Artsy Fartsy Challenge – Welcome Banner

Welcome to the wonderful, creative, fun, artsy world of thread. This month’s Island Batik Challenge is all about thread. Lots and lots of wonderful Aurifil thread.

For the challenge I wanted to select a project that used lots of thread and I decided on a machine embroidered welcome banner for my front entry way.

Fabric and Thread Selection

I choose to use 3 Island Batik fabrics as my canvas for the embroidery stitching.

Foundations Blender – Marble Aqua – BE24-D1

Neutrals Blender – Yolk

Primrose Paisley Dot fabric

The thread I used consisted of 100% EGYPTIAN COTTON 2-PLY 50 wt., 40 wt., and Cotton Floss. Since I used 3 different thread weights it was necessary to use different size needles. For the 50 wt. thread I used a 80/12 Microtex, and the 40 wt. thread I used a 90/14 Microtex. The Aurifil Cotton Floss was used as a embellishment thread and attached to the banner with a decorative stitch using a 50wt. thread.

I started the banner by first quilting an all over dragon fly and flower pattern on the yolk batik fabric. I used the Yolk on both the top and backing and layered it with Hobbs Heirloom^® Premium 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend Batting.  It was quilted using a 50 wt. 100% Egyptian cotton 2-PLY thread in both the bobbin and as the top thread.

Selecting Embroidery Designs

I selected for my embroidery letters and paisley designs the Bernina OeSD Lilified Crafters Collection designed by Benartex Studios.

The collection contains a artsy array of stylized letters and parsley floral designs. I used the templates provided and created the “WELCOME” letters for the banner. The templates were traced mirror-image on Steam-A-Seam II Lite and iron on to the Island Batik Marble Aqua fabric. The letters were then cut out on the lines.

Embroidery of Letters and Floral Designs

Using a water-soluble making pen, registration lines were made on the quilted backing every 6 inches and the center was also marked. The quilted backing fabric was loaded in the embroidery hoop checking the placement of the the letters and floral motifs before stitching.

The letters were stitched first. Each letter required 4 thread changes and 2 needle changes since I used two different weight threads.

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After all the letters were stitched, I marked the placement of the border paisley designs using a water-soluble marking pen. The paisley border designs also used 2 different thread weights, so I had to change needles when the thread was switched from the 40wt. to the 50wt. thread. The 40wt. thread, since it is a thicker ply thread was used in the the areas where I wanted the thread to be more dense.

Trimming To Size

After all the embroidery designs were stitched, the banner was trimmed down to size. I wanted the banner to fit in a special wire display so I trimmed it to 12″ x 44″. The binding was prepared using 2 1/2″ strips of the Primrose Paisley Dot batik fabric and attached to the banner’s edges.

Adding Decorative Border Embellishments

After the binding was attached, I added a decorative trim just inside the edge of the binding using the Aurifil Cotton Floss thread.

Completing the Banner for display

After the decorative thread accent was added then I finished off hand sewing the binding to the back of the banner. A hanging sleeve was added to the back of the banner. The banner was given a good press using a warm iron. It was then ready to place on my upright wire display and welcome all who enter.

I hope I have inspired you to get artsy and use all those beautiful Aurifil threads and make your own “WELCOME” banner.

Don’t forget to check out all the other wonderful Artsy-Fartsy Challenge projects by my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors.

#islandbatikambassador #islandbatik #iloveislandbatik #sewingproject #doitfortheprocess #aurifil #aurifilthread

Happy Quilting!!