Quilters are a generous lot. And we need to keep busy, especially when the rest of the world is in chaos.
Our creativity is our retreat and our comfort. Sewing is our therapy.
We want to help. We want to fix what is broken.
To that end I have a special gift for you! And some suggestions.
To keep this post focused on making, I've created a separate post about the best possible information I have gathered over these past two weeks - things you can do RIGHT NOW to help the people of Ukraine. As well as a few things you might want to consider not doing.
Now, on to this little Sunflower pin called Slava Ukraini
Slava Ukraini
Ever since Ukraine was invaded two weeks ago, I have wanted to show my support, not just in my words and actions, but with something I could make, wear, and give away easily.
The idea to make a quilty/stitchy fabric pin arrived early Sunday morning. I popped out of bed and little else has occupied the few empty spaces left in my brain ever since.
CLICK HERE to download the pattern - it's my gift to you. It's called Slava Ukraini - Glory to Ukraine. The pattern covers the basics, and provides the shapes. This tutorial walks you through each and every step with some additional detail and commentary. Feel free to share!
This tutorial features machine applique. Other techniques will also work, use your preference!
First, we'll need a few supplies:
- Fabric. Two 4" square scraps of azure blue, one 2" scrap square each of yellow and brown.
- Paper-backed, Fusible Web. A 5" square should be more than enough
- Stiff interfacing. I like Stiff Stuff by Lazy Girl Designs, also a 5" square is good.
- One pin back
- Perle Cotton, about one yard, size 8 or 12 in azure blue
- The heart-shaped template from the pattern, printed on card stock, trimmed.
Trace one each of the petal and flower center shapes and two heart shapes onto the paper side of the fusible web. Rough cut around the petal and flower center shapes, cut the heart shapes on the lines. Save the leftover bits, they'll come in handy for an upcoming step.
Fuse the petal shape onto the wrong side of the yellow scrap fabric and the flower center shape onto the wrong side of the brown fabric.
Cut the shapes on the lines.
Fuse the flower petal shape onto the 4" square blue background fabric, roughly in the center.
Choose the button hole stitch on your machine set at 1.8 stitch width and 1.5 stitch length (or in that neighborhood). Zig zag or satin stitch would work, too!
Secure the petal applique edges.
I like to start the stitching a couple stitches into the center of the petal shape. The flower center will cover the extra stitches.
Place the flower center on the petals, centered. Fuse.
With top thread on top, and bobbin thread on the bobbin, begin stitching around the flower center edge, leaving a thread tails 2-3" long. When the stitching is half way around the circle, stop with the needle in needle-down position. Rotate the fabric, and with a seam ripper, carefully pull the bobbin thread to the top of the piece (below left). You should then have two thread ends on top (below right). Square knot the two threads close to the shape.
Continue securing the fabric edge the rest of the way around the circle, and cut the thread leaving a 2-3" thread end. You should have three thread ends on top (below left), and one thread end on the wrong side of the piece (below right). Do not anchor or cut threads when you stop.
From the back, gently tug on the one thread until you see a loop. Carefully pull the loop to bring one of the three threads from the front to the back, tie with a square knot and bury the two thread ends in the stitching (below left). Turn the piece over, using a self-threading needle, thread the two remaining thread ends on the top of the piece (which should already be knotted), and insert the needle close to the square knot and pull the thread ends to the back and secure (below right). Snip all thread ends close to the back of the fabric.
Applique complete!
Use the card stock heart template to trace, then cut two heart shapes from the stiff interfacing. Fuse the heart-shaped fusible web to the stiff interfacing. Set aside for a moment.
I like to remove a bit of the center of the fusible web, but that's not necessary.
If you can't see through the blue fabric for tracking hold the background fabric up to the light with the right side of the fabric facing you and the card stock heart shape on the wrong side. Using the shadow, position the template so the sunflower is centered below the point.
Carefully return the fabric and template to your work surface, with the fabric right side down, Trace the centered heart shape onto the wrong side of the blue fabric (red arrow).
Trim the blue background fabric about 3/8" away from the drawn heart, and cut away a bit of bulk at the bottom point, but don't trim all the way to the point. Cut a slit at the top exactly to the drawn top inner point.
Place the stiff interfacing heart shape on the traced background shape with the fusible web facing up. Remove the paper backing.
Use a hot iron or hot mini iron for these next couple steps.
Starting at the bottom point of the heart, work toward the top of the heart shape. Pull the trimmed fabric edge snuggly against the stiff interfacing edge. Fuse as you go. Flatten the puckers as best you can. They won't be visible in the final pin.
Similarly, work from the bottom up to secure the fabric edge on the opposite side of the heart. Use a tiny bit of leftover interfacing, set aside earlier, at the bottom point to secure the folded point.
Repeat the process for the plain blue square to make the backing.
You should now have a front and a back. The wrong sides will look quite messy. That's okay.
Secure the pin back to the right side of the backing shape.
I like to do this before the two shapes are sandwiched together. But you can also secure the pin back after the two shapes are connected. Your choice! I also prefer the pin opening at the bottom.
Align front and back, wrong sides together. Use clips to hold everything in place.
Using perle cotton, buttonhole stitch round the edge to secure front to back. I hand stitch this part because the pin back would get in the way of the sewing machine. You can machine zig zag stitch to secure the edges, but that means adding the pin back after sewing the two sides together. If you choose to machine stitch the shapes together, I strongly suggest you test this with your machine and your interfacing before sewing this much thickness with your machine.
For the hand stitched buttonhole stitch I 'suit up' with thimble on the middle finger and silicone finger cot (to help grip the needle) on the index finger on my right (dominant) hand.
Done!
The view fro the back!
. . . And from the front. . .
I confess, I switched samples on you somewhere in the middle of this tutorial. This last photo is hand appliqued using the back basting applique method. The pieces are tiny, and I like the imperfect petals. If you prefer hand applique, I'd recommend sewing four alternate petals in two groupings.
I bet this would be adorable with wool on wool or wool on cotton. Some of the middle steps with the stiff interfacing may change. Just have fun with it.
I'd love to see your pins! Send me your photos!
Feel free to make them and give them away. It's also okay to sell them as a fundraiser for Ukraine, but not for profit.
Slava Ukraini!
Happy Stitching!
Head Hummingbird
Hummingbird-Highway.com
Joan,
Thank you for this post! It is a great idea. I have sent money but this is something that I can do as well. Thank you for calling me last Saturday to let me know my email was hacked. Everything is back to rights and my accounts are protected even more than before. I do love your blog!
Joan – Thank you for your generous spirit!
This is a beautiful way to show our support and respect for our Ukrainian friends. Thank for the idea!
I plan on making several and give to friends.