Home Dec - Leaf Printing - Sew News Library

From our November 2003 Issue


	Home Dec Dana Bontrager Printing with leaves creates incredible nature paintings. Continued from Page 1

Table Runner & Napkin Set

MATERIALS

2 yards of 45"-wide fabric suitable for leaf printing (enough for the table runner, eight napkins and napkin rings)

15"x 72" of coordinating fabric for lining

Matching thread

Sew-on snaps

Thin batting

l 3/8"-long leaf buttons (approximately 20)

Eight 1/2"-diameter snaps for the napkin rings

From the fabric to be printed cut one 15"x 72" rectangle; cut one rectangle from batting. Cut eight 15" squares and eight 2 1/2"x 5" rectangles. Note: If your fabric is not quite 45" wide, simply reduce the napkin size or the table runner width. You can also paint on purchased runners, napkins and place mats.

Print the fabric rectangle and napkin squares following the directions in "Leaf-printing Basics" on page 1.

After heat-setting the fabric paint, layer the runner fabrics as follows: Place the printed fabric right side up on a flat surface. Cover it with lining, right side down. Add the batting and pin. With a 1/2" seam allowance, stitch the two long edges leaving a 5" opening in the center of one edge.

Flip the runner so the printed fabric is on top. Fold the runner in half lengthwise to find the center of each short end. Mark a placement dot at the centerpoint, 1/4" from one short end. Mark three more placement dots, 2" apart, on either side of the center mark, 1/4" from the raw edge (2).
Mark center; mark three more placement dots on either side of center.

Mark center; mark three more placement dots on either side of center.

Mark point A on the seamline, 1 1/4" from the short end. Mark seven more placement dots 1/4" from the edge and 2" apart. Connect the dots to mark the stitching line (3).
Mark A; then mark seven more placement dots 2

Mark A; then mark seven more placement dots 2

Adjust the machine for a very short straight stitch. Stitch along the zigzag line taking a stitch across each inward and outward point (4).
Take a stitch across each point.

Trim the end seam allowances to 1/8", clip to each inward point and turn the runner right side out through the opening; press.

Edgestitch around the entire runner, stitching the opening closed. If desired, free-motion quilt around the leaves as in the featured runner. Hand sew leaf buttons for extra embellishment, saving eight buttons for the napkin rings.

The featured napkin edges were left unfinished and frayed slightly, for an easy no-sew hem solution.

To make the napkin rings, fold each 2 1/2"x 5" rectangle in half lengthwise, with right sides together. Stitch the long edges with a 1/4"-wide seam.

Turn the tubes right side out. Center the seam and press. Serge-finish the short raw edges. Fold the band into a circle, overlapping the ends by 3/4". Mark the placement for the snap halves, approximately 1/2" from the ends and attach the snaps (5). Stitch a leaf button to the center front of each ring.
Overlap ends 3/4

Designer Dana Bontrager, author of Fantastic Fabric Textures, works from her studio in the Pacific Northwest. She produces fashion patterns and clear art stamps that allow the wearable artist to create unique, eye-catching garments that are both casually simple and wonderfully imaginative.


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