Tea and Friendship

You can download a pdf copy of the original magazine pages for this project here, Tea and Friendship

Computer Fabric Printing

There are several methods for transferring images and text onto fabric. You can use Bubble Jet Set 2000 with any fabric ironed onto freezer paper, or you can use pre-treated fabric sheets designed for computer printers. Both these methods allow the fabric to remain soft after printing (unlike some other methods which plasticise the fabric). Full instructions are provided with the medium. Following the manufacturer’s instructions apply the lettering which is shown full size to an A4 sized piece of pink fabric if using Bubble Jet Set, or print with a pink background on white pre-treated sheets.

Ensure that the lines of wording are well spaced out along the length of the fabric. Alternatively the words can be embroidered

TIP! I used a Preston script with a 28 point size, but experiment with different fonts on your computer.

Foundation Piecing

Download a pdf copy of the foundation piecing templates here, Foundation templates

1. Refer to the block layouts in Figures 1 and 2 and using foundation piecing techniques, sew two teacup blocks and one central block. Ensure that 1⁄4in seam allowances are included at the edge of the block.
   
   Construction order of the teacup block Join blocks 1 to 6 (block A)
   Join blocks 7 to 10 (makes block B)
   Join block A to B
   Add strips 13 and 14
   
   
   Figure 1: Central foundation block
   Construction order of the central block
   Join blocks 1 to 3 (block A)
   Join blocks 4 to 6 (block B)
   Join blocks 7 to 9 (block C)
   Join block A to B and B to C
   Add strips 10 and 11
   
   Figure 2: Teacup foundation block


2. From the pink computer printed fabric, cut four strips 1 1⁄2 x 5 1⁄4in, making sure that each line of text is centred in the strip. Sew the strips between the foundation pieced blocks as shown in the photograph.

Seminole border

Figure 3: Seminole piecing and cutting

1. Cut 1 3⁄4in strips of yellow and 2in strips of raspberry fabric from the full width of fabric. (One and a half widths will be needed to make all the borders). Join the strips lengthways. Press.
2. Using a rotary cutter and mat, cut the sewn strip into sections 1 3⁄4in wide. As shown in Figure 3, sew each section to its neighbour allowing a 1in offset. Make two Seminole strips consisting of eleven sections and two consisting of four sections. Press and trim the strips to 1 1⁄2in wide.
3. Sew the Seminole strips to the border, centring triangles and attaching 1 1⁄2in square corner blocks of berry fabric.

Finishing

Text to print

1. Using a backstitch and three strands of stranded cotton, embroider handles to the teacups.
2. Cut the wadding slightly larger than the panel. Cut the backing fabric to the size of the panel plus 1 1⁄4in all round. Make a quilt sandwich, pin and tack the layers.
3. Using a toning thread, machine quilt along the major seam lines and any minor seams required for definition. Remove the tacking. Trim wadding to the same size as the front panel taking care not to cut the backing fabric. Trim backing to 1in larger than the front panel all round. Fold backing fabric over to the front to create a neat roll hem. Slip stitch in place, folding the corners neatly.
4. Sew on the teapot and teacup buttons. Attach the wire hanger using a narrow 3⁄4in casing stitched to the back of the quilt. Add a quilt label

Suggested additional project

Reduce the size of the teacup or the central foundation block to a 3 1⁄2in square and mount in a 3in square aperture three-fold card. This makes a lovely surprise for a tea-loving friend