Scrap Challenge Entry: Lily Bowl and Plate Tutorial

It is that auspicious day!

Today I must submit my entry for the all-Canadian Fabric Spot Scrap Challenge to Rachel over at Stitched in Color. And if you were wondering what mysterious thing I was making the other day, wonder no more! Here it is just under the wire... I'm going to call it "The Scrappy Lily Bowl and Plate"... I think that works as a name, don't you?

Um, so let me think... The rules, if you recall, were: (1) to use some portion of the eight fabric scraps provided in the bundle and one more fabric if we liked, and (2) to have the thing ready by today. So check and check, if you please!

Each of them - both the lily bowl and the lily plate - use all eight fabrics. If you've ever made a Dresden plate block, you'll notice that this is a slightly modified, 3-dimensional version of it. Here's the simple step-by-step just for you!

Tutorial:  Scrappy Lily Bowl and Plate

You will need: 

• several fabric scraps
• batting and/or interfacing (I used what I had around but a lovely medium-weight interfacing might work just as well)
• matching thread
• needle
• templates and paper
• scissors or rotary cutter
• cutting mat
• sewing machine (with regular presser foot)
• straight pins

Note: I'm showing you how to make the plate but the bowl is created in exactly the same way.

Step 1: Download the templates available HERE. Cut them out. Cut 2 paper versions of Template 3 (hexagons). Note: Don't mix and match the plate and bowl templates or you'll wind up with some wonked-out bowls.

Step 2: Cut out the fabric and batting/interfacing as shown in the following photo. For the two fabric hexagons, add roughly 1/4" (6mm) of fabric all around the edge of the template before cutting.

Step 3:

For both sets of six Template 1 fabric pieces, do the following: (1) Take a piece. (2) Fold it in half along the length, right sides together. (3) Machine-sew along the top straight edge. (4) Flip the raw edges in. (5) Press the seam down so that it is aligned with the middle of the piece as shown.

(6) Now with only six of the Template 1 fabric pieces, place a Template 2 batting or interfacing piece snug inside each.

The six batting-filled pieces with make the inside of the plate/bowl, while the other pieces will be the outside.

Step 4: Once you've prepared all six batting-filled pieces, sew them right-sides together along a raw side edge, two at a time.

Step 5: In this project's case, I have back-tacked at the top edge of my stitching line to reinforce that top joint.

Note: Whenever possible, I like to save time and thread by chain-stitching pairs of items together.

Step 6: Continue joining all six batting-filled pieces until you've got a pretty star. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the six non-batting-filled pieces to create a second star. Press the seams flat to avoid too much bulk in your bowl or plate. It helps to finger-press the seams open first before running the iron over them. You'll notice the 3-D-ness of the plate/bowl coming alive now!

Step 7: Stack the two stars wrong-sides together. Align their edges and pin.

Step 8: Hand stitch around the perimeter with a whipstitch.

Step 9: Here I added a few lines of echo-quilting around the perimeter of the plate/bowl. I used my regular presser foot for this.

Step 10:

Prepare the two fabric hexagon centers: one for the inside of the bowl/plate and one for the outside.

HERE's a beautiful demonstration of how-to prepare hexagons by Sunshine's Creations. Follow the first 10 photos in the matrix only for the two hexagons you'll need for your plate and bowl.

Take one of the two fabric hexagons (the one you're using for the outside of the plate or bowl) and after pressing it with your iron, remove the thread and paper from the hexagon. Nestle the batting hexagon inside the fabric hexagon and re-fold the fabric edges over the batting.

Step 11: Place the batting-filled hexagon on the bottom of the plate/bowl and hand-stitch it in place.   Repeat Step 11 for the second hexagon, stitching it to the inside bottom of the plate/bowl. I tried my very best to align the points of the hexagon with the seams in the plate/bowl.

Are we done yet? YES. Yes, indeed we are, we are! We have plate-age and/or bowl-age! Wahoot, baby!

And how pretty and scrappy they are. Perfect for storing some of those slippery craft supplies or - in my husband's case - the contents of the bottomless pits known as his pockets.

Thank you so much to Karen from Fabric Spot for sponsoring this all-Canadian crafty scrappy challenge, and to Rachel from Stitched in Color for hosting it! I had some good times over the last week creating my little entry and I just just cannot wait to see what my comrades, Laura from Waffle Kisses, Carla from My 1/2 Dozen Daily, and Patti from Retired to Quilt have made! Eep, so excited!

Happy happy Canada Day to you!

♥M

Fabric Spot Scrap Challenge at Stitched in Color

Nervous and scared, I am...

Rachel over at Stitched in Color and Karen of Fabric Spot have joined forces on an all-Canadian Fabric Spot Scrap Challenge and I am one of the four Canadians picked to play-along! Are you nervous? Are you scared?... You're neither nervous nor scared, are ya? Well you SHOULD be. Because see here. The challenge involves taking this...

sweet bundle of 8 summer-flavoured fat-eighths, and sewing something... ridiculously glorious.

I have to use some portion of each piece but not necessarily the whole thing, they say. And I can add one fabric of my choice to the bundle if I wish, they stipulate. But I have to have my ridiculously glorious thing completed by Sunday, June 30th, they stress.

My intrepid competitors/compatriots are Laura from Waffle Kisses, Carla from My 1/2 Dozen Daily, and Patti from Retired to Quilt. I wonder what they're gonna make? Hmm... I think some reconnaissance is in order. I'll be spying with my two beady little eyes on them to try and figure it out. The winner will be featured over at Stitched in Color on July 1st. That's Canada Day man. I bet now you're just as nervous and scared as I am, eh?

Thought so.

But I'm also ready to kick some serious Canadian butt and do this country of mine proud. Go me, and go Canada!

♥M