Every now and then a pattern comes along that makes me want to drop everything and start it NOW.
That’s what happened with the Patchwork Quilted Bow - as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted a big statement bow for the main door of our house.
Bow Mantra
Since I had never made a bow before, I chose to be kind to myself and embrace any “oopsies” along the way. You’re *supposed* to make mistakes the first time you try something new, right? Right.
< Can you tell I struggle with perfectionism??? >
In any case, I consciously decided that there was no wrong way to make this project and that I would just go for it and enjoy the process.
And you know what? I think that attitude served me really well because I had SO MUCH FUN making this bow!
Fabric Selection
Right away, I knew that I wanted to make this bow with a “classic holiday” colour scheme. I was happy to learn that I could make the pattern using fat quarters (of which I have many), but my stash is really light on both red and green fabrics. So off to the quilt shop I went!
I figured that one of the stores in Brandon MB would carry some cute Christmas fabric, and I wasn’t wrong! Mama Bears had a display of the entire line of Cozy Wonderland by Fancy That Design House for Moda at the front of the shop.
In order to get the maximum visual impact, I chose fabrics that read as mostly-solid. I picked out a lighter and a darker print in the red, green, and blue colourways, and added a pop of white (Moda Bella Solids in Off White - 200). In total, I used seven different fabrics.
They all looked so nice together, I knew I was going to love this project!
Interfacing the Fabric
The pattern indicates that you might want to use EasyPiecing Grid when creating the patchwork. I assume this is to a) speed up the piecing process, and b) add some structure to the finished project.
My biggest concern was making a floppy Patchwork Quilted Bow, so I decided to err on the side of caution and interface the fabric.
I didn’t have any EasyPiecing Grid on hand, but I had plenty of Pellon Shape-Flex (also known as SF101). With a quick pass of my iron, I adhered it to the back of all my fabric before cutting it into strips.
If you’ve never used SF101 before, it’s a lightweight fusible interfacing that gives your fabric a bit more stiffness and body. It’s often used in bag making and garments, and it worked like a treat for this project.
Creating the Patchwork
My favourite thing about this project is that it’s made up of patchwork, just like a quilt!
Since efficiency is my love language, I used strip piecing to speed up the patchwork process. Whenever I found myself agonizing over the placement of a fabric, I told my perfectionist brain to relax and JUST GO FOR IT.
Claire was a big helper at this stage, as you can tell.
In total, I created six different strip sets, then I chopped them up into smaller strips. I pressed all of the seams in alternating directions so they nested perfectly when I assembled them into the panels required for the pattern. It even allowed me to swirl the seams, which made for a (somewhat) flatter panel.
I love it when I can avoid using pins!
Quilting
Since I *really* didn’t want my bow to be floppy, I made sure to use a thicker batting. I debated using Soft and Stable, but didn’t have a big enough piece in my pile of remnants. Then I found a perfectly-sized scrap piece of wool batting, and decided to just go for it and use the (very expensive) batting.
The pattern mentions that Poly-Fil Hi-Loft batting would be a good choice, and I have to agree. This would be a great project to use up any extra scraps you have of this product.
I basted the patchwork panels to my batting using Odif 505 spray, and then quilted them using my Janome MC 6700P sewing machine. I chose to quilt lines on both sides of each seam (I did both horizontal and vertical lines), and I like the overall handmade look.
Finishing the Patchwork Quilted Bow
The next steps in the pattern were clear and easy to follow, and in no time I had myself a finished bow. It was a really different construction method, but was fun to do and the finished project looks just like the pattern. #winning
I added the optional piece of string so that I could attach it to the wreath on our door. It was super easy to tie it on, and I love the way the two look together. It would also look great without the wreath, but in this instance I feel more is more.
Every time I come in or out of the house, I give a little squeal of delight. I’m waiting for one of the neighbours to compliment my amazing bow so I can say “Thanks, I MADE IT!!”
Advice for Next Time
My bow is nice and structured, and holds its shape well. No drooping décor at my house! It helps that it’s -15°C (5°F) outside (because it’s frozen solid), but it was looking great before I hung it outside as well. Promise.
The SF101 and wool batting combo might have been overkill, and I’d be curious to see if the following would produce an equally-sturdy bow:
- SF101 interfacing and “regular” (low loft) batting
- No interfacing and Soft and Stable for batting
If I were to make another one (trust me, the temptation is real), I’d probably start with the first option and see how it turned out.
This bow took me the better part of a day to complete (although I spread it out over several sessions), but I would imagine the second one could be finished in a morning or afternoon.
I would 100% recommend this pattern to anyone looking to add some handmade charm to their decorations. While I made mine for Christmas, it would look cute for any other holiday as well!
Have you made a Patchwork Quilted Bow (or are you now going to)? Let me know in the comments!
