Benson's Quilt : Trapunto, "Aussie Fur" Inner Border, Auditioning Trims

This evening I cut out the image of Benson in a circle (thank you fancy dessert plate) and then backed it with knit fusible, a layer of batting cut a little smaller than the smaller and affixed it with spray adhesive, then another circle of knit fusible.  

I pinned a square of batting to the back of the background square, set up my machine for free motion, and outlined the leaves in brown polyester machine embroidery thread.  Then I carefully cut the batting away, on the outside of the shape.

I ironed and starched my "Aussie fur fabric", sewed the three sheets together lengthwise and then cut them in long strips.  I pieced the strips together and turned under the long edges.  I applied this around the perimeter of the background square, thus hiding the border of blue flowers, which I found distracting.  I made false miters at the corners by turning down the corners at 45 degree angles and holding them in place with fabric glue.  I pinned all of this in place.

Using clear thread (my new best friend!!)  I appliquéd my Fur Border.  It lays very flat and was pretty easy to do.

I then placed Benson's image on the background square to audition trims.  I plan to appliqué Benson in place raw edge, with a zig zag in clear thread, but I want to audition some trims to hide the raw edges.  I tried four trims, and like two of them.


Here we are, pinned and glued.

Here is the back of the background square with the batting trimmed away.

Below is my fake mitered corner.

Close up of free motion stitching around motifs to make them puff out a bit.

Fur border appliquéd on.  Benson is just sitting there for show.

The trim below might work if I dyed it with coffee.  Strong coffee.  

Below is my first pick for trim.  My only concern is how to connect the ends.

This one seems too bulky and ordinary.

 Below is my second pick for trim.

Update on Benson's Quilt

Yay, the top border is almost done!  I stayed up until midnight doing this and then just had to quit and go to bed.  I am just loving this Freezer Paper Method!  Thank you, Allie Aller!  The turned under edges are appliquéd down with a narrow zigzag using clear there.   It lays very flat and is a breeze to do.  I use lots of pins and stitch slowly.

I am thinking of doing some trapunto work behind the flower shaped center medallion.  And of course Benson's image will be round.  I plan to reprint it, a little larger, and hopefully with better resolution.  He is looking a little lost in the middle of all this!

I have used two methods to print the photos.  The first is to iron freezer paper onto tight weave cotton, trim to exactly 8 1/2 x 11" and run through the printer.  Then I peel off the freezer paper, and soak the piece in vinegar for 10 minutes to set the ink and let dry.  No rinsing.  The second is to print onto TAP paper, and then iron onto fabric.