This idea has been in my heart for a while- and so I wanted to share this mini quilt with you- hoping that it can be used to remind us of all that we should be thankful for. We will be using ours in the center of our Thanksgiving table- and hopefully it will be an heirloom to pass down as the children remember helping me with it- choosing leaves, leaf shapes, fabrics, and also what they were thankful for.
This mini quilt is very versitile, you can either use leaf shapes, or whatever fall shapes that you wish. The shape of the project is also variable- do a table runner or just a small potholder. Sewing is only one option. Tomorrow my 3 year old and my niece will be doing this with felt and gluing their leaves on and we will be painting on them what they are thankful for.
As we are making this- I am going to include some thankful scriptures for us- so that we have a thankful heart :)
1. Go on a leaf expedition and get some leaves :) Take the whole family and use it as a reason to brush up on your tree identification skills :) We had as a family gone on a leaf expedition several weeks ago- I didn't take care of the leaves properly or in time, so they have gotten brown and crinkly now- however, we will just need the shape :)
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you 1 Thessalonians 5:18
2. Trace your leaves on cardstock to use as a pattern piece. If you can't find any leaves outside, you may find enlarge this one below, or try to freehand a shape. I ended up only using the maple and the poplar leaf- the oak leaf just didn't look right after being traced. You can use any leaves- or only use one kind of leaf. You could also use any other shapes that you would like- like pumpkins, hearts, and anything else that may be fall related.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Psalms 107:1
3. Next, we get to pick out the fabrics that we will use. I have several examples- and you could either pick them out yourselves- or let each family member pick out their favorite.
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 5:20
Fall themed fabrics..
Civil War reprint fabrics..
Brighter and lighter colored fabrics..
Batik and hand dyed fabrics..
Various fall colored prints..
Even sheet material..
These are the fabrics that I chose for this example.
4. Figure out how many leaves that you will be wanting to use.. Will you have a leaf for each member of the house? After doing this- trace your leaf pattern on the back of the fabric and cut out your leaf shapes.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:15-17
5. How will you arrange your leaves? Do you want them to be in a circle or would you rather a rectangular table runner? Place them on a piece of background fabric and see what you like.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
Looks like leaves floating down a brook for table runner?
6. Iron the pieces of fabric that you will use.
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15
7. Figure out the shape of the background fabric. I chose a circle, and to make it I traced a large cookie plate.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phillipians 4:6
8.Arrange your leaves on your fabric and make sure that you like it. Pin your leaves down, use heat and bond, or glue them to your background fabric. Cut the fabric.
Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 106:1
9. I decided that although I wanted a background that showed the leaves off, I didn't want to put binding around a circle- so I pinned my circle onto a 14 inch square of fall fabric.
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1
10. Sew around the edges of the leaves if you didn't glue them- and circle of background if that is what you chose. Please make sure that everything is pinned first (learn from my mistakes, although I did using a basting spray).
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 118:1
Sewed along leaf and circle edges
11. Choose your backing and cut it to fit along with batting if you are using it (you could also use a piece of other fabric instead of batting). Lay your top on the batting on top of the back, making sure that after it is pinned you can see all of the right sides of the fabric.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2
13. Your project will need bound- you can either use a store bought binding or make one yourself. I usually make mine. I cut 4 strips of 1 1/2 inch fabric that matched the front fall fabric. 2 strips must be the same length as your project and the other 2 must be 3 inches longer than your project.
That my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever! Psalm 30:12
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17
Sew the other shorter one on the opposite side.
14. Sew the longer strips on the sides that you didn't sew the first strips on- and then press the fabric open so that you can see your binding fabric when looking at the back.
And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted. “Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Isaiah 12:4-5
15. Flip the quilt so that you can see the front and fold the edges of the binding over with a little tucked underneath (so that you don't have a raw edge). Sew along your binding- either with your machine or by hand (make sure that it is pinned first).
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! Psalm 100:4
16. Think about what you want your quilt to say- if anything. You could stitch or paint on a scripture, or your family's names, in our case we stitched on "We thank you Lord" and then 6 of the blessings that we are thankful for; salvation, friends, church, family, health, and provision. If stitching- you can either hand stitch or use a machine. I used the long arm on this.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8
17. Clip all of your loose threads, press and then display or give as a gift :) I pray that you had as much fun as I did with this project and grew closer to your Creator as you created :) Feel free to share pictures of your own projects with me- or ask any questions that you need.
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2
