how-to of the day – making silk paper – quilting the background

It’s time to make a decision on the background color – I was still looking at different colors in the last post.  I’ve made a choice, and I’m going with this one for the background:

I’m going to make a quilted background, so the next step is to cut out the batting (I’m using Warm & Natural cotton batting) and the two pieces of fabric to “sandwich” the batting.

I cut the fabric & batting approximately 4 inches wider than the finished dimensions of the piece, enough so I can stretch it onto a canvas.  I’m using spray glue to lightly baste the layers together (I like Elmer’s spray glue, but try some different products and see what works best for you)

We don’t really need to quilt the center, where the silk paper will sit, so I’ve marked the corners and then drew a rough rectangle to show where I don’t need to quilt:

I’m using a water-soluble pencil, but you can use chalk, or even soap if you prefer.

Time to quilt!

I’m doing free-motion embroidery, using rayon machine embroidery thread.  I prefer to use a metallic sewing machine needle for free-motion embroidery – I find the thread slips through the larger eye a little more easily.

Now, I’ve got a choice…  First of all, I can leave the background as it is, with just the green embroidery that follows the lines of the leaves.

But I could also…

Use black thread to quilt lines that mimic the lines I embroidered around the silk paper.

Or I could also use very dark reds/burgundies and purple to echo the shape of the flowers.

Ah, decisions, decisions

all images: C Findlay-Harder