Prepare your backing material so that it's a few inches larger than your quilt top (front). I pre-washed my backing. Often I don't pre-wash my fabric because I like that old fashioned wrinkle look that you get from shrinkage, but this quilt needs to remain as smooth as possible.
I also pre-washed my batting and cut it a few inches larger than the quilt top.
I spray basted my three layers together and used a few safety pins to keep the layers secure.
At this point I decided to add a few embroidered decorative elements. I should have done this before I made the quilt sandwich. I added a multi-colored Mandela in one corner and the Buddist mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" (in Sanskrit) to the upper right corner. These items will have meaning to the quilt recipient.
By now it was obvious to me that some of the decorative stitching I used on the pieces that make up the elephant didn't secure the edges as well as I wanted. I also had to work out how to "quilt" the elephant section. I solved both problems by zigzagging over EVERY line of decorative stitching with invisible thread. I used a yellow bobbin thread to match my backing. You can't see the invisible thread on the front at all. I use YLI Wonder Invisible Thread and love it. You can get it at Amazon.com. It's my go to thread when working with multi colored fabric. I use a thread net over the spool and don't forget to drop your tension way down.
I also pre-washed my batting and cut it a few inches larger than the quilt top.
I spray basted my three layers together and used a few safety pins to keep the layers secure.
At this point I decided to add a few embroidered decorative elements. I should have done this before I made the quilt sandwich. I added a multi-colored Mandela in one corner and the Buddist mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" (in Sanskrit) to the upper right corner. These items will have meaning to the quilt recipient.
By now it was obvious to me that some of the decorative stitching I used on the pieces that make up the elephant didn't secure the edges as well as I wanted. I also had to work out how to "quilt" the elephant section. I solved both problems by zigzagging over EVERY line of decorative stitching with invisible thread. I used a yellow bobbin thread to match my backing. You can't see the invisible thread on the front at all. I use YLI Wonder Invisible Thread and love it. You can get it at Amazon.com. It's my go to thread when working with multi colored fabric. I use a thread net over the spool and don't forget to drop your tension way down.
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| You can't even see the zigzag of invisible thread I choose a simple curved line for the background quilting, which I did with my walking foot.  |
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