What is a ZigZapp? (Part 2) Home Tweet Home

From Wikipedia tonight, I learned that there are many species of blackbirds, symbolizing in many cultures wisdom, night power, and beauty. They have melodious voices (would not be my spirit animal - or would it?), quick wit, and intuition. Their intelligence is characterized by their impressive flying pattern.  Their mud-lined, cup-shaped nest is neat and found in gardens and woods. I'm not sure if our heart birdhouse would actually attract a blackbird, but perhaps that is why this blackbird is sitting on top.
At about 7pm, I challenged myself to make a small door banner using our ZigZapps Birds and Sweet Hearts - tonight.  I didn't know that I would end up reading about the little blackbird - who for so many years I just thought was an annoying bird.  Amazing what you can learn by taking the time to delve into the background of a little bird, or anything.  It can change the way you think.
I met my goal (night power!)...a little late as the clock went way past midnight.  But that's ok - it is a sleep-in and sew weekend as we are expecting about 15" of snow.  And as a result of my late night I have my small yet mighty blackbird hanging up to remind me to be strong, wise, sing, learn, and find beauty. 

One of my favorite QUICK and EASY ways to add festivity to any holiday or season is with a door banner.  I love using pre-quilted fabric (I ask my long-armer to stitch them up ahead of time for me!), and the ZigZapps shapes.  They can be pretty small, so it is also a great way to practice quilting by machine or hand if you have been wanting to do that - which is what I did on this project.  This banner was easy as I could fuse ALL shapes down, and zigzag all at once.  I like to make the banners anywhere from 10" - 15" (or so) square. This one is 10" x 11".  There are some qreat little quilt racks - check out Ackfeld Manufacturing  that you can get for over the door (shown here), a stand, or a garden flag holder - all conducive to a small banner.  Banners paired with a wire rack make a great gift, too!

Materials:  (Home Tweet Home Kit Available while supplies last - interfacing and twill)
Quiltsmart ZigZapps Sweet Hearts Interfacing
Quiltsmart ZigZapps Birds Interfacing
Fabric Scraps
10" x 12" background or whatever you desire.
(1-2) 2.5" x width of fabric for binding. - about 45" for mine.
Twill or embroidery for vine

Gather Fabric from stash!

Gathering fabric from my stash felt oddly like collecting twigs and mud for a nest. 

Follow the instructions on the side of the interfacing panels and the photos here for this specific project.  Also, my Jan. 7 Blog post has a lot of detail about sewing ZigZapps.

With the rough side of the interfacing against the right side of the fabric, stitch on the solid line.

Trim on the dashed line.  Turn.  Use a pointer-creaser to smooth the edges.  Make sure you keep the pointer-creaser between the fabric in the seam, not between the interfacing and the fabric (or you will poke through).  Don't worry if you do, just finger press it in place.  Everyone does this sometime.
For the birdhouse pole, I used a 1.5" strip and folded and overlapped the long sides in 1/2" each.  There are many other methods I have used: A tube turned with a Fasturn, or a bias maker.  You could also use a ribbon.

For the birdhouse entry (hole), I used the circle on the Birds interfacing.  If you want to make more "Home Tweet Home" banners, you could add a panel of our Circles (the smallest circle) and use those as there is only one circle on the Birds panel, but there are 6 birds. There are 6 hearts on each Sweet Hearts panel.
 

Lay out your pieces and fuse.

I picked the fabric with verbiage as I love words. The words on this fabric say things like: Do your best. Keep your eyes wide open.  Above all else, love.
 
If you want to draw the vines before you place them, a Frixion Pen is great! Follow their instructions.


After you fuse the pieces, zigzag around the edges.  You could "quilt as you go" if you wished.  I used invisible thread and stitched with a 1.5" width/2.0" length around all edges.  I wound the braid around the pole before I zigzagged. You can use a little fabric glue to hold it in place if you wish. I like Sewline.

Quilting with Sashiko machine.

I stitched the braid down as I was quilting.
Quilt and bind as you desire.  I quilted with my Sashiko machine by Baby Lock (love it!).

For the vines, I used Quilt Highlights (LOVE it!).  The color I used is appropriately named "Twigs".

I hope you enjoy this project and the extra tips that go with it.

Enjoy your blackbird spirit!

Take Care,
Mattie