Project Quilting 10.3: Bigger Than a Breadbox

This week's Project Quilting challenge theme was Bigger Than a Breadbox!  Three-dimensional quilts were not required, but the dimensions of a flattened out breadbox were defined as 16" x 9", which was the minimum size for all of this week's entries. 

My first plan was to enter my hand dyed quilted mandala as it met the minimum size requirements.  However, the more I thought about the Bigger than a Breadbox theme, the more I wanted to explore three-dimensional ideas.  In my Sew in Love February newsletter, I posted several ideas for showing your sewing machine some love, inluding links to several online tutorials for making a sewing machine cover.  Now was the time to follow my own advice and show my Juki TL-2010Q some love!!!

The hardest part of making my entry was choosing a design for my sewing machine cover!  Of course, I made it more complicated by wanting to make it reversible!  Initially I considered patchwork, but couldn't decide on a design or fabic.  So I kept it simple by creating a wholecloth quilt to showcase a variety of modern, free-motion filler designs.  Now I only needed to choose two fabrics that coordinated with each other, as well as the teal accents sprinkled around my studio.  I chose a vibrant, cool colored wavy striped print, and a glowing EE Schenck Gelato ombre that gradates from a beautiful raspberry to a brilliant teal!

To add structure to my quilted sandwich, I added a layer of Pellon Decor Bond between the batting and ombre backing.  The stripes provided the perfect mark-free guide for all the stitched designs.  White (#2024) Aurifil 40wt was used on top with matching 50wt in the bobbin.  Two hours later, the quilting was finished and included a variety of loop de loop designs, door bead motifs, and simple wavy lines that echoed the printed stripes.

Since I wasn't sure how much the quilt sandwich would shrink with dense quilting, I oversized my quilt sandwich by adding a few inches to the width and height.  Once the qulting was complete, I draped it over my sewing machine and trimmed to the size needed.  To make the side ties, I used a package of Wright's 1/4" double fold bias tape that was stitched closed along the length of the folds cut into four strips, and stitched into place prior to binding.  Laid flat, the sewing machine cover measures 19.5" x 27".

And in less than 5 hours, start to finish, here is my completed Bigger Than a Bread Box Sewing Machine Cover.  In use, it is 19.5" wide, 11" tall and 10" deep.

While I loved the bold wavy print, I also love how the ombre side really showcases the quilted textures!!  Thankfully it is super easy to turn inside out, so I can keep switching back and forth!

I am linking my finished Sewing Machine Cover for online Voting.  Please check out all the Bigger Than a Breadbox entries and VOTE for your favorites!!  Hint Hint--check out entry #108.