A favorite tool for cutting fused fabrics is the pinking blade I use on my 45 mm rotary cutter.

The pinking blade gives fabric shapes a zingy zigzag decorative edge. Zigzag edges that are perfect for adding a favorite hand embroidery stitch, the fly stitch.

Having cut the roof of my Whimsy Lane house using the aforementioned pinking blade, I am good to go. The fly stitch easily follows the zigzag fabric edge to outline the roof. My hand-dyed size 8 Oranges thread contrasts in color with the rooftop and repeats the orange in the house. It’s good to repeat colors in your artwork.

Inside of each V shape made by the fly stitches is a French Knot made with a size 8 Lemons thread. I love how those little hits of yellow decorate the roof top. A fancy rooftop all thanks to the pinking blade!

Do you find it helpful to name your quilts as you make them? I feel it gives them a personality and less anonymity like this series of quilts above called Whimsy Lane. Giving them a name lets me relate to the design and add that dash of charm.

So I declare this first Year of the Stitch quilt- Whimsy Lane #10. Already I’m hoping to meet the residents and learn their recipe for meatloaf.

The door of the house is surrounded with blanket stitches and a jaunty French Knot makes the doorknob. Straight stitches outline the windows and define window panes. I’m using a size 12 thread called Aquamarine.

That same beautiful Aquamarine thread is used to stitch stem stitches around the outside of the house. These stitches are actually placed on the background fabrics snugly next to the yellow house.

The next step is the roof of the house. I can’t wait to add more stitching to this Whimsy Lane house the first of the Year of the Stitch!

I declare 2024 the Year of the Stitch!

This year I resolve to embroider more and worry less.

This is likely the only resolution I can live up to. I guarantee my other resolutions will dissolve and disappear by January 2. Sigh…..

But onward to the stitching!

Beginning the Year of the Stitch!

My first stitch project of 2024 is this whimsical art quilt measuring about 8 inches wide by 10 inches high. It’s made using my favorite method of construction, improvisation. Cotton fabrics are fused and then free-cut into shapes for the design. It is steam set to wool batting and ready to stitch. This is so exciting!

To begin the hand embroidery I start with the focal point, the house. Blanket stitches outline the door shape with a thread color complementary to the door color. Orange and turquoise, don’t you love it? I’m using a size 12 Oranges pearl cotton thread and a size 5 hand embroidery needle. So far, so good. Next up is more……stitching!

If you’d like to learn how I created this type of quilt, please join my online class, Fused Art Quilts Tiny Homes. And if you’d like to see how this quilt comes alive with hand embroidery please continue to tune into my Year of the Stitch!