Muslin and Batting

Cut two pieces of muslin 13 1/2x 21 (330 x 533mm). Cut one piece of quilt batting 13 1/2x 20 1/4 (330 x 514mm). Place quilt batting between the two pieces of muslin, aligning at the top so that the batting is shorter than the muslin on the bottom.

Quilt the Panel

Machine quilt in a harlequin pattern with red cotton thread, leaving 1 1/2" (38mm) of the muslin unquilted on top and bottom edges. Don’t worry if the lines aren’t perfectly straight. Most of this will be covered and uneven stitches give a handmade look.

Border Strips

Cut four strips 13x 2 (330 x 51mm) from patterned fabric. Fold in seam allowances 1/2(13mm), apply iron-on adhesive or fabric glue, and attach to the top front of the quilted fabric. Add another strip at the base approximately 3/4 (19mm) from the bottom edge. Add buttons. Save two strips for title block top and bottom.

Side Strips

Cut two strips of gingham fabric 3x 21 (76 x 533mm). Turn and press sides in 1/2(13mm), then fold in half vertically. Turn top of each strip in 1/2 (13mm) and secure with fabric glue.

Attaching

Turn top muslin edges in 1/2(13mm) but leave open for the tabs. Apply iron-on adhesive or fabric glue to long edges of both strips. Attach strips to each side of the quilted backing, turning and pressing into place. Trim lower portions of gingham and quilted muslin straight across the bottom. Ravel 1/2 (13mm) of all bottom edges of fabrics.

Hanging Tabs

Cut five pieces of gingham (Figure 2, p. 116) 3x 6 (76 x 152mm). Stitch, right sides together. Turn and press leaving ends open. Ravel one end 1/2" (13mm). Insert the other end into the top edge between muslin, seams facing forward. Space tabs evenly. Stitch the seam closed. Fold tabs to the front and stitch buttons in place to secure.

Printing

Cut freezer paper to 8 1/2x 11 (216 x 279mm) sheets. Line up paper edges with the grain of the fabric. Iron muslin to the shiny side of the freezer paper. Trim to paper edges. Dust fabric with an anti-static embossing pouch to prevent bleeding. Print titles and photo on an inkjet printer. Remove freezer paper.

Attach Title Block

Trim the title block and title block strips from earlier to 9" (229mm) wide. Ravel ends. Overlap strips on top and bottom edges of the title block and top stitch along the fold to attach. Top stitch outer folded edges of title block strips. Attach strip-edged title block to the background with fabric glue or iron-on adhesive.

Hanging

Cut additional print fabric to 8x 12 (208 x 305mm), 3 1/4x 9 1/2 (83 x 241mm), and 3x 4 (76 x 102mm). Trim and ravel all edges of the muslin. Place according to the photo. Secure with iron-on adhesive or fabric glue, layering printed text and photos on top. Embellish as desired.

If you do not like the stitches of each piece showing on the back, do not add your side strips until everything is stitched in place, then add a piece of plain muslin to the back. Turn the top edge under and secure with iron-on adhesive or fabric glue, then add side strips.

For a more handmade look, stitch the layered fabrics to the background by hand. To give the fabric an aged appearance, fray all raw edges and stamp or sponge edges with brown ink.

This how-to is excerpted with permission from Scrapbooking for Home Decor: How to Create Frames, Boxes, and Other Beautiful Items from Photographs and Family Memories by Candice Windham, published by Design Originals.