Upcycled wall hanging

A couple of years ago I made a wall hanging. It was Dutch themed, with the centrepiece being a girl carrying some water in two buckets. This was a free foundation pieced design that I stretched out (hence the reason she has a really fat neck!). I added some embroidery to her apron, as well as adding the chains. All the panels have some kind of embroidery, so I didn't want it to be wasted in the bottom of a box, since I don't do handwork very often....

I was never really happy with it. I mean, I liked it, and put a lot of work into it, but it was just a wall hanging....

It wasn't without its issues, either - I ran out of the original blue fabric that I had started with, so two of the smaller squares are a slightly different shade, and my binding was a little tight, so it didn’t sit flat. Original post here - Dutch wall Hanging

So, after playing with it for a bit, I found a layout that just might give it new life - as a pair of cushions!

Now, this is working for me!

But, how do I make it work, and where do I make my first cuts?? I need to think about this carefully, as I only get one shot....

As it turned out, I had some leftover binding fabric and some of the red fabric still in my stash, so I could make a new border piece and make more binding.

My original plan was to cut off the binding, but if I unpicked it, there would be so much more length to play with, and I am so glad I did!!

So, I did some math, and worked out if I cut close to the big centre piece (minus a seam allowance), all I would need was two new strips of red to fill in the missing space. Here goes nothing!!

I still need a seam between the two smaller squares, so why not stitch some binding fabric in at the same time? Yup, I like it.....                   

Now, to balance it up, lets try adding a vertical strip. Yep, I like this, too!!

So far, so good!

Now, for the other cushion front, I needed a new strip of red to fill out the space. I also added some batting, to make it the same thickness:

Good, but its still missing something... I have enough of the binding to put some on the front, so I am gonna go for it!!

Yup, I'm liking where this is going!!

Now, all I need to do is stitch down the binding on the fronts, and think about the backs....

I found a long strip of blue fabric in my stash, so just needed to buy a couple of zippers and put the pieces together. No pics of this process - I was on too much of a roll to stop!

Once the backing pieces were ready and trimmed to size, the backs and fronts were tacked together and the binding stitched to the front. The binding is hand stitched at the back.

And so, this is the final result! I am very happy with how it turned out :)

Finished size 53cm x 53cm

Dutch wall quilt done!!

I finally finished the binding on the Dutch themed wall hanging.... Yay!!

This will be going into the Canning Show with last years quilt, in the same category! Oh well, I suppose it doubles my chances... 😉

Progress on Dutch block banner...

It's had its binding half attached, but my Bernina decided to start slipping stitches, so it's in for a service :( This means no sewing for a week or so. No matter! Plenty of other things to keep me busy.

I always planned to put on a looped hanging pocket type arrangement, so to give me an idea on how it looks, here is my test. The binding is also pinned in place, waiting to go..

I have put 3x weights at the bottom to help it sit straight when it's hanging up. I just made a couple of pockets and popped a 20c piece inside. Will need to stitch those down after I have finished the binding, in a week or so.

Also, the Canning Show schedule is in and I have already circled a few relevant sections that are ready to go, but some others that need to be started. Better get my skates on! ;)

Dutch blocks...

Many moons ago, I started making Dutch inspired blocks, with the intention of making a quit for my Grandma and Grandad. Unfortunately, my Grandad passed away a few years ago, and I lost interest. While cleaning up, I found them again and decided to make a couple more blocks and turn it into a wall hanging. With the addition of the embroidery, it would be too risky to use as a proper quilt...

Slight problem, though... I couldn't find the rest of the background fabric I had used, so I bought as close a match as I could find and made 2 more blocks - the clog and the tulip. My original clog blocks went on the scrap heap, as the colours were just plain wrong.

Anyhow, after some math (I hate math!!) I worked out how to economise with the limited fabric I had. Seems to have worked ok, so far! Not enough for binding, though, but I think I could use a blue to frame it? Will have to check Spotlight tomorrow...

All squared up...

I spent some quiet time this morning to finish up the embroidery in the clog, but I've kept the tulip pretty simple. It ain't perfect, but it's fine by me!

I also ran around the blades of the windmill to give it some more pop. Just one strand of brown, but if I was to do it again, I would do it all in brown! The white just disappears in the pale blue...

They are all trimmed and squared now, so I can play with layouts and colours. I don't have a design wall, so I usually take photos on the floor in different combos and scroll through them on my iPad. It would be easier with a design wall, but I just don't have the space!!

I think I will trim the smaller blocks in red first, and the centre block in the mottled blue. Maybe? I just need to separate the two blues from each other to disguise the fact that they are not the same. Or try to, anyway.... Wish me luck!!

Progress...

I've searched high and low for some remaining background blue fabric, but cannot put my finger on it, so back to Spotlight I went. Do I get an almost match or complete contrast??

Well, I got both, to cover both bases. Now that I see them together, hopefully I can use the contrast to separate the blocks enough so they look the same.... I hope! I'm investing a load of time into the embellishment, so I am NOT doing them again!! LOL!!

So far I have remade the single clog in red -

I'm using the actual red clog I have to design the embroidery - not sure how I'm going to do the windmill! This will take some planning....

This tulip will need a little tizz up, too. Maybe a ladybird will appear?? :)

I created this one with two separate designs spliced together. Originally designed to be in a pot, but got rid of it in favour of a bigger flower. Worked quite well, I think... (FYI, it's actually pink, but my photo makes it look red...)

I need to pace myself with this embroidery, though. Long stints are giving me terrible headaches :( On the bright side, I am actually quite enjoying it! Who'd have thunk it??