Funky 3-D Houses

Materials:
Funky House pattern with templates
muslin fabric
Sobo fabric glue
fabric glue stick
fusible web
variety of fabrics (cottons or batiks, 1/2-yard increments)
buttons, beads, wire, yarn, other found objects
1 yard of Warm and Natural or Hobbs cotton batting
polyester, cotton and Sulky threads
12" x 12" piece of lightweight plywood
basic sewing supplies

Steps:

Roof and House

2. Make two quilt sandwiches of three layers (muslin or cotton, batting and decorative fabric) (figure B) that are the size of a fat quarter (18" x 22"). One quilt sandwich will be for the house and the other sandwich will be for the roof. The sandwich layers consist of plain cotton or muslin for the bottom layer, cotton batting for the middle layer, and fun quilting cottons, batiks or other fabrics for the top layer.

3. Quilt each sandwich using free-motion techniques, grid work (with a walking foot), or hand-stitch decorative stitches. Tip: Vary the stitching style, stitch with colorful threads, or add fused colorful fabrics swatches, flowers, etc., to give the house more character (figure C).

4. Cut four 5" x 5" panel squares using the square template (included with pattern, or make your own). Select one square for the front of the house and decide on the door's location.

5. Select the door fabric and place it, wrong side down, on the rough side of the fusible web. Carefully press using the medium setting on the iron. Let cool.

7. Use the window template to cut out windows and determine window placement. Follow steps 5 and 6 used to make the doors. Place windows on the front and other three sides of the house (figure E).

8. Cut four roof pieces (figure F) using the triangle template from the roof sandwich.

9. Finish the raw edges of the roof pieces with a satin stitch.

1. To join the four house panels (squares), butt two edges of the house together. Join the edges with a zigzag stitch and decorative thread (figure G). Continue until all four sides are joined.

Note: When joining the last seam, manipulate the house so that it will fit under the pressure foot of the sewing machine (figure H). Compress the side of the house in order to sew this last seam. It will bounce back (figure I)!

2. Join the four roof pieces (triangles) (figure J) using the same technique as in step 1.

Grass Base

1. To make the 14" x 14" grass sandwich, stitch together muslin, batting and grass fabric. Quilt the grass sandwich (figure K).

2. Turn the grass sandwich right side down on your work surface. Spread fabric glue in the middle of the square and distribute a thin layer over the sandwich.

3. Place the 12" x 12" plywood square down in the center of the grass sandwich.

4. Fold the edges of the grass sandwich over the plywood (figure L). Place a telephone book or other heavy objects on the edges to hold it down while the glue dries.

5. Cut a 10" x 10" square of light-colored cotton to cover the raw edges of the grass sandwich and to provide a space for your signature. Prioleau attached a fused photo-transfer image to the plywood for her signature square (figure M).

6. Fold under the raw edges of the signature square and press. Apply a small amount of fabric basting glue to the underside of the signature square.

7. Place the square, glue side down, over the raw edges of the grass sandwich. Press into place with your hand or a telephone book. Let dry.

8. Hand stitch to secure this square to the grass sandwich base. Sign and date the bottom.

1. Decide where the house will sit on the grass base. Trace the outline on the base with the square house template and a fabric pencil. Off-center the square (figure N) for a funky appearance.

2. Add buttons, beads and other decorative touches to the house, roof and grass base (figure O). Avoid placing any embellishments inside the traced square. Add a fun button or bead to be used as a doorknob.

3. To attach the house base to the grass base, place a thin line of fabric glue along the bottom edge of the house (figure P); place the house on the grass base using the traced square as a guide. Let dry.

4. Secure with hand-stitches.

5. Attach the roof to the house with a thin line of fabric glue along the top edges of the house (figure Q). The roof will hang over the edges of the house (figure R). Let dry.

6. Hand-stitch the roof to the base to secure (figure S).

7. Add any other fun landscaping items such as trees, rocks, toy cars, etc.