Saturday, June 13, 2009

Facing Technique for Small Work

I mentioned in an earlier post that I use a modified "pillow" facing for my small work and I received several emails requesting information on that process.



The picture above shows a piece which has been quilted and is laying face down on a cut of fabric that will become the facing.





This is a close up view of one corner and you can just make out where I have stitched 1/4" inside the edge of the quilt. Once I have done this, I trim off the facing material so that all edges are flush. I do stitch twice around each corner to reinforce.




In this photo you can see that all edges are now even. Using a chalk pencil, I draw a line from opposing corners which makes an X. This X marks the center of the work.





If the piece you are working with is not square, you will add a 90 degree angle from the center of the X . You can see this in the above picture. This step is not necessary if the piece is square.





The next step uses a paper circle from a set of paper circles I purchased from a quilt shop. I use the largest circle and line up the marks on the circle with the 2 90 degree marks on the fabric and this centers the circle. If the work were square, you line up the marks on the circle with the X and that centers the circle.





I mark the outside of the circle with chalk and cut out the center.





I trim diagonally across each corner and push each corner out as much as I can. These corners have a rounded contour. I then finger press the edges and put on clips to keep things in place while I turn and stitch the inside circle. It turns very easily.


This is how it looks on the back when completed.