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Want to create something really special for that loved one in your family?  Why not use your quilting skills to create a one-of-a-kind memory quilt; not a t-shirt quilt to remember the good times, but a portrait quilt to remember that special someone.

Do you have a favorite photograph of grandma or grandpa that’s fading, never to be seen again? Convert that flat image into an extraordinary tactile expression of heartwarming love and affection with simple pieces of fabric and an easy appliqué method. Give it a try, you can do it!

A great portrait quilt begins with a good photograph. Not the subject of the photo, but the contrast and size of the image. Let’s think about the technical aspects of the photograph selection. Of course your subject is worthy of a quilt, but the photo might not work “due to technical difficulties beyond our control”.

If possible, when selecting the photograph, look for a photo with just the head and shoulders, assuring a really close up image. It’s important to find all the nuances of the face to produce a truly realistic portrait in cloth, and this can only be achieved if those subtle expressions are visible in the photograph.

When auditioning a photo, look to see if the subject’s face exhibits contrast? Is the face all the same color with no strong shadows showing? Is the face too dark and no highlights are available? Next, check the eyes, can you see

definition in the eye area? To me, the eyes are the most important area of a portrait quilt; think of them as the focal point. If the eyes aren’t correct, how can the quilt “speak” to you? Don’t forget about the highlights in the eyes. They help reveal the inward emotion, and those small details are so important.

What if no head and shoulders photo is available? Look for a photo with as large an image as possible. Don’t select a 4”x6” photo of a small child playing in a sandbox, it simply won’t work.

How about group photos? Can one achieve a successful portrait quilt with multiple subjects? Yes. Just look for the same criteria for each subject in the photograph.

How about pets? Pets are terrific subjects for portrait quilts. If your photo is of your favorite black and white dog, with black around the eyes, don’t go there. The eyes will not show up on the quilt; not enough contrast between the black fur and the dark eyes. Is there enough contrast in the rest of the fur to create interest?

How about black and white photos? Color photos? Both will work well for a portrait quilt. In fact, when developing a pattern for a portrait quilt, I use the computer to change a color photo into a black and white photo. With image editing software, one can change many areas of the photo, not just change the color mode. If a photo is a bit too dark, lighten it; if hair is out of place, straighten it; if only one pet is in the photo, add another one. One’s imagination is the only limit in using image editing software.

How about a memorable landscape photograph? Technically, it’s not a portrait, but certainly an excellent subject for a quilt. When selecting a photo for a pictorial quilt, use the same criteria as for a portrait quilt; however, one must take into account the composition within the photograph itself.

Composition involves several areas to consider. First, is there a focal point? Is there one area that deserves the most attention? Perhaps, the photo is of an old barn in a field; are there any trees around? Is there a fence? A silo? A tractor?  Hills in the background? Decide upon the focal point and all other areas simply support the focal point, not compete with it. A good landscape photo has a background, middle ground and foreground as well as a focal point.

Excellent arrangement dictates not putting your focal point in the center of the photograph, or quilt. Don’t divide the photo in half, move the horizon upward so more ground is showing, creating more interest. Guide the viewer to the focal point through good composition. This can be accomplished with image editing software, or directly on the quilt. If the barn is too small in the photo, enlarge it; move it to the side rather than in set it in the center.

Whether one is planning a portrait quilt or pictorial quilt, photo selection is the first step in producing a memorable piece of art. Selecting the perfect photograph is the first step to creating your masterpiece. Start clicking that new quilt!

If someone told you all you needed to complete something you thought was too difficult to try, was a pencil, scissors, iron, and a sewing machine, would you give it a try? Why not, as a quilter you’re familiar with each of the items, right?

Let’s see, a pencil. It’s not a difficult thing to use, just press on it and move your hand, that’s it! You could use a pencil to sketch, but that’s not required for the project. You could use a pencil to write, but that’s not required for the project. A really simple use for the pencil is to trace. Tracing just involves putting paper over something and moving the pencil, now that’s easy enough, right?

How about scissors? So, scissors…hmmm…another easy item to use; just put your thumb and finger in the holes and open and close, the scissors do all the work. You could use scissors for cutting hair, but that’s not required for the project. You could use mock scissors for playing Rock, Paper, Scissors, but that’s not required for the project. How about using scissors to cut out the traced paper, now that’s easy enough, right?

An iron. Now, that’s a tricky one. It does have a plug and an on/off button, but I have confidence in you. Just plug it in, turn on the button and don’t touch the bottom of the iron, it gets hot! You could use an iron to press wrinkled clothes, but that’s not EVEN required for this project. If you pressed another button on the iron, steam would shoot out! You could use it to steam veggies, but that’s not required for this project. For this project, the iron is used to adhere the traced paper to the back of fabric.

Ok. If you can plug in an iron and push the button to turn it on, I know you can do the same for a sewing machine. There are lots of different types of machines, some fancy, some plain. You could use a fancy machine to sew clothes, but that’s not required for the project. You could use a fancy machine to embroidery decorative stitches on pillow cases, but that’s not required for the project. All you need for the project is a plain sewing machine with zigzag stitch capabilities, and you have one of those, for sure! Even the most basic machine offers a zigzag stitch. Just press the button and it zigs, and zags. Since you learned how to press the button way back at the iron, I know that can’t be used as an excuse. The machine does all the work, just like the scissors. All you do is hold the fabric and it sews for you, that sounds easy enough, right?

By now you have undoubtedly realized you have mastered the use of all the elements needed to successfully complete the project. Well, there might be just one more item I forgot to mention, attitude.

Oh dear, is that a positive or negative attitude required for the project? Duh, why a positive attitude, of course. Why would anyone think of beginning a new project with a negative attitude, why bother, why not skip the project all together? It was probably too complex anyway.

Whoa! What just happened? What made a new project too difficult? Perhaps it was because it was difficult to  completely understand the project, or it looked overwhelming and complicated. How did the amount of time to complete the project play into the decision to participate; we’re all conscious of a lack of time and commitment, was that the gremlin?

Why did just looking at something immediately persuade someone to determine its level of difficulty, especially if that person knew how to use all the elements needed to complete the task? What happened to learning how to walk, remember those baby steps? Ride a bike, or roller skate, or drive, all had a learning curve; but, the one thing needed to successfully complete the task was a positive attitude.

So it is with the project I’m encouraging you to try, appliqué. Appliqué means to “put on”. That’s right, just “put” one piece of fabric “on” the other. There are several methods to appliqué, but since your machine is capable of a zigzag, and you already know how to use it, why not let the machine do it!

Trace the pattern on the paper side of sticky backed paper; use the iron to press the traced pattern onto the fabric, and the scissors to cut out the pieces. “Put” the cut pieces “on” the background and position into place; press again and zigzag away. Before you know it, your quilt top is complete.

Remember your commitment to attitude. Fight off those gremlins of doubt. If a project seems overwhelming, read the instructions completely prior to beginning, then go back and read them one step at a time. By accomplishing one step, you have assured yourself you can do it! Then, proceed to the next step. The project does not need to be completed at one sitting, work on it over time. Plan a small goal and try to reach it, then set another one. Reward yourself with at least 15 minutes a day to reach the goal. Small successes breed larger successes; and you can rid yourself of those awful gremlins! You can do it!