3D Dream Big Leaf

In this blog you find a description on how to make a 3D Big Dream Leaf quilt.

I often get the question what to make with a Dream Big Leaf panel (Hoffman Fabrics). From this Big Dream Leaf panel I made a 3D quilt.

First of all I have quilted 1 panel with a batting and backing. I also finished the borders with a binding and a strip on the back to hang the quilt.

Quilting layers together

For getting the 3D effect, I have used two more Dream Big Leaf panels. The pins on the picture show what can be cut out of the first panel and what can be cut out of the second panel. The center has a red pin, the second row has white pins, the following row has red pins and so on. The parts with the red pins can be cut out of 1 panel, the parts with the white pins can be cut out of the other panel.

From panel 1 I cut out the center and the turquoise leaves. From panel 2 I cut out the second row and the pointy turquoise leaves.

Pins show the layers to cut

I have ironed Steam a Seam at the back of the panels:

With Steam on the Seam on the back of the panel, I have cut out the green center piece of the panel. To do this I used a small rotary cutter (28mm). I have cut out this shape with a small seam allowance added.

   After that I have cut out the turquoise leaves from the same panel. Also here I have added a small seam allowance.

On the back of the second panel I have ironed Steam a Seam. From this panel I have cut out the second row from the center plus the pointy turquoise leaves:

 After cutting out all the shapes, I have ironed the pattern pieces on a matching fabric. I removed the paper of the Steam a Seam and have placed the pattern piece on the wrong side of the background fabric. I used a Hoffman batik, where both sides are the same so I didn’t need to worry about a right or wrong side.

 When all pieces are ironed on a background fabric, they can be cut out exact (cut away the seam allowance).

Thereafter I have pinned all pieces on a water soluble fleece. With the soluble fleece behind the leaves, I stitched the veins of the leaves with the same color thread as the leaves. Als the small veins were done to keep the water soluble fleece in place.

I have cut away the excess soluble fleece, I only left it behind the leaves not outside the leaves. From the center piece I have cut out a circle in the center.

I have put all pieces separately in water to dissolve the soluble fleece.

When the soluble fleece was dissolved I have place all items on a foam board. To give them shape, I have placed pins underneath the leaves to keep them in place.
It is nice to have them curled in different directions.

All items need to dry thoroughly which takes about 12 hours, everything needs to be firm and stiff before stitching them onto the quilt.
When all items were dry, I have stitched all parts onto the quilt, starting from the center outwards. I haven’t stitched them completely flat onto the quilt, but I have left some pieces ‘hanging loose’ to give it a more 3D effect.

Front image

Side image

Used materials
3 Dream Big Leaf panels (Hoffman Fabrics)
Batting 80/20
Backing fabric 44 x 44 inch
Backing fabrics for patterns pieces in color of the different parts
Steam a Seam 4,5 yards
Threads
Foam plates