Hoop Quilts Pattern now available. (PDF Download or the Printed Pattern)
You're almost there... It's Week #5 of the Hoop Quilt Along. Our last post of the QAL before the finish. I'm always a little sad when these things end. But you're SO CLOSE to a finished Hoop! I'll show my finish next week, so be sure to tune back in then.
There are TONS of details in this post. So please, READ THIS FIRST. Then once you're working on your hoop, come back and read again. Watch the videos I've put together for you. I swear all of it will help answer your questions! It's been great fun working along with all of you. I absolutely cannot wait to see your hoops as you finish them up. Enjoy the process!
To join the HoopQAL, go here (to get the Free Coloring Sheet) and get the Pattern here. (PDF Download or the Printed Pattern)
(It's never too late to join in btw.)
HOOP QUILT ALONG RECAP
Week 5. WRAP HOOP AND FINISH
CONTINUOUS BIAS BINDING - READ THIS!!!
First things first - BE SURE TO USE BIAS BINDING - NOT STRAIGHT GRAIN BINDING! If it sounds like I'm emphasizing this to you - then good! - I got my point across.Please don't make life difficult for yourself and cut your binding on the straight grain. Since we are wrapping a ROUND hoop, we will need to utilize all the stretch and flex provided by the bias in the binding. Now, if you accidentally have straight-grain binding, I have confirmation that it is possible to wrap it around your hoop, but it will be a major pain. You'll be frustrated that it doesn't wrap nicely and will most likely be unhappy with me. :(
Don't know how to make BIAS BINDING? Watch/Read this great tutorial from McCall's. The tutorial has both a written and video portion to help you get this useful trick. Well, it's not really a trick, but I absolutely love this shortcut. You can also make individual bias strips and sew them together one at a time if you want a scrappy bias binding.
NOTION ALERT: Bias Tape Maker
Do you have a bias tape maker? You can use this machine to make bias binding as well. There are also individual tips you can buy to use with your iron without the machine. Here's a clip of me using the bias tape maker to press my bias binding.
WRAP OUTER HOOP AND ASSEMBLE QUILT TOP INTO HOOP FRAME
EMBELLISH / EMBROIDER / HAND QUILT / BIG STITCH
I looooove to add big stitching and embroidery in lieu of quilting on my hoops. You may have already quilted your quilt top. If you have, you may decide that it's done when you put the quilt in the hoop.... Or..... you may decide to add a little spice. You decide how much and what embellishments will complete your hoop. Get creative!
- embroidery
- trim
- buttons
- applique
- lace/ribbons... dream catcher
- beadwork
- big stitching
- thread painting
- rosettes
- hexies
- yo-yos
- art quilt techniques?
I'm adding some embroidery to my hoop. I'm using the "We Can Do Hard Things" Embroidery Pattern by Namaste Embroidery. It's so much fun! Of course, I never make things easy for myself. This grunge fabric is SO dark, I couldn't get any of my transfer pens to work on it. So I've had to improvise the embroidery. A wee bit stressful! I'll show you the full finish next week.
TRIM EXCESS BACK FABRIC
The first hoop quilts I made, I trimmed all the excess fabric from the back about a 1/4" away from the wrapped hoop. This works absolutely fine if you intend to display your hoop as a wall hanging.A number of my hoops were displayed at Quilt Market in St. Louis this past spring. I drove all the samples out to the show, and they have been slowly shipping back to me over the summer. I have found that the fabric inside the hoop tends to get pulled out of the desired tension (making it wobbly in the middle) when the items are shipped.
This time I decided to try finishing the hoop using this method from Pretty Fabrics & Trims.
This worked really well! Since our hoops are so big, I needed to add two drawstring stitching lines to pull the fabric together on the back of the hoop. Possibly 3 lines of stitching may be needed for even bigger hoops (mine is 14"). I did not back it with felt as the tutorial shows. Again, our hoops are so big, I felt it was better without.
Pop back in here next week to see the full reveal!
Let me know if you have any questions or if I left any details out. Remember to share! #hoopquilt #hoopquiltalong
