• Pearl Needlework Set

Pearl Needlework Set

Quilting and sewing friends alike will appreciate your thoughtfulness when they receive this gift.

Designs by Karen Neary

Estimated Time
4 hours

Finished Sizes
Chatelaine: 2 1/4 x 42 inches
Pincushion: approximately 3 inches in diameter
Needle Case: approximately 3 inches in diameter

Materials

• Lightweight woven 44/45-inch-wide cotton/metallic fabric:

1 fat quarter main color*
1 fat quarter contrast fabric A*
1 fat quarter contrast fabric B*

• 8 x 8-inch square stiff interfacing
• 2 3/4 x 42 1/2 inches lightweight batting
• 4 x 1 1/2 inches white felt
• Small amount polyester fiberfill
• 5 (1/4-inch) pearl shank buttons
• 1 (1/4-inch) clear nylon snap fastener
• Basic sewing supplies and equipment

*Fairy Frost flamingo (MC), cameo (CC) and mango (CC) from Michael Miller Fabrics were used for model project.

Chatelaine

Cutting

From main-color fabric:
• Cut two 2 3/4 x 18-inch strips for front.


From contrast fabric A:

• Cut two 2 3/4 x 21 1/2-inch strips for backing.
• Cut one 22 x 1 1/2-inch strip for scissors holder.
• Cut one 2 3/4 x 2 3/4-inch square for plain block.
• Use template provided to cut two pentagons for flowers.


From contrast fabric B:

• Use template provided to cut one pentagon for flower.

Piecing

Use 1/4-inch-wide seam allowances.
1. Sew front strips together to make a 35 1/2-inch-long strip. Cut 2 3/4 x 2 3/4-inch square from each end of joined strip. Reserve squares for step 3.
2. Copy pinwheel pattern three times. Use copies to foundation-piece three Pinwheel blocks with contrast fabrics A and B. Remove paper foundations.
3. Sew one Pinwheel block to end of front strip. Sew reserved square from step 1 to Pinwheel blocks at each end of strip.
4. Measure and cut across strip 2 1/2 inches from the Pinwheel blocks on each end of the front strip (Figure 1a). On one end of strip, sew plain block cut from first contrast fabric. On opposite end, sew remaining Pinwheel block. Sew the cutoff lengths back onto the ends of the front strip (Figure 1b).

Assembly

Use 1/4-inch wide seam allowances.
1. Fold 22 x 1 1/2-inch strip for scissors tie in half lengthwise with right sides together. Sew long edges together. Turn right side out and press. Tie a knot in each end.
2. Fold scissors tie in half. On right side of front strip, with fold even with raw edge, stitch scissors tie to end of strip with two Pinwheel blocks.
3. Sew backing pieces together. Layer front strip and backing strip with right sides together. Layer batting onto wrong side of backing. Stitch around outer edges through all thicknesses, leaving an 8-inch opening for turning. Turn to right side, press and hand-stitch opening closed.
4. For flowers, press raw edges of pentagon shapes under 1/8 inch. Run a machine gathering stitch 1/4 inch from folded edges and pull up stitches to gather.
5. Hand-sew flower over Pinwheel blocks, attaching pearl buttons in centers.

Needle Case

Cutting

From main-color fabric:
• Use pentagon template to cut two pieces on fold (Figure 2).






From contrast fabric B:
• Use pentagon template to cut one piece for flower.
From stiff interfacing:
• Use template provided to cut one pentagon on fold, less 1/4-inch seam allowance all around.

Assembly

Use 1/4-inch-wide seam allowances.
1. Center 4 x 11/2-inch piece of white felt on the right side of one pentagon piece. Stitch across center of felt.
2. Sew both pentagon pieces with right sides together, leaving one side open. Turn right side out and press.
3. Slip stiff-interfacing pentagon piece inside needle case; hand-stitch side opening closed.
4. Sew snap fastener to inside at point.
5. Assemble flower as in step 4 of Chatelaine, Assembly. Hand-stitch to top of needle case, attaching pearl button in center of flower.

Pincushion

Cutting

From main-color fabric:
• Use pentagon template to cut two pieces for top and bottom.


From contrast fabric B:
• Use pentagon template to cut one piece for flower.

Assembly

Use 1/4-inch-wide seam allowances.
1. Sew top and bottom pieces with right sides together, leaving an opening for turning. Turn right side out. Press.
2. Stuff lightly with polyester fiberfill. Hand-stitch opening closed.
3. Assemble flower as in step 4 of Chatelaine, Assembly. Hand-stitch to pincushion through top and bottom, attaching pearl button in center of flower.

Pinwheel Piecing

Note: Attach block pieces in the numerical order indicated on pattern.

1. Cut an A1 piece large enough to cover the A1 pattern section plus 1/4-inch seam allowance all around. Place fabric piece on the back of the foundation paper with the wrong side of the fabric facing the back of the foundation paper (Figure 1), taking care to watch the grain line of the fabric. Note: Hold the paper up to a light source to check for proper placement. If desired, hold fabric in place with a dab of glue from a glue stick.
2. Cut a B2 piece of fabric large enough to cover the B2 pattern section plus 1/4-inch seam allowance all around. Place fabric piece on wrong side of foundation square with the right side of piece B2 on top of the right side of piece A1 and the 1/4-inch seam allowance extending into B2 pattern section (Figure 2).
3. Carefully turn the foundation paper over so the marked side of the paper is facing you, taking care not to move the fabric pieces just placed. Sew on the line of the paper foundation pattern that divides pieces A1 and B2 (Figure 3).
4. Fold fabric piece B2 over the seam just sewn and check placement by holding up to a light source. The pattern section should be totally covered by the fabric piece with the 1/4-inch seam allowance on all sides (Figure 4).
5. With the printed side of the foundation pattern facing upwards, fold the foundation paper on the seam line just sewn so that the printed sides of that paper are facing each other and the seam allowance of fabric pieces A1 and B2 is exposed (Figure 5). Trim the seam allowance to 1/8 inch using a rotary cutter and mat.
6. Unfold foundation paper and press fabric B2 into position, flattening the fold line in the foundation paper at the same time (Figure 6).

Repeat steps 2–6 to attach fabric pieces A3 and B4 to the foundation paper pattern. Press. Trim edges, leaving 1/4-inch seam allowance on all sides. Follow the same process to piece together the second half of the block. Sew halves together on center diagonal line. Remove foundation paper. Use a straight pin to remove paper between stitches as needed.

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