 Stencil
Your Quilts Using Freezer Paper
by Elsie CampbellLearn the fascinating fundamentals of easy painted
motifs!
Elsie made "Sweet Memories"
(21" x 25") using scraps left over from a larger quilt. The alternate blocks
between the Four-Patch ones contain her students' signatures and feature roses stenciled
using freezer paper.
BLOCK SIZE: 4" square
MATERIALS
- 5" square, pre-washed light solid-color fabric
NOTE: Washing removes the sizing. Iron the damp fabric dry to remove wrinkles. The
fabric to be stenciled is cut 1" larger than the finished block size and is trimmed
after stenciling.
- Three 4" squares of freezer paper
- Pencil
- Sharp, fine-pointed scissors such as Scherenschnitte scissors
- Red, green and brown acrylic or fabric stencil paints
- Fabric medium for acrylic paints
- 2 stiff bristle stencil brushes
- Disposable plastic containers
- Paper towels
- Fine-line permanent black ink pen like a Sharpie®
MAKE THE STENCILS
- Use the permanent pen to trace the entire design, shown below, on the dull side of one
4" freezer paper square. Number the sections of the design to complete the design
master.
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- Place a 4" freezer paper square on the design master, dull size up and edges
aligned. Trace section 1's on the freezer paper. Carefully cut out the sections to make
the first stencil, as shown below. NOTE: Both the flower and the stem are part of this
stencil. That's because more than one color can be painted using a single stencil, as long
as the areas to be stenciled don't touch each other. Other colors are applied adjacent to
the first ones (as in the calyx of the rose) by using a second stencil after the first
colors are dry.
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- In the same manner, trace Section 2's on a 4" freezer paper square, adding a line
or two from Section 1 as registration marks to help position this stencil accurately. Cut
these sections out to make the second stencil.
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APPLY THE PAINT
- Center the first stencil shiny side down on the right side of the 5" fabric square.
With a dry iron set on cotton, press the stencil in place, making sure intricate areas are
tightly adhered.
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- Mix the red paint with the fabric medium in a disposable plastic container, following
the manufacturer's instructions. Pick up a small amount of paint with a stiff bristle
brush. Use a paper towel to wipe off excess paint. Using a dabbing and rotary motion,
carefully apply the paint to the rose area of the stencil.
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- In the same manner, stencil the stem using the brown paint.
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- After the paint is dry to touch (usually about 5 minutes), carefully remove the stencil.
Align the second stencil, using the registration marks to position it correctly. Press it
in place and apply the green paint. Allow the paint to dry and remove the stencil. You can
use each stencil several more times to make additional blocks.
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- Add details by drawing them on the painted areas with the black permanent pen, referring
to the detail pattern as needed.
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- Trim the block to 4 1/2", keeping the design centered. Use it in a project of your
choice.
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Back to Current Quilting "How-To"
Class.
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