Artfabrik: All the colors, all the time.

Nesting Chicken

From the So Many Chickens Series
A Fused Art Quilt, Finished Size 8" x 11"
© Laura Wasilowski 2009

Materials and Tools
• Chicken head fabric: 4 " x 4 " of yellow
• Chicken wing fabric: 5 " x 5 " of blue
• Chicken breast fabric: 4 " x 6 " of red
• Chicken tail fabric 4 " x 4 " of fuchsia
• Chick comb and beak fabric: 3 " x 3 " of red
• Chicken wattle and nest fabric: 6 " x 9 " of green
• Outline and eye fabric: 10 " x 10 " of black
• Background fabric: 8 1/2 " x 11 1/2 " of yellow to pink gradation
• 2 pieces of black felt: 9 " x 12 "
• 2 yards fusible web (Wonder Under paper backed #805 recommended)
• Black Sharpie Fine Point marker or lead pencil
• Scissors, rotary cutter, mat, and ruler
• Decorative rotary cutter blade
• Pressing cloth (dry)
• Size 8 cotton embroidery thread
• Embroidery needle for hand stitching

(Please note: the fabrics used in this photo are Rainbow Rich and Rainbow Light. It is stitched with Rainbow Rich Size 8 thread.)

Click here for a PDF of the Pattern Pieces to print out.

Directions

Fuse all the fabrics (except 1 piece of felt). Follow the directions that come with the fusible web. Note: use caution when ironing acrylic felt as it burns easily.
After the fabric cools, carefully remove all the release paper that comes with the fusible web (except for the paper on the outline fabric). Remove it in one sheet. Save the release paper for Steps below.
Place the release paper on the chicken head pattern. Trace the pattern with the Sharpie marker or a lead pencil.
Place the marker side of the release paper onto the glue or fused side of the chicken head fabric. Fuse the paper in place for 5 seconds.
After the fabric cools, carefully remove the release paper from the fabric. The ink will transfer to the glue.
Cut out the shape just inside the black line with scissors.
Repeat Steps 3-6 for the chicken wing, breast, tail, comb, beak, wattle, and nest patterns.
Arrange the nest, chicken breast, wing, head, tail, comb, wattle, and beak on the outline fabric fitting them together like puzzle pieces. Leave about 1/16 " - 1/8 " of black showing between shapes. Fuse-tack into place.
After the fabric cools, remove the release paper from the outline fabric. Cut around the outside of thechicken and nest as a whole (do not cut out individual shapes). Leave 1/8 " of black showing around the bird and nest.
Trim 1/4 " off each edge of the background fabric using a decorative rotary cutter blade.
Center the background fabric on the black felt (the felt piece that does NOT have fusible web on it). Center the chicken with nest on to the background fabric. Fuse tack into place.
Use the left over black outline fabric and cut out a C shape measuring about 3/8 " high for the eye.
Place the eye on the chicken's head about 1/4 " up from the beak. Fuse tack into place.
Place a dry pressing cloth on the quilt top and steam set it to the felt for 10 seconds in each spot. You must use a dry pressing cloth. Acrylic felt burns easily.
Add hand stitching to the chicken using cross stitches, straight stitches, feather stitch, running stitches, and French knots.
Place the glue side of the remaining piece of felt on to the back of the quilt. Place the dry pressing cloth on top and steam set the felt to the back of the quilt top for 10 seconds in each spot.
Trim about 1/4 " from each edge of the black felt with a decorative blade.
Add a simple hanging loop to the center top of the back to display the quilt.

For more information about fusing, read Laura's books Fusing Fun! or Fuse and Tell or watch her DVD Laura Wasilowski Teaches You to Create Fused Art Quilts all published by C&T Publishing.