do it? - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -