Pattern Pattern
with straight pins to be sew along the side of the zip next
removed as you quilt. to the teeth. At the end of the zip,
Denim Days
Quilt a free motion me- reverse the stitching enough to
andering pattern in a allow the next zip to lie along the
dark blue rayon thread next border.
that shows off denim.
Feel free to change
the thread colour and
express your own pref-
l
a S t i S S u e , mO n i c a O’Br i e n
erences.
S h a r e d h e r t h O u G h t S a n d
i n S p i r a t i O n S f O r h e r a r t w O r k a n d
EMBELISHING
Continue the design
t h i S i S S u e , S h e S h a r e S a p a t t e r n f O r
with embellishment by
c r e a t i n G a q u i l t a r t O f y O u r O w n .
adding the beads and
each petal marking three times.
the vine that travels
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MONICA O’BRIEN
Consider using a complimentary
through the quilt. The vine is a multi-
thread or a contrasting one.
coloured space dyed ribbon and
Continue until you have stitched on
is attached with a zig zag stitch.
Denim Days
Materials
the four zips. Add another line of
4. Remove the denim that cov-
The tendrils are hand stitched with
stitching on the inside of the zips
old denim in various shades
ers the petals by pinching the
embroidery floss.
closest to the quilt centre. The zips
Designed and Made by Monica O’Brien
(avoid stretch denim jeans)
cotton fabric and the denim to
should now lie flat against the quilt.
Finished Size: 17.5” x 18” (45cm x 46cm)
bright coloured cotton in various
separate them. Carefully cut the
Silk ribbon is used to represent sta-
small pieces (flowers and leaves)
denim 1/8 inch from the stitch-
mens and this is done on one large
Denim is such a great fabric and something that each member of my
ing. Complete all the flowers in
stitch between each petal. The
family wears regularly. Whenever we wear out a pair of jeans, it is always
threads, ribbons, buttons and
this way, changing the colour of
buttons are sewn in to the centre of
replaced by a new pair of jeans. So as a tribute to denim, I have made
beads (embellishments)
each flower as you progress.
each flower.
this small quilt using some of those worn out ones for the background.
20” open-ended zippers
5. Repeat process for leaves.
Sometimes it is difficult to know
STEP 1: BACKGROUND 2. Pin a bright coloured cotton when to stop embellishing, it’s a
1. Cut several pieces of denim
fabric on the back of the denim personal choice. For smaller art-
into approximately 3” squares.
in the correct place correspond- work, remember not to overlook the
Using scissors helps to vary the
ing to the marked flower. background, as can happen with
sizes.
too much embellishment.
TIP
2. Overlap one patch over
BINDING
another by a ¼” and sew in
Zig zag around the four borders to
The denim patches in this
enclose the three layers together.
quilt do not include seams,
place with a zigzag stitch,
Cut the zips to the exact length and
pockets, button fasteners
building the background from
or fly zips. If you choose
centre out. Both varying sizes
width of the quilt borders and use
to include these, it is
and the overlapping creates the
a fray stopper on each end of the
better to work with bigger
random pattern that helps to
zips to prevent further ravelling. patches as a background.
develop the background block
STEP 2: REVERSE APPLIQUE
Lay one side of the zip on the right
Remember to increase the
side of the quilt edge with the teeth
size of your flowers and
shape.
1. Mark an outline where flower
QUILTING
facing out.
leaves to compliment the
3. Build the background to the and leaves are to lie on the
size of the patches.
As a small quilt, the top, wadding
desired size and trim straight right side of the denim back-
3. With your sewing machine set
and backing can be held together
With the zip foot on your machine, Experiment and have fun!
edges. ground.
for free motion, sew around
IrIsh QuIltIng Volume I Issue 3
56 57
IrIsh QuIltIng Volume I Issue 3
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