Folded Dahlia Pillow Problem and a question
 

Thanks to the beautiful pillows posters have shown and the tutorial on this site, I tried my hand at making the folded Dahlia. When you look at my pictures you will see that it is not nearly as perfect as the ones I tried to copy. If you have made one please tell me where I went astray. The problem started with the folding. The first few folds were OK but then on the latter folds, my raw edges at the bottom of each strip weren't being covered. I started to fold a bit differently in order to cover all raw edges and now my strips (petals) aren't even. I would sure like to know what I did wrong. My next question is, "What do I do now?" There were no further instructions in the tutorial and I'm really afraid that if I just sew around the very bottom edges that over time, some of the folded pieces will pull out. Any suggestions? Thanks

I have never made one so I can not be of much help. I must say that it is really beautiful!

We, our quilt club, just made Christmas balls for a hospice tree that was bought by a large company here and then donated to a charity for Christmas. I, too, had trouble with mine. I see on the right side your greem center is okay, but the blue next is not pushed far enough into the center. Your green center points are all longer on the right side. Then when you go to add the next row, you stay out further which is putting everything off. I finally had to use my little 6" ruler and measure so my next row from the center was the same all around. Try this and maybe it will come out better. When you are satisified with the whole thing, either glue it or sew it down inside under each fold. That way it will stay together. Then I would use a compass and draw a circle around it. You can either put it in a round hoop and cut the loose edges off; or you can sew or applique a different fabic around it and make it into a pillow top or frame it. I think it is beautiful as it is but you could correct it if you like.

That is gorgeous! You were brave to even try it. I saw the tutorial and I thought, "No way, I can't do that."

your pillow looks great, even though it is not perfect. i would have been lost if it got off track, too. so ragamuffin's advice is very welcomed.

Its beautiful. I see you have some good advice from someone who has doen this. I haven't, so I can't help. I just wanted to say that I love it; imperfections and all.

Can't help with what happened but it is just beautiful, thank you for sharing
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

It really takes a trained eye to see something wrong with it, it's beautiful!

I've not made one so am no help there. But yours looks beautiful to me! I love it.

Since I haven't made one, I can't see anything wrong with it. I think it is beautiful. The colors are perfect. I have been wanting to make one to cover an old chair bottom, now I'm afraid to. Someday maybe I will try it and see if I can do it. I don't have a lot of patience, that's why I wind up with a lot of UFO's on hand.

sassy granny

I am pretty new and would love to get this pattern. Could anyone help me out? I personally think your project is great!

Great job!

I agree with ragamuffin, it really helps to use your 6" ruler to help things line up better. I starched my fabrics first, that helped make the points nice and crisp as well as the folds. I think your pillow is just beautiful, the colors are gorgeous together! I know I personally just needed a bit of fine tuning and practice.

Here is a tutorial link; http://www.quiltingboard.com/links-r...t-t114516.html

I went back and hand sew on the bottom edge of each flap. Love your colors

I think it's great. I would add more of the background all the way around and get it fully "set" into a block. Do you plan on washing it? If you do, Perhaps you could top stitch right through it with a clear thread... There's no way I would back all of that out and redo it. I think I would use it the way it is and make some more until I perfect it. Definitely using the ruler. Your fabrics are beautiful.

I have made a couple of those and had the same thoughts as you did...so I put a couple of stitches at the end of each point...seemed to work pretty well too...I also tried cutting the bulk of the material, because I want to incorporate the block into a quilt..That is as far as I have gotten because I had to finish up my son's quilt...but now that's finished maybe I will go and work on it some more..Love your colors...

Type in "folded Dahlia" in the search field and it will pop up...

I had to sew each set of folds down (right and left) Otherwise they will come out of there when washed! Your dahlia is beautiful even though you know it is not perfect. 99 out of a hundred would not notice the imperfection. Don't let it stress you, enjoy the beauty!

Thanks everyone. Believe it or not, my Dahlia is cut from a single piece of fabric, that sure saved a lot of time trying to decide on colors, fabrics etc. I think I will unfold one of the sections and try the advice given. I did use a ruler when I layered the fabrics but not when I folded them. It is thick and heavy. I can understand wanting to trim some of it out before using it in a quilt. It was fun!!

It looks gorgeous! See, those of us who have never done one cannot tell where you went wrong. It is so cool looking! I bet the next one goes easier!!! It is on my to-do list!! :)