Do you love fall? I’m getting ready! Today I wanted to share a couple of pretty projects with you. I don’t know why, but I think that fall projects look especially beautiful when you add a bit of shimmer- maybe because it brightens up what can be a bit of a dark palette. That *sparkle* makes your projects extra pretty!

We will be making a double-sided, hang-able ornament- perfect to hang in a window, from a door knob, use as a gift topper… And then we will make a pillow, too.

This post will also appear over at the Thermoweb blog– be sure to stop by and see all of the fabulous projects and creative ideas being shared over there!

To make the ornaments, you will need:

• *2 pieces of cotton fabric, each 5 1/4″ x 8 1/4″
• *Thin batting, 5 1/4″ x 8 1/4″
• **2 pieces of Heat n Bond Lite fusible web, each 5 1/8″ x 8 1/8″
• **DecoFoil in your choice of color and DecoFoil Hot Melt Adhesive Sheet  (For mine, I used Gold Deco Foil.)
• *Thread for sewing in the vein pattern, and heavier thread or pearl cotton to use as a hanger
• *Chalk pencil, pencil, sharp scissors, sewing machine
• *Leaf Pattern- Click here 

Fuse a piece of Heat n Bond Lite to the wrong sides of the fabrics. Peel off the paper backing.

Fuse a piece of fabric to each side of the batting. You will have a “sandwich” with the batting in the middle, and the fabrics facing right side out.

Print and cut out the large leaf pattern. Use a chalk pencil to trace the pattern shape onto your “sandwich.” Cut out.

Trace the small leaf pattern onto the smooth (non-adhesive) side of the adhesive sheet.  (Note that you will need 2- cut 1 as shown on the pattern, and then flip the pattern over and trace 1 reversed leaf.)  Cut out on line.

Fuse the adhesive shapes to each side of the fabric leaf. Be sure to use the parchment paper pressing sheet included in the package of adhesive.  Allow to cool COMPLETELY before removing the paper.

Use the pressing sheet included in the DecoFoil package, and follow the package directions to fuse the foil to the leaves. (Use a warm, not hot, iron, and wait for it to completely cool before gently pulling off the foil sheet.)

To make the veins, use a darning foot and drop the feed dogs on your sewing machine and “free-motion” your design (think of it as doodling with your sewing machine!)

Use a sewing needle to create a hanging loop with the heavy thread.

To make the pillow, you will need:

• *2 pieces of cotton fabric for pillow background and backing, each 10 1/2″ x 18 1/2″
• *Scraps of dark gray or brown cotton fabric for leaf appliques
• *Thin batting, 11 1/2″ x 19 1/2″
• **Heat n Bond Lite fusible web
• **DecoFoil and DecoFoil Hot Melt Adhesive Sheet
• *SprayNBond Basting Adhesive Spray
• *Thread for machine applique and sewing in the vein pattern
• *Polyester filling
• *Sewing machine, pencil, scissors
• *Leaf Pattern- Click here

I really like the “monochromatic” look of my leaves- I think they are very “modern”! To get this look, match the colors of your leaf fabric, DecoFoil, and thread. For mine, I used a dark gray fabric and Pewter DecoFoil, which I think is really gorgeous and “classy”!

Trace the large leaf pattern onto the paper (non-adhesive) side of the Heat n Bond Lite fusible web. Cut out around the shapes, leaving about 1/8″ border around each shape.

Fuse the leaf shapes to the wrong side of the applique fabrics. Cut out shapes on line.

Remove paper backing. Arrange the leaves, right side up, on the pillow background fabric. Fuse in place, following package instructions.  (***If desired, layer the batting under your pillow front before doing the applique- see note below.)

Machine applique around the leaves with a zig zag or buttonhole stitch.

Trace the small leaf pattern onto the smooth (non-adhesive) side of the adhesive sheet. Cut out on line.

Fuse the adhesive shapes to each side of the fabric leaf. Be sure to use the parchment paper pressing sheet included in the package of adhesive. Allow to cool COMPLETELY before removing the paper.

Use the pressing sheet included in the DecoFoil package, and follow the package directions to fuse the foil to the leaves. (Use a warm, not hot, iron, and wait for it to completely cool before gently pulling off the foil sheet.) Be sure that you use the pressing sheet! If you touch previously foiled areas directly with your hot iron, the foil will melt away (ask me how I know!!) So just be sure that your entire area is covered with the pressing sheet.

Place the appliqued pillow background on the batting. (Yes- you CAN use your scrap batting for this, as you can see in my photo. Click here for a tutorial for piecing together your scrap pieces of batting.) Use Spray n Baste to secure the layers.

***I used batting under the applique layer to give more body and dimension to the pillow front. I realized after I did my machine applique, that it really would have been smart to layer the batting underneath before I did the machine applique. So, feel free to add that layer of batting before you applique your leaves- it will work as a “quilt as you applique” technique!

To make the veins, use a darning foot and drop the feed dogs on your sewing machine and “free-motion” your design.

Trim away the excess batting.

Place the appliqued pillow front right sides together with the pillow back. Pin layers together. Sew the layers together, using a 3/8″ seam allowance. Leave a 7″ opening at the bottom of the pillow for turning and stuffing, and be sure to back stitch the beginning and ending of your stitching.

Clip corners.

Turn the pillow right side out through the opening.

Press the edges lightly, using the pressing sheet! Remember- you don’t want to touch your foiled areas with the iron without the protection of the pressing sheet!

Stuff pillow with polyester filling. Hand stitch opening of pillow closed.

Now, a tip:

In case you have some “bald” spots, or if you accidentally touch your iron to the foil and need to fill it in- I put a small amount of DecoFoil Liquid Adhesive on the area that I wanted to cover, then used a small paint brush to thin it out. Allow to dry until completely clear. Place a small piece of Decofoil over it, and cover with a pressing sheet and proceed as usual for using DecoFoil.

Voila! What a beautiful fall project for your home!

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