Slice & Stitch Challenge!

I am so excited to be this month's Slice & Stitch challenger! Slice & Stitch challenges are a combined effort between Aurifil and Olfa, and this year Michael Miller stepped in to provide the fabric! Each challenger is given fabric, thread, and an Olfa tool to create something fun!

For the challenge, I received Aurifil’s Sardinia Pink Color Builder box (with 50wt spools in colors #2410 Pale Pink, #2425 Bright Pink, and #2530 Blossom Pink), OLFA’s Circle Cutter, and three pink fat quarters of Michael Miller Cotton Couture solids. I have never used the OLFA Circle Cutter before, but I was extremely excited for all the fun ideas you can make with circles!

Since it's almost summer, I wanted to make an ice cream cone from the circle cutter.  Here's what my final project looked like:

For this project, you'll need the following:

• Fat eighths of your ice cream colors
• 1/4 yard of the cone color
• 1/2 yard of the yellow
• 1/4 yard of the off white
• 22" square of Muslin
• 20" pillow form
• Creative Grids 90 deg Quarter Square Triangle Ruler
• Frixion pen
• Fabric Scissors
• 22" square of Batting
• Odif fabric booster (optional)
• Odif 404 repositioning spray (optional)
• Olfa Circle Cutter
• Aurifil thread to match your ice cream
• Aurifloss to match your cone color

For the background, cut two 2.5"x width of fabric strips each of the off white and yellow. Sew the strips in alternating colors and press seams to the yellow fabric.  Using the Quarter Square triangle ruler, cut 4 quarter square triangles.  After sewing the triangles together, your square should measure 16.5".  Then, I added a dark cone color border.  The darker cone color border measurements, two 2.5"x16.5" and two 2.5"x20.5" strips.

To make the ice cream, use the circle cutter to cut approximately 60% of the circle.  The more of the circle you cut the higher each scoop will sit on each other.  If you cut less of the circle, the more melted your scoop will look.  After I cut the circle, I used my Frixion to draw a cloud under the circle and cut it out with fabric scissors.  For the Olfa cutter settings, the scoop sizes from largest to smallest are 5", 4.5" and 4".

Tip: Treat the fabric with Fabric booster prior to using the circle cutter to help control the fabric shifting.

For the cone, I used paper to cut out the triangle to test the size of the cone prior to cutting fabric.  You can make the cone tall and skinny or short and squatty.    I added some extra color around the cone in the pink circles using the smallest setting on the Olfa cutter.

Tip:  I used Odif 404 Repositioning Spray to test out my layout prior to appliqueing the pieces onto the background.

Once you have the desired placement, zig-zag stitch or blanket stitch around all of the raw edges of the pieces to applique them to the background.  Use your corresponding Aurifil thread color to match the fabric!  Layer the top with the batting and muslin backing and quilt as desired. I used a natural off white to quilt the background.

Did you notice what I forgot?  I forgot to backstitch the embellishments on the cone!  I should have done that before quilting, but it's okay to add itafter as well.  I drew lines that were parallel to the sides of the cone 1/2" apart.

Now to assemble the pillow.  Cut 2 pieces of the yellow 13"x20.5".  The 13" is approximate, this dimension is the two flaps for the pillow.  Hem the edge by folding 1/4" on one edge and then again with a topstitch.  Align the raw edges to the front of the pillow cover and sew all the way around. Turn the pillow cover inside out and you have your finished pillow!

Head on over to OLFA’s blog to check out Sarah Gozzo‘s project and don’t miss the next Slice & Stitch Challenge for 2020 coming up in July!