Penny rug tutorial with perfect circles...

 I have received a lot of requests to share my technique for making perfectly round applique circles, the kind used in the two Penny Rugs I recently made from the newest Tilda fabric line, Hibernation, and from my Tilda scrap box of older fabrics. 

Needle-turn applique was something I rarely did in years past, but over these last twelve months I've indulged quite a bit in it, honing my skills by trying different techniques until I found one that works for me (and it could be very different to what works for you). But anyhow, the perfect circles on my penny rugs have certainly created interest so I decided to do a detailed tutorial which (hopefully) is easy to follow, and I'm including a second tutorial for making the little buntings which sit along each end of my penny rug table toppers. 

First of all, we'll make the circle. I begin with some thin cardboard, and a circle template. The cardboard needs to be thin and I'll show you why later, but it must be thicker than your everyday 80gsm printer paper. If you have some heavier weight 250gsm printer paper that will work well, as does a cardboard cereal box. 

Choose what size you want your circles to be. In my two penny rugs I made circles in two sizes - 3" and 3.25" as I liked the shuffling around of the slightly different sizes on the completed table topper. The circles don't need to be a precise size for the penny rug, as long as they sit nicely inside a 4" square. 

To make a Penny Rug like mine you will need-

* sixteen, 4.5" squares of assorted fabric

* eight, 5" squares of solid cream fabric (I used linen) for the bunting tongues

* eight, 5" squares of backing fabric for the bunting tongues

* twenty-four, 4" squares of assorted quilting fabrics in your preferred design

* one, 16.5" square of fusible light-weight Pellon, quilt wadding, or Parlan

* Perle 12 thread in cream

* eight, 4.5" squares of thin fusible fabric stabiliser (I use Staflex 3045)

* Aluminium foil

* thin cardboard

I have a lot of pre-prepared circles in my templates box because I use them quite often these days. 

Trace around a glass tumbler, a jar, a bangle, or use a pre-made plastic circle or compass on to your cardboard, just making sure the circle is no larger than 3.25" if you're going to make the Penny Rug table topper. I don't have a 4" circle in my collection yet, so I decided to make a couple today as I show you how I make my templates. 

Once you have cut our your circle, write in the centre what size it is. Lay it onto a piece of aluminium foil and cut a circle of foil about a half inch bigger than your cardboard template. Fold the foil around the circle. The foil assists in giving a very crisp edge when you press the completed circle.

These are so easy to make that I tend to have around six or eight of each size on hand for projects. I suggest for the Penny Rug table topper you make eight 3.25" diameter, and eight 3" diameter (or all sixteen in one size). Use a template to trace a circle onto the centre of a 4" square of fabric. 

I love the little field mouse print, and it's perfect for this type of project! I have loads of 2.5" circle templates so that's what I'll use for today's photos...

Sew a line of running stitch just inside the outer edge of the fabric circle. Place the template inside and pull the threads to gather the fabric around the template. Tie a double knot in the threads, and press the fabric circle with a hot iron on the dry setting. 

Once cool, peel the gather over one edge of the circle and remove the template. (this is why the cardboard needs to be thin)

Press the circle again. Perfect. You will need to make twenty-four of the circles for the topper and the bunting tongues. 

If you're making the Penny Rug table topper you will need to make the background next. Sew the sixteen 4.5" squares of fabric together in four rows of four. Fuse the Pellon/wadding/Parlan behind the background, and then stitch one of your completed circles into the centre of each square. Your topper will now measure 16.5" square.

Now we need to make the bunting ends. 

For this part of the tutorial I'm using completely different fabrics from Tilda because I really want to make a third Penny Rug when I have a spare few days, and this was my way of auditioning the fabrics I intend using. They looked perfect so when I have a chance this will become part of my next topper. 

Using the steps above, you will have already made the extra eight circles we need for the bunting tongues. I chose to make this version in subdued creams, blues and pink (there's a wee bit of old Tilda which came to the party after all!). 

I'll write the following steps for one bunting tongue, but you will need to make eight in total.

Fuse a 4.5" square of thin fabric stabiliser behind the 5" squares of cream fabric. I use Staflex 3045 white woven fusible stabilser.

Using the template from the DOWNLOAD SHEET I have for you, trace the bunting tongue shape onto the centre of a 5" square. 

Position one of your circles 3/4" above the traced line at the bottom of the bunting tongue and pin in place. 

Blind stitch (needle-turn applique stitch) the circle to the background fabric. 

Cut out the shape along the traced line. Lay the bunting tongue face down on another 5" square of cream fabric and pin in place. Sew 1/4" inside the edge to secure the tongue and backing fabric together. 

Turn the tongue right side out, carefully pressing the edges flat. Sew along the top edge with a scant 1/8" seam. Use the Perle 12 thread to sew a line of running stitch just inside the outer edge.

Sew four of the tongues together along their top side edges to make one row of four. Sew them together from the top edge down, about 1" using a blind or slip stitch. You can see in the photo below photo that I have done this with my Hibernation topper. I'm showing the back of the toppers as it's easier for you to see. I didn't do this with the second pastel topper, but wished I had as it really does make the following steps easier. 

I don't have photos of how I completed the toppers, but here's the steps...

Sew a row of four bunting tongues together as described above, and then sew them to one end of the 16-square topper with slightly less than a 1/4" seam, keeping the right side of the tongues and the right side of the topper facing each other. Leave the tongues folded in on the topper, don't press them away. 

NOTE: The row of tongues will measure 16" long, whilst your table topper end will measure 16.5". This allows for the 1/4" seam either side of the bunting when you sew the topper and backing fabric together. 

Repeat with another row of four bunting tongues at the opposite end of the topper. 

Lay the right side of the topper, with tongues still folded in towards the topper, face down onto the right side of your backing fabric. The backing fabric is a little larger, but that's okay as we will trim later. 

Pin the topper front to the backing fabric. Sew around all four sides with a 1/4" seam, leaving a 5" opening along one side for turning out later. Be very careful not to catch the side of a bunting tongue as you do this. 

Trim away the excess backing fabric.

Turn the topper right side out, carefully pulling the tongues to help straighten those ends. Push out all four sides with a large rounded tool (I use a very large wooden knitting needle) and press the topper flat. Slip stitch the side opening closed and press it. 

Once you make this topper, you'll discover just how much quicker it is to make a second, and a third...in fact, this pattern is a good one for using up fabric scraps and for gift giving. 

The circles, once you get the hang of them, are also wonderful for making other things, like one of my new mini-quilts from The Stitchery Club...

I loved the variety of circles on circles for the flowers, and then smaller circles for the surrounding berries. 

If you missed the download link for the bunting tongue template it's HERE. 

I'd love to see your own version of this pattern if you make it! You can email me a photo HERE or tag me on Instagram HERE. 

Now, I shall sign off for today as after this mammoth tutorial I am in dire need of a nice hot cuppa and perhaps some raspberry scones with lemon curd (photos of those next time!),

God bless you heaps, and may your creative fingers dance a merry jig as you stitch and sew in the days ahead. 

hugs

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Molly, Tilda and a kitchen makeover...

 Time is passing swiftly this September, but probably because there's been a lot going on at home, with family, designing, sewing, the garden - and a new companion for me.

MOLLY

In January Blossom and Ross became owners of two 6-week old pug puppies, Molly and Barnaby. In their huge house there was plenty of room for two dogs, three children, and two offices for both Ross and Blossom to work from home. We all adored those two mischievous pugs, but Molly especially took a great liking to me, almost beside herself with excitement each time I visited. 

Then their rental home of five years was to be put up for sale and the owner would not renew their lease, so, as you know, the prayers went up for a new home to be found quickly as rentals are very scarce in our town. Praise God, who at the eleventh hour provided a new dwelling for them last month, not far from where they already lived. The house was half the size of the one they currently rented, but it is lovely and cosy, in a good area, and the family love it. But...it was far too small for two indoor dogs. Living in the hot and humid tropics is not the best climate for pugs, so keeping them outside is not an option. 

We had rehomed Harry the dachshund back in March to a young woman training to be a vet (he hated being indoors, terrorised our old Sophie cat to the point her health went downhill, tore up more garden than you'd believe, created a lot of stress day and night with his endless barking, and quite simply was not the right puppy/dog for us at this stage of life) but the prayers were still going heavenward for a 'real' companion dog that would be my buddy each day while hubby was working.

And so, Molly came to live with us. This made everyone happy as she can see her brother Barnaby often, plus be loved on always by Blossom, Ross and the children when we visit them or when they visit here. 

She's exactly what I needed, and truly, she adores me. Her and I were already buddies, but now it's so much more. She's a curious little thing and follows me everywhere, rarely is she away from my side...in fact, the first day here she wanted to know exactly what I was doing in the sewing room so I popped her on the pink chair and she was completely mezmerised! Though eventually she curled up on the chair and fell asleep. 

Her first outing to Bunnings with hubby and I in his Ford Ranger was very exciting, and once again, she was mezmerised by all the activity, sights and sounds around her. Bunnings is a huge hardware store in Australia (for those overseas who haven't heard of it) and you're allowed to take your dogs in there.

I'm sure you'll see plenty of Miss Molly on the blog in future. 

Next thing which has taken up a lot of my time is a double project I designed from a bundle of fabrics soon to be released in shops this coming October. You may remember that I have often been gifted fabric from manufacturers or distributors over the years, but I did decline all the offers last year. However...

TILDA HIBERNATION

All those sleeping little creatures, and the warm autumnal tones, caught my eye so when I was offered a bundle of the new Tilda Hibernation fabrics to play with my answer was an easy 'yes'. 

For three weeks I've been sketching, erasing, sketching again, erasing again, and finally set my mind on an idea that stemmed from the The Two Towers by JRR Tolkein (second book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy). There's a scene in Fangorn Forest where the ancient Ent, Treebeard, in the cool autumnal air of early evening, settles two of the little hobbits down at the base of a huge tree and says very softly, "Sleep little Shirelings..." (for Hobbits were known as people of the Shire). Here's what I eventually made. 

A table topper which featured circles of little hibernating mice, birds and squirrels...

...and an embroidered hoop inspired by the words of Treebeard. I wrapped the outside of the hoop in more of the Hibernation fabric.

What do you think?

I'll have the patterns ready on October 1st when the Tilda Hibernation fabrics are in quilt shops. 

Funny thing about the leaves I used in the photos. In the tropics we don't have pretty autumn leaves, as everything is green...but in spring, yes, in spring, we have trees whose leaves turn vivid orange, red and brown! We have one such tree in our front yard, but to give you a better view of these trees in all their splendour my husband took a photo near a picnic spot we stopped at during a recent day trip away. 

KITCHEN MAKEOVER

If you've been here long enough you would know that when we bought this house, our very first, five years ago, in the midst of my joy was the disappointment of having a brown laminate kitchen. Brown is my most detested colour for home decore, and especially in a kitchen. 

This is the kitchen when we first bought the house...

On the right hand side I have already given it a makeover with pretty green floral curtains, hanging plants, potted plants, pictures...it looks lovely now, yet for some reason I can't find a photo so I'll just reshare one I took recently in that area when Rafaella and Charlie spent the day with me.

Now have a look at my makeover of the opposite side. First thing you'll notice is that I've removed two cupboard doors - and for the life of me I do not know why I haven't thought of this before! It has completely opened up the area and brought light and beauty to my eye. 

I have a few more ideas, but for now, this makes me so happy every time I walk through the kitchen! And the whole makeover cost me nothing more than $7 for the tin of fake flowers, and the next day I spent another $3 for a new coffee mug decorated with a garden scene (which is not pictured). 

There's going to be a few more budget makeovers in our home over time, but I shall not do any of them until inspiration strikes and I know exactly what will work. This small makeover took me five years to achieve, but once the idea was there, it took only a day to bring it all together. I wonder if you are inspired to create a budget makeover in your own home? If so, what room would it be? I'd love to hear your ideas!

Okay, that's enough for today. Next time I shall let you know about the new Stitchery Club, but it's not at all like it once was. I've decided to do a lot more things simpler, easier, less fuss...and to enjoy them more. 

I shall leave you with a sneak peek at one of the new designs I am working on right now...it's a house blessing. After all the autumnal colours of the Tilda designs, I decided to bring some spring colours to life in the home with a blessing to hang on our living room wall. 

God bless you my friends! May His favour be felt all around you, His presence fill each room, and His voice heard clearly as He directs you in the paths you should follow.

hugs

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