Blue Jay Quilt Square Kit

Description

The Blue Jay Quilt Square Kit makes a 16″ square with the black frame or a 12″ square without the frame.

The Blue Jay is a woodland songbird which can mimic the calls of other birds plus it has a noisy call of its own.  They are intelligent and have a well structured family arrangement.  Jays are particularly fond of acorns..

They have been known to live up to 26 years.

Based on the drawings of Alexander Wilson from the mid 1800s, this square may be joined with others in the series to make a beautiful quilt or wall hang, or it can be made into a 14″ pillow by adding a pillow insert, or it can be used as a standalone piece. Some of bird parts have puzzle edges to aid in properly aligning the parts during assembly.

Everything you need to start is right in the package including precision cut wool felt, floss, a sewing needle and instructions.

Rating: Apprentice – 4 Hours

This product is Made in the USA in our Shop in Colfax, California.

Instructions (Use Black Floss except where noted):

1. Pin the tree trunk and branches to the green square, being careful to match the box photo.
2. Blanket stitch the branches and tree trunk to the green square, but leave the outer edges of the square unstitched.
3. Pin the cream body, blue tail, lt. blue cape, black collar, and cream face in place, interlocking the puzzle edges.
4. Blanket stitch the edges of the bird parts.
5. Chain stitch the cream and black feather detail, black beak, yellow nose, black legs, and the black and yellow eye.
6. Back stitch the feather details in black floss and the face details in blue floss.
7. Running stitch using black floss on the tummy.
8. Back stitch the tree trunk and branches to make the bark come alive.
9. Pin and blanket stitch the cherry blossom cream petals then repeat for the pink centers.
10. Blanket stitch the green square to one black backing.
11. Using cream floss, add a second black backing and blanket stitch the edges.

Our wool felt is Made in the USA from wool grown in the USA.  It is a blend of 35% wool and 65% rayon.

Why A Blend? 

• Our goal was to have a blend that is close to the wool/cotton blend which has been in use for hundreds of years through out the world.
• The wool/cotton blend was favored over 100% wool or 100% cotton as the combination provided much better service
  • The wool provided strength and warmth while the cotton added breathability and softness to touch.
  • It was an ideal combination for all kinds of weather and purposes.
• Rayon and cotton are almost identical with cotton being a little bit softer and rayon being more silky or shinny on the surface.

How are Rayon and Cotton Different?

• Rayon is made from cellulose, a carbohydrate plant substance, derived from wood and wood pulp which is then made into fibers.
• Cotton is made of cellulose fibers from the cotton plant.