Free Motion Quilted Radiance Christmas Stocking
I’m beginning to think about Christmas!
My local quilt shop, Meissner’s in Folsom, recently began to stock Radiance fabric . Radiance is a Robert Kaufman fabric that is 55% cotton and 45% silk. I love the sheen of Radiance and use it frequently in my work. But it was languishing on their shelves and I began to think that customers just didn’t know what to do with it, thinking that it might be fussy. Well it’s not fussy at all, it just requires a few accommodations.
So I thought I’d whip up a sample Christmas stocking out of Radiance. While I was at it, I added some Texture Magic and FusiKnit, two products that they carry and I also use. It was a fun little romp of a project and for once in my life, I kept it simple!
I’m pretty happy with how it turned out-elegant and edited. I almost always stabilize Radiance when I work with it since it has a very soft hand. In this case I chose FusiKnit. FusiKnit does have a bit of a woven texture to it and, in a happy surprise, it added texture that gave the Radiance a Shantung kind of look-very subtle but nice. And it gave it good body which you want for a stocking.
I haven’t used Texture Magic a lot, but I do like the interesting results I get with it. In this case I just did a simple grid over the Radiance and the Texture Magic. Apparently when I have used Texture Magic previously, I must have overheated it because it left a pretty rigid feel afterwards. This time I read the directions, what a concept, and kept my heat a bit lower for the steaming and it left a much softer hand.
If you’re not familiar with Texture Magic, it is a steam-activated shrinking fabric made of polyester. When steam is applied, the fabric shrinks 30% in all directions, giving delightful texture to your piece.
Once I had steamed the cuff, I decided it needed just a bit of bling so I added green seed beads. I think it is just the right touch for the cuff.
I thought that a Christmas stocking just begged for my curve motif-especially in metallic thread! That motif requires two passes so that each curve is stitched twice-no more, no less. I took a photo as I was stitching to show that you don’t want to fill in every single space as you go through on the first pass. It’s good to leave some open space to fill on the second pass through-it gives a more elegant and well-spaced look.
Once I had all those curves in, I knew it needed a grid for balance. I love the look of this modified grid I learned from my Quilting Hero, Diane Gaudynski who calls this “Dianeshiko”. And of course, the intersections needed beads.
I finished the inside with Radiance lining. I love a luxurious lining in my garments-why not do the same for a stocking? If you are local, drop by the Folsom Meissner’s to see the stocking. If I had time I would get more Radiance and make a table runner and a tree skirt, sigh.
I love the stocking! Did you shrink the cuff before you did the grid quilting or did you quilt then shrink?
Thanks Cheryl! I quilted, then shrunk-boy that sounds funny:-/
Great tutorial! I may even try Texture Magic now. Thanks.
Thank you Cathy! I’ll be you can come up with some pretty cool things to do with a product that adds that much texture!
Another terrific lesson! It is good to know Meissner’s has Radiance. I’ll stop by next time I’m in Folsom. Wish I had known last week when we were there to see the current display of “collections” at the museum. BTW seeing collections which reflect other people’s passions was fun. The Barbie collection is amazing!
Thank you Marcia. I haven’t been to the museum for this collection yet-Barbie’s? What fun!
Beautiful, Jenny! Simply beautiful!
Thank you Margaret!
Gorgeous stocking! How long did it take to make?
Thank you Roxane! Hmm, it took about 8 hrs? I self drafted the pattern, used fusible batting (do not know the name-just flat stuff), had to rip out a bit at one point. I would imagine if I did it again it would be maybe 5 hrs. And, if I didn’t chose a motif that required double stitching like the curves, maybe 4 hrs? Beading takes no time btw-maybe 1 hr but I used a pretty small grid. Scale that grid up and it would be maybe 1/2 hr less.
Love this Jenny, I forgot i have that shrink stuff. I must look through my stash!
You are my hero! Anita
Anita you have every product in your stash!! You should get it out and do something fabulous and fun, then show me!
Jenny, this is GORGEOUS!! I wish MY local shop carried Radiance. That Texture Magic stuff looks pretty cool, too — you say you only need moderate heat to activate the shrinkage? Do you think I could use it on a 100% silk fabric, or on a silk/rayon velvet blend?
Making Christmas stockings is on my list, but it’s a long, LONG list and right now I’m up to my armpits with my Christmas quilt and other projects. But when I do get around to it — do you have a source for a good pattern and basic stocking instructions that can be jazzed up and adapted for different variations like what you did here?
Thank you Rebecca! You can order Radiance on-line of course, but it’s dangerous. Once you get some you’ll want more. I think it would work fine on silk, and velvet-ooooooo! I am not sure about it but try it because velvet would be fabulous all scrunchy. I think you’re on to something.
I just self drafted my pattern but I’m sure they’re available for free if you googled it. As to construction, I fused a layer of batt to the front and back, fmq’d the front, attached the completed cuff, beaded, sewed the two together, did the same for the lining, then just hand stitched the two tops together. Done.
Good luck with finding time……
Thanks for alerting me to the existence of Radiance. I love silk but don’t work with it a lot for quilting because of the need to back it. And who will be the lucky recipient of your classy stocking? The ones in my house were handknit years ago by a loving aunt, and feature loud colors, snowmen and santa faces. When I grow up I hope I’ll have stockings like the lovely one you made.
Glad you like it Joanna! Radiance behaves like cotton on one side and like silk charmeuse on the other. I know it’s a little annoying that it usually needs to be backed to give it a sturdier hand. But it’s just so lovely quilted up. I don’t have a recipient in mind, actually made it as a shop sample. Oh you could make a great stocking for yourself!!
If I had the time, I would check out Radiance but my buying resistance is at a low ebb and my stash is at tsunami level (if you catch my drift!! LOL!). The stocking is beautiful….so elegant. The opposite of the one I posted today……but, the style was requested by the customer. Great, informative post!!!! (as always!) Hugs……
Love the stocking. Just a thought – not that it would be easy – I would love to see you make a stocking using your daisy-fill concept.
Wow, never thought of that-that would be really cool! Thanks Kris!