Marker Mania: Fabric Scribbling

Fabrics

For Duet For Celestial Bodies quilt:

• Flames: a fat quarter of a solid colour each of the following:
• Red
• Dark pink
• Light pink
• Dark orange
• Light orange

• Black fabric: 2 yards (for the moon, background, border, backing, binding and hanging pocket)
• Yellow fabric: fat quarter (for bias tape and border that can be lightly textured or solid fabric)
• Batting: 23" by 26"

For Sunrise-Sunset quilt:     

• Flames: a fat quarter of a solid colour each of the following:
• Light pink
• Dark orange
• Light orange

• Greens: fat eighths for leaves (use at least 3 different colours of green for 7 leaves)
• Browns: fat eighths for earth (3 different colours of brown)
• Sky fabric fat quarter (for the background in light blue)
• Scrap of red (for the sun)
• Dark fabric: (I used the darkest brown) 1/2 yard border, backing, and hanging pocket
• Yellow: fat quarter (for bias tape and border that can be lightly textured or solid fabric) plus 9 inches for binding
• Batting 20" by 20"

Flame fabric option 1

Solid fabrics:

For each of the following colors, if making your own flames, you will need solid fabrics in fat eighths or even quarters to make sure you have enough fooling around space or, if you do not want to make your own fabric, use commercial fabric scraps:

• For Duet quilt: Pinks + oranges - fat quarters for flames (use at least 5 different colours for flames)
• For Sunrise quilt: Pinks + oranges - fat quarters for flames (use at least 3 different colours for 8 flames)

If decorating your own fabric flames does not appeal to you here are some other options:

Flame fabric option 2

If you do not want to make your own fabric, use hand-marbled fabrics. Marbling in this case does not refer to fabrics with a subtle texture like Moda Marbles but instead it refers to fabrics that have lots of long wavy lines.

Flame fabric option 3

Or you may be able to get commercial marbled fabrics that are pictures of hand-marbled fabrics.

Markers for flames

Felt-tipped markers and fabric pens - Try to get the kind of fabric markers that do not need heat setting, are permanent, non-bleeding and in two or three widths of fat nibs (up to 1/2"). Look for light-colored very fat marker nibs to act as blenders.

I used the following colours:

• red
• pink
• orange
• yellow
• reddish purple

These are the specific brands I used. All of these markers need no heat setting, are permanent, and non-bleeding. If you cannot get these brands, please test all of your markers.

• Tulip – big phat fabric marker (½-inch nib in pink and yellow) These inks cannot be dry cleaned.
• Y&C – FabricMate chisel tip (red and orange)
• Pébéo – SetaSkrib+ (orange and reddish purple)
• Marvy Uchida – Fabric Marker (dark pink)
• Felt-tipped markers “Fine” - I used Sharpie markers. The nibs marked ‘fine’ have a rounded nib and are okay. These markers are desirable because the colour does not run, nor do they need heat setting. Do not get the nibs marked “extra fine’.

Markers for pattern transfer and cutting lines

• white for black fabric
• light color for lighter fabrics

To transfer the pattern you will need only one of the following:

• Dress-maker’s transfer paper and a round or stippled tracing wheel
• Water-soluble tracing paper and a round tracing wheel
• If you get a chalk-based transfer paper you may need a Clover Eraser Pen
• Thin tracing paper and pencil
• Light table or sunny window and white marking pencil

Fabric Adhesive or Webbing

You will need only one of the following for attaching the flames and moon piece:

• SteamASeam2 Lite fusible web – 1 yard - If you do not use this product, your fusible web should have paper on both sides of the web. You will be marking one of the sides
• Roxanne’s Basting Glue (optional)
• 505 Temporary Fabric Adhesive spray and plenty of newspaper (This is also an option when it comes to assembling the quilt sandwich. You can either use spray adhesive, pins or basting)
• For binding - 1/4" hem tape (I use Steam-A-Seam2) – one package usually comes in a 40-foot length

Bias tape

Method 1 Home-made tape with bias tape maker

• fat quarter of bright yellow
• 1/4" bias tape maker (I used one by Clover)
• bias tape roll of fusible 1/4" web (I used Steam-A-Seam 2 1/4" tape)

Method 2 Home tape with bias bars

• fat quarter of bright yellow
• Bias bars
• Roxanne’s Basting Glue

Method 3 Commercial bias tape

• Clover Bias Tape one 11-yard roll in gold

Threads

• Neutral thread to piece borders and in making your own bias tape
• Shiny threads in gold, orange, and/or red like the following:
• metallic thread
• Sulky Sliver thread (look great but does not photograph well)
• Tri-lobal thread (photographs the best)
• Wonder Fil thread
• Invisible thread or yellow thread or to match your bias tape colour
• Bobbin threads (optional) in pink, red or golden-yellow like:
• YLI Candlelight (I used yellow and red)
• Razzle Dazzle

Note: Do not use ribbon threads unless you are prepared to couch them

• Sewer’s Aid by Prym-Dritz (optional) - to prevent metallic threads from breaking. Do not use this product with Bernina sewing machines

Other Requirements

• paper for printing downloads
• rotary cutter for both paper and fabric
• cutting mat
• 6" x 24" ruler
• large square ruler (optional)
• masking tape or painter’s tape
• cardboard about the size of a fat quarter
• sewing machine
• toilet paper tube
• round-headed or regular pins
• Quilter’s Wonder Wheel - 1/4" (optional)
• Bonash Iron Clean cloths (optional - in case you get adhesive on your iron)
• plastic sheet to protect your working surface from markers

For Duet For Celestial Bodies only

• some kind of garment to protect your clothes when working with bleach
• plastic sheet to protect your working surface from bleach
• hydrogen peroxide or Anti-chlor
• tooth brush (an old one will do)
• 1 or 2 cotton swabs
• Markers for moon fabric
• Extra Fine Sharpie marker – black (or other permanent, non-bleeding marker)
• sharp pencil
• bleach pen (Clorox Bleach Pen gel is the strongest but if you want less distinctive lines, try another brand)