An art quilt pattern for a waving American flag built entirely from fused fabric collage, finished at 50 1/2 x 31 1/2 inches. On the cover sample, the stripes ripple across the quilt in bands of red and cream prints hand lettered with We the People, Liberty, Old Glory, and Land of the Free Because of the Brave, white stars float on a blue field of florals and plaids, and a spray of white flowers drapes over the flag from the grey pole at the left edge. The lettering and fine details are drawn and painted with Inktense pencils, and those instructions are included. Those fabrics were one set of choices. The pattern provides the flag's shape and the process; every fabric decision belongs to the maker, so each finished flag is distinctive and one of a kind.

What the Pattern Includes

This listing is for the instructions and printed paper pattern. Fabric, fusible web, and notions are not included.

The package contains the full sized pattern, so there is no enlarging at the copy shop, plus complete step by step instructions in color, including the Inktense pencil lettering and painting steps.

Here's How it Works

Trace the design from the full sized pattern onto a sheer foundation, then build the flag right on top of your tracing. Back your fabrics with Steam a Seam 2, which stays repositionable until it is pressed, so you can place each piece, step back, and move it until it sits right. The flag builds as waving bands of red and cream prints over the blue star field, with the white floral spray layered across the front. A pressing sheet keeps the sticky web off your iron. When you're happy with the whole flag, one final press fuses everything permanently. Once everything is fused, the patriotic words and small details are drawn and painted with Inktense pencils and a Pigma pen, following the included instructions. Attach the finished collage to your background fabric, layer it with batting and backing, and quilt closely to secure all the raw edges for good.

New to collage? Laura's Little Book of Collage covers the technique in more depth, from fabric selection through quilting, and makes a good companion to any of her patterns.

What You'll Need

The back cover calls for ten 3 inch white stars on blue backgrounds, about 1/2 yard total of 6 to 7 medium to medium dark blue fabrics for the flag's blue field (one a large scale blue flower), an 8 x 22 inch white floral for the overlay, about 1/2 yard total of dark cream prints and 30 inches of light cream to white prints, about 1/3 yard of dark value reds and 1 yard of medium value reds for the stripes, a 4 inch by width of fabric strip of light grey for the flag pole, 1/2 yard of background fabric, 1/4 yard for binding, and 1 2/3 yards for backing. The lettering supplies are Inktense pencils in sepia ink, sea blue, red violet, poppy red, ink black, golden yellow, and fuchsia, a .08 Pigma pen, a small paint brush and cup, and a small bottle of clear aloe gel. The list also calls for collage foundation cut exactly 50 1/2 x 31 1/2 inches, 6 yards of 24 inch wide Steam a Seam 2, a collage stiletto, collage scissors with serrated edges, a small rotary cutter, mat, and ruler, a light box, and a number 2 pencil and sharpener.

Four packages of Steam a Seam 2 Double Stick Fusible Web 12in x 3yds cover the 6 yard by 24 inch call-out exactly; the narrower width simply butts edge to edge on the back of larger pieces. The Laura Heine Collage Mat set and Sew Tites Magnetic Flowers cover the 17 x 24 collage mat and SewTite magnets on the supply list: the mat gives the layering a portable, iron safe surface, the magnets hold the pattern and mat in place, and the mat set includes both the silicone mat and a teflon pressing sheet.

Perfect For

• Patriotic decorating from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July
• Red, white, and blue prints waiting in the stash
• Trying Inktense pencil work on fabric with instructions included
• A statement wall piece over four feet wide

Why You'll Love This Pattern

Collage is forgiving in ways patchwork cannot be. Nothing has to line up, no points need to match, and small imperfections disappear into the density of the design. There is no needle turn and no blanket stitch. The work is closer to arranging a bouquet than to sewing a seam.

The patriotic words are traced from the full sized pattern over a light box, then colored in with Inktense pencils, so the finished flag carries hand inked script no printed fabric could supply, with no drawing skill required. The stripes are meant to ripple, so small variations read as movement rather than error.

Product Details

• Brand: Fiberworks
• Item #: FWLHRWB
• Designer: Laura Heine
• Category: Quilting Pattern
• Skill Level: All levels (no collage experience assumed)
• Technique: Fused Fabric Collage (raw edge fusible applique) with Inktense pencil lettering
• Finished Size: 50 1/2" x 31 1/2" wall hanging
• Format: Printed Paper Pattern
• Made in the United States