Haunted Halloween – The Wonky Houses

Instructor: Pam Churches

Date: Monday AND Tuesday, September 25^th and 26^th – you may leave your machine at Calico Cupboard overnight

Create a vertical wall hanging or horizontal table runner for Halloween that is “hauntingly” awesome.

Note: This is a machine embroidery class; you must have a minimum 8” x 12” hoop in order to complete this project. The finished size is approximately 15” x 45”. Please note that the quilting files are NOT a part of this embroidery pattern. Therefore, you will complete the top in the two-day class with suggestions for quilting and finishing. This pattern uses SVG files (pre-cutting your applique shapes). I did not make use of the SVG files but rather did traditional machine embroidery. You are welcome to precut your applique; however, you must use a fusible bond such as steam a seam lite so your appliques can be ironed in place. I used the traditional machine embroidery method using a placement stitch, tack-down, and finishing stitch. I will show you in class how you can accomplish this method quite easily. I did not use steam a seam on the appliques as I felt it created build up on my needle which created quite a bit of thread breakage. You may utilize either method.

REQUIRED: “The Wonky Houses – Haunted Halloween” CD by Bruce Allen Designs for Fabric Confetti

Supply list:

• 2/3 yard background fabric – pattern calls for ½ yard; I cut my fabric large enough to hoop in an 8x12 hoop and felt the extra yardage allowed for better hooping.

• 1/3 yard contrast fabric for blocks with words

• Variety of applique fabrics – a great way to use your scraps and fat quarters

• 1/3 yard border fabric

• 1 yard backing fabric

• ¼ yard binding fabric used for loops if creating a vertical wall hanging)

• 1/8 yard optional fabric (not on pattern) – I added a narrow border before adding border

• Medium weight tear away stabilizer – wide enough to fit your hoop – there are five hoopings (3 houses and two word blocks – you will need two pieces of stabilizer for each hooping – one will be hooped and one will float below the hoop)

• 2 yards Pellon SF101 – I interfaced border fabric as well as applique block backgrounds

• Steam a seam fusible (optional) please see note above – must use if pre-cutting using SVG files

• Batting

• Embroidery threads to match or contrast with your applique fabrics

• Pre-wound bobbins – several light and dark

• Sewing thread for completing project

• 10 ½” square acrylic ruler if you own one – will make squaring blocks a cinch

Other supplies:

• Embroidery machine, power cord, embroidery foot, embroidery arm, 8x12 hoop or larger

• Sewing components for your machine including foot pedal and ¼” foot for sewing project

• Cutting mat, rotary cutter, acrylic ruler

• Applique scissors and thread snips

• Small ironing station is helpful if you are using pre-cut shapes

• Seam ripper and any other supplies you normally utilize while sewing / embroidering

PRIOR TO CLASS:

Download your machine’s file format for the pattern to a USB or save to your machine’s memory.

Large Halloween Wonky designs – this is where your machine file formats are found

Print off the instructions found on the required Wonky Houses CD

• HALLOWEEN WONKY HOUSES SO – optional to print – shows detail applique pieces

• Halloween Wonky Houses General Instructions – contains the information you need to complete the project

Prepare your background fabric – starch and press

• Cut (3) 12”X12” background squares for the houses from the starched background fabric

• Cut (2) 6”x12” rectangles for the word blocks from the starched fabric

• Interface all five blocks with Pellon SF 101

• Blocks will be cut down when embroidery is complete

• You may want to cut the fabric large enough so it can be hooped with the stabilizer to avoid puckering. I allowed for larger cutting in the fabric requirements on the first page. You will have more waste but the extra can be used for stash applique pieces.

• I applied SF101 to my border pieces. You will need (3) 3” x width of fabric for the borders.

Looking forward to seeing you in class!