2x2 fabric samples

So, here are my 2x2 fabric samples for the swap. Swap in the Mixed Media Art Friends group. I think sign-ups are until 6/1. Not sure.

This tutorial is more for fabric newbies.Experienced fabric artists can skip this.

You are better off starting off with a larger piece of fabric than the 2x2. I used a larger piece of fabric that I tore from a yard that I had. I sandwiched a piece of batting between the two fabric layers and cut the batting using the fabric as a guide. It does not have to be exact.

I started in the middle of the fabric sandwich and I went up and down in one direction with my sewing machine. Does not matter if you go length or width-wise. Just start in the middle and go outwards to your left or right and then outwards in the other direction. This is so the fabric does not pucker too much. You also want to have less tension than more so the stitches do not cause the sandwich to curl. I used longer rather than short stitches. Personal preference as to straight or zigzag stitch. I used both.

Once you are done with sewing one length, do it the other way so you have pretty much checkerboard. That means that if you were sewing length-wise, then sew width-wise in rows. Your rows can be pretty random. Do not do the rows too close together and far apart. That will cause curling, too. You just want to do enough sewing to hold the fabric sandwich together. I zig zagged and went in a diagonal in some rows.

Once you are done, use a sharp pair of scissors or rotary cutter and straighten out your edges. I then used a piece of card stock and paper cutter to cut a 2x2 template. Keep reading to see if you should use a 2 and 1/4" template or not. Either using a rotary cutter or very sharp pair of scissors, cut out your 2x2 squares using the paper template. If this is one of your first times sewing, you might want to make your template 2 and 1/4 inches square, so you can sew about 1/8 inch from the edge (easier that way). Once you are done sewing, you can trim the edges and it will be pretty close to 2". Sometimes, the fabric might bunch up on the edges and expose the batting. It you go in just a tad, then you will not have that problem. You can trim the excess when you are done.

I chose a close zigzag stitch to do the edges of each square. Try to get as close to the edge as possible without catching the edges. Do all 4 edges. Trim excess with very sharp scissors.

Embellish any way you like. I used the collaged flowers from Prima that I got from cutabovescrappin.com. I put a brad through one and sewed on a button in the other. It is okay if your square is not exactly 2" all around, most of mine are probably not. If you want to do embroidery or more sewing inside the square, then knock your socks off. It is okay if parts of the squares are a little puffy. I like that.

BTW, the square on the left was sewn inside out. The outside pattern is facing the inside of the fabric sandwich.

That's it. Hope you are playing in the swap. Email me if you have any questions about my instructions.