Tuesday Tutorial: Winning Colors Table Topper

Whew!! What a day! I usually like to be a day ahead with my blogging and have things ready the night before to post the next morning, but that was just not happening this week!  I went to put the finishing touches on this weeks tutorial and got a little sidetracked today!

The fuse in my craft room kept blowing (I have no idea why, and it’s hard to sew with no electricity), my sewing machine bulb burnt out, I had a bit of camera trouble, and had a bunch of stuff to do for the kids school today!

Then like a genius, I decided this project would be a good one to practice my free motion quilting skills on… and I literally mean practice! I’ve got sooo much to learn!  So don’t look too closely this really was a good practice for me! It was good practice but ended up taking a little longer than I had planned.

So onto the project:

I wanted a table topper to put out with my Derby decorations (photos coming this week). I love the bright colors of the Jockey silks at the Derby, so I decided to use them as my inspiration for the table topper. (All of the polka dot fabric is Michael Miller)

So here’s what you need to begin:

8 10″ x 10″ squares of white fabric
1 8″ x 8″ square of white fabric
2 1″x8″ strips of fabric A
2 1″x9″ strips of fabric A
2 1″x9″ strips of fabric B
2 1″ x 10″ strips of fabric B
1 fat quarter for binding
fabric for backing (topper measures 29″x29″)
quilters dream cotton for batting
Heat N Bond Lite
Jockey Pattern (found here)
Prints for Jockey Silks (each is 8″ square so you just need scraps)

Trace the Jockey silks pattern onto Heat N Bond lite.  Cut the arms and collar off the main body of the shirt. Iron the shirt to one polka dot print and the sleeves & collar to a 2nd print.

Cut out & position at a 45 degree angle on one of your 10″ white blocks.

Repeat with remaining 3 blocks.

Take your 8″x8″ block and sew your 1″ strips to the edge as sewn, repeat. You will get a double border. Press and trim block to 10″x10″ if necessary.

Cut out and iron your horseshoes to the center of this block.

Assemble your blocks

Use the diagram above as a guide.

Stitch around each appliqued element (the jockey silks and horseshoes)

Quilt & Bind as desired.

Come back later this week to see what else I make with that Jockey Silks applique pattern!!