NEUTRAL NOTE

NEUTRAL NOTE WALL HANGING

BY LINDSAY CONNER

Metallic bronze fabric, striped linen and cotton solids combine to bring texture and handmade warmth to a quilted wall hanging. The modern palette and fun fringe trim make this a welcome accent for any living space.

Skill Level: Beginner

SUPPLIES Supplies listed are enough to make one 14"×17" wall hanging.

• 1 yard of solid cream cotton fabric

• 1⁄4 yard of bronze cotton fabric

• 1⁄8 yard each of striped & black cotton fabric

• 18"×21" rectangle of batting

• All-purpose thread

• 15" length of 2"-wide tassel fringe

• 18" length of 1⁄4"- or 3⁄8"-diameter wood dowel

• 3 yards of jute string

• Clear craft glue

• Temporary spray adhesive

• Hand sewing needle

CUT From the cream fabric, cut two strips measuring 4"× the fabric width, one strip measuring 13⁄4"× the fabric width, one 15"×181⁄2" rectangle for the back panel and one 31⁄2"×15" strip for the casing.

From one large cream strip, cut five 4" squares and four 35⁄8" squares. Cut each large square in half diagonally.

From the remaining large cream strip, cut one 4"×151⁄2" strip for the upper border and one 21⁄2"×151⁄2" strip for the lower border.

tip Use scraps of quilting cotton or stable woven fabric for a great stashbusting project! From the small cream strip, cut two 13⁄4"×123⁄4" strips for the side borders.

From the bronze fabric, cut one 71⁄8" square. Cut the square in half diagonally.

From the striped fabric, cut two 4" squares. Position each square on a flat work surface with the stripes aligned vertically. Cut each square in half diagonally from the upper-left corner to lower-right corner.

CONSTRUCT Use 1⁄4" seam allowance unless otherwise noted, sew with right sides together and press seam allowances toward the darker fabric.

Stitch each black triangle to one cream triangle along the long diagonal edge to create half-square triangle blocks. Trim the dog-ear seam allowances from each block perimeter.

Repeat to construct four halfsquare triangle blocks with the striped triangles.

Assembly diagram

Stitch one cream triangle to each black-triangle short edge to create two large triangle blocks.

Stitch one large triangle block and one bronze triangle along the long diagonal edge. Trim the points on the seam allowances.

Repeat to stitch the remaining large triangle block to the remaining bronze triangle.

Stitch the cream squares to the striped half-square triangle units, and then stitch the rows together according to the diagram above.

Stitch each block together according to the diagram above. Designate as the center block and one short edge as the upper edge.

Stitch one side border to the center-block left and right edge.

Stitch the upper and lower borders to the center-block upper and lower edges. Designate as the front panel.

Position the batting rectangle on a flat work surface. Designate one short edge as the upper edge. Spray temporary adhesive over the batting. Center the front panel right side up over the batting; finger-press to secure.

Stitch vertical lines along the front panel spaced approximately 1" apart, but making sure to space the lines to stitch in the ditch along the seamlines. Square the front panel.

Position the fringe straight edge over the front-panel lower edge; pin. Baste using a 1⁄8" seam allowance.

Fold each casing short end 1⁄2" toward the wrong side; press. Fold the casing in half lengthwise with right sides together; press. Stitch the long edge and then turn right side out. Press the casing, centering the seamline along the back.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 the casing right side up over the back panel 1" from the upper edge. Edgestitch each casing long edge.

Position the front and back panels right sides together, making sure the fringe is sandwiched between the panels; pin. Stitch the perimeter, leaving one 3"-long centered opening along one side for turning.

Turn the wall hanging right side out through the opening; press. Hand stitch the opening closed.

Insert the dowel through the casing. Tie jute string around each dowel end, wrapping and knotting three times, and then tie a final knot on each side; secure with a small amount of glue.