Do you stifle the urge to part with lovely leftover fabrics, but unsure of how to use them? Many of us save cut-offs and tid-bits, tossing them into containers to be consumed on a rainy day. Or, perhaps you clip leftover fabrics into strips which seldom see the light of day. Or maybe just collect beautiful textiles for a someday project. Get ready for fun – all those treasured scraps can now be put to use in quilted jewelry!
These one of a kind personalized items can adorn the body as a wearable art form. The finished jewelry might be bright, bold, and colorful, or it might sport more subdued shades. Whether flashy or subtle, your creations will be a summation of your own personal color selections, pattern combinations, and stitching. The final products will be a unique reflection of your personal taste and style.
Beauty in Gem Stones
Gem stones are the center stage focal point and back bone of many jewelry items. Used alone as a single area of attention or combined with others, gem stones have long been used to highlight the human body. Who says gems need to be actual hard stones? How about using our “gem” fabrics as a substitute for precious stones? Simple yet interesting shapes can be created with colorful fabrics used in a jewelry setting. “Soft” gem stones can be stitched as a single unit (or combined into multiple units) on straps forming bracelets. Or, perhaps you might decide on another option: utilizing quilted gem stones in necklaces as centers of attraction. Once the gem stone units have been created, spark up your imagination to determine where and how to use them. The opportunities are endless.
The beauty of using fabric for the gem stone is through careful selection of small pattern areas or stripes. You may find it fascinating how prints or parts of patterns change by utilizing only a small portion of the overall image. The scale of a pattern may appear to change by capturing a select area. This process of selection is sometimes referenced as fussy cutting. The gem’s texture springs to life by stitching through a top layer (the gem’s surface), a middle layer of batting, followed by a backing fabric layer. The edge of the quilted gem stone can be finished off with an overcast blanket stitch or a smooth turned edge.
Auditioning Quilt Fabric
One way to audition the fabric is viewing it through a confined space: a window. By limiting the area the eye can see may assist you in assessing how the final product will appear.
Begin by locating two pieces of plain (no printing) paper or cardboard. Select one piece and cut a square hole 2” x 2” (note: the finished size of the gem stone will be approximately 1½” x 1½”). The square shape will be used for viewing potential gem stones. Locate the second piece of paper or cardboard and cut a rectangular shape 1” wide by 7” long. The second piece will serve as an opening to view the strap for a bracelet. The fabrics you audition should be a least as large as the cut sizes. Figure 2” x 2” as the cutting size for each gem stone. Allow 2½” wide by 7½” long as the cut area for a bracelet strap.
Easy does it. Let the fabric do the work.
When auditioning fabrics you may be surprised at the findings when viewed through the cutout windows. A portion of a pattern or repeating image may seem dramatically different simply by shifting the cutout window around on the fabrics. Sometimes patterns that “read” as a solid may work well as a bracelet band however are uninteresting as a center of interest for the gem stone. Fantastic as full yardage, due to the size of scale, some textiles may seem completely uninteresting when cut into very small pieces.
It’s amazing idea
My mother used to make tatted and quilted pins to use as gifts for her Sunday School class. I have not seen nor heard of anyone else doing this. Thanks for bringing back pleasant memories, w/ how-to instructions.
I will try this because I cannot wear my rings now due to arthritis. Thanks so much.
Interesting
Fascinating! I really want to try this. Unique!
Really cute to go with a like fabric top to fancy it up, and a conversation piece as well.
Amazing! I can hardly wait to get started on this!
These would make great and fun napkin rings too!
This is a lovely idea with so many possibilities. I’m thinking of a beautiful fabric brooch in a lovely deep blue purple (amethyst and iolite are 2 of my favourite gemstones) with tiny clear crystal seed or bugle beads sewn randomly over over the fabric. Or, those Swarovski hot – fix, flat – back crystals that you iron on to fabric and the heat of the iron makes the glue melt so that the crystals stick to the material. This sort of project is ideal for me right now because my sewing machine isn’t working, but I can’t get it fixed because, here in Melbourne, Australia, we’re just emerging from the 6th lockdown we’ve been under. So, companies like hairdressers, men’s barbers, and any company that does repairs, are booked out for weeks to come. But, we’re all so happy to be coming out of lockdown that no one really minds! Thank you for this brilliant idea. Love, Amanda xo