Flower Pillows
by Linda Visnaw

Capture the beauty of the Hibiscus in this quick and easy pillow project. Explore a technique using Tsukineko All Purpose Inks, Versa Craft Ink Pads, and Fabrico Dual Head Markers. Finish off with thread sketching using Sulky® 30 wt. Cotton Blendables™ Thread to bring out the depth and add pizzazz. Materials: Prepared for Dying Fabric cut to: cut to 24” square for pillow front, strip cut to 3” x 3 yards for fat cording Three yards fat cording 22” zipper 24” square Warm and Natural™ Batting 24” square of fabric for backing Hibiscus from Golden Threads™ Quilt Pattern Hawaiian Surprise designed by Linda Visnaw (available 11/06 ) Fabrico Dual Tiped Markers Tsukineko All Purpose Inks VersaCraft Ink Pads Daubers Fantastics Ink Dropper VersaMarker Resist Pen Aloe Vera Gel Pallet or containers for mixing Spray bottle with water. Water Color brushes Free motion foot Embroidery Needle, 90/14 needle Sulky® 30 wt. Cotton Blendables™ thread, top and bobbin Preparing the Fabric: Place fabric over design. Using the bullet end of the Fabrico Dual Head Marker, trace the design onto the fabric. Outline design areas with colors that will be used later. Example: Bubble Gum or Ash Rose for pink flower, Lemon Yellow for the pollen, and Celadon for the green background. Heat set the design, using the hottest temperature for the fabric. Lets Color the Hibiscus: NOTE: Start coloring from light to dark. Lighter colors will be applied first then darker colors are added. Place fabric on protected area. (Rows of paper towels work well.) Color the stamen using the Lemon Yellow Fabrico Dual Head Marker. Heat set. To keep the yellow area from absorbing other colors while working, use the VersaMarker Resist Pen to cover only the yellow areas. Be careful not to go outside the yellow area. Using a pallet or small container for mixing place 3 tablespoons of Aloe Vera Gel. Using the Ink Dropper drop 9 drops of Rose Pink and mix. Test the color to ensure its intensity. Add more drops of ink for a darker color or more Aloe Vera for a lighter color. Using a water color brush, spread the colored gel in the entire flower area. Using a Fantastix apply darker shades of Rose Pink and Cherry Pink. Use Ash rose for the deepest center of the Hibiscus. Use the brush end of the Ash Rose Fantastic to add the vein lines. Repeat the process with the green areas starting with Celadon mixed with the Aloe Vera Gel. Spring Green, Heritage Green were also used for shading. Use the Daubers and the VersaCraft Stamp pads to add subtle shadows and shading. Heat set with a dry iron, using the hottest temperature for the fabric. Lets Color the Cording Fabric: Place fabric on protected area. Using a spray bottle, dampen the 3” x 3 yard piece of fabric. Color the entire length of fabric using Fantastixs and Daubers loaded with the same colors used in the Hibiscus. Allow the colors to bleed stopping when desired by heat setting. Thread Sketching: Center the Hibiscus square on the Warn and Natural™ batting. Snap on the free motion foot. Set machine for free motion stitching Insert a 90 Embroidery Needle Thread the machine with Sulky® 30 wt. Cotton Blendables™ thread, top and bobbin, using a color to compliment the flower. Beginning at the base of the flower, bring the bobbin thread tail up to the top of the fabric. Sew in place for a few stitches before clipping the thread tails. Loosely trace the flower’s peddles going over each area at least three times. Do not try to follow the lines exactly. This is what makes it “Sketching.” Complete the rest of the design in the same manner changing thread colors as desired. NOTE: Thread Sketching is a perfect warm-up and great practice for becoming more comfortable and eventually proficient with free motion techniques. One needs to become comfortable with controlling the movement of the fabric before they can easily and confidently free motion stipple. Take your time, and enjoy your new found proficiency and the great “Art” you can create. Construct the Pillow: Cut the Backing Fabric in half down the middle. Insert the invisible zipper leaving 2” on either side of the edges. Open the zipper half way. Square up backing fabric and Hibiscus fabric to match. Use the 3” strip to make the cording. (A Zipper foot works well for this operation) Trim the edge to within _” of the stitching. Sew the cording around the outside edge of the Hibiscus fabric clipping _” from each corner, at the corner, and _” past the corner. Pin the back to the front. Sew in place. Open the Zipper and turn right side out. Insert an 18” Pillow form.