An Easter Project

This blog was going to be about a Christmas ornament that I am making, or rather ornaments, because I'm trying to make 300 and just finished number 158.  Then I thought "wait a minute, its Easter, no one wants to make these ornaments now".  (Well, except for me, I'm kind of obsessive-complusive).

Then I remembered this little quilt/table topper I made a few years ago for a sample in my shop.  And after an extensive search, I found it in a box.  The eggs are colored with crayons and it is a good activity quilt for your children or grandchildren.  The only real quilting on it is around the eggs; I quilted and appliqued at the same time.

You will need:

• 1/4 fabric for border
• 1/2 yard fabric for main part of quilt
• 1/8 yard fabric for binding
• 1/4 yard white fabric for eggs
• Small amount of fusible webbing for back of eggs.
• Backing
• Batting
• Fine line permanent marker (optional)
• Coordinating thread, Crayons.  They do not have to be fabric crayons, any will work, but don't use markers because not all are water-proof.

Finished size is 26 by 18.
Cut 2 strips of fabric for the border, 3 1/2 inches by width of fabric.  Cut each of these into two pieces, one 26 inch piece and one 14 inch piece.
Cut the main fabric into a rectangle, 14 inches by 20 1/2 inches.  Sew the 14 inch strips of border fabric to the top and bottom, then sew the side borders on.
Now make a pattern for the eggs.  Mine is 5 inches long.  I just sketched until it looked right, but there is a tutorial on how to draw an egg here.

Next press the fusible web onto the back of the white fabric, following manufacturers directions.  Trace your egg onto the fusible and cut out.  Fuse the eggs onto the quilt.

I have 7 eggs on my quilt, you could have more or less depending on how large or small you want them.

Layer the top, batting and backing.  Using a small zig-zag stitch, applique the eggs to the quilt, stitching through all layers.  Add more quilting, if you wish.  Cut binding fabric and bind as usual.
Now the next step is optional, but I drew designs on the eggs using a permanent maker.  You can just let the kids make up their own designs.  Let the kids color the eggs with crayons and then to make the color permanent, place a paper towel over the eggs and press with a warm iron.  This will heat set the crayon color and you'll be able to wash it after Easter.

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter and/or Passover.