Taunton's Threads - For people who love to sew
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From the pages of Threads Magazine Log Cabin Piecing, Freestyle Frame a fabric square with coordinating strips to make a quilt and a handbag or to decorate a scarf
 You'll learn how to make a one-block quilt, decorate the ends of a scarf and make a delicate quilted handbag. Project #1: Make a one-block quilt Using any size central square and any number and width of bands, assemble a freestyle block (dimensions shown are similar to my quilt at right), layer it over batting and a backing and join the layers with knots or quilting, then bind the edges to finish. My tied quilt used several prewashed vintage chintz prints from the 1950s, a cotton-linen blend lining, cotton batting for a soft vintage feel, and, as a finishing touch, four unmatched vintage buttons sewn at the corners. To convert a small quilt into a child's hooded wrap, back it with a cozy fabric, and add a triangular hood in the same material to one corner of the quilt. 1. Make your block  2. Add batting and backing  3. Knot the layers Determine desired spacing for knots (every 6 in. in my quilt) and mark these points with pins. Using four strands of white cotton thread in self-threading needle, make large knots at each point by looping thread several times until knot is 1/8 in. across.  4. Add binding  5. Add optional hood Add this fun, cozy detail before binding.  Project #2: Decorate the ends of a scarf  This simple, slimming rectangular scarf (60 in. by 6 in.) looks great over both casual and business outfits (ReVisions pattern No. 108, 305 W.Beach St., Watsonville,CA 95076; 831-768-8652; www.revisions-ericson.com). For the center squares of the blocks at each end of my scarf at right, I used two small pieces of shibori-dyed fabric, and, for the bands, a vintage kimono fragment. I recommend using the same fabric, perhaps a textured silk or rayon, for the scarf body, lining, and an inner band of the blocks to pull the design together visually. You'll also need a soft fusible interfacing to back the blocks.1. Cut the parts  2. Add the blocks  3. Join front and back, then turn  Project #3: Make a delicate quilted handbag  This soft bag of sand-washed silk and sueded rayon features running stitches in white thread, reminiscent of Japanese sashiko stitching or the stitches on vintage Korean pojabi utility cloths. For the purse, make a 12-in. block in four to five colors of one type of fabric (charmeuse, Tencel, or linen could all work well) and fuse on WS to stabilize. Use a 12-in. square of cotton batting or polyester fleece to add loft, and a 12-in. square of drapey charmeuse or satin for the lining. You'll also need white cotton thread for the decorative stitches, a large button for the closure (I used a black, vintage 1-3/4-in. button), and a 6 in. length of cording for the button loop. I used a 55-in. by 2-in. tube of fabric for the handle (adjust to your height before you stitch) and two D-rings to attach the handle to the bag. Note that you can fold a rectangular purse from a square block.1. Join layers with buttonhole loop  2. Stitch, clip corners, and turn  3. Hand-stitch, fold, and secure bag  4. Add D-rings and strap 
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