An Easter Table Topper - Part 1

Today, and one day last week, I went to Sew Much Fun in Gastonia for training on the Bernina 580e.  While there I spotted Flora - an adorable little charm pack by Lauren and Jessi Jung for Moda.  I've been thinking about sewing an Easter table topper using a lot of the features on my machine, and thought that the charm pack was perfect for the little eggs around the edge.

The light yellow print in the background is from Curio, by Basic Grey.  I bought a yard and plan to use it for the background.  (That will be enough for one table topper, but to make a second I'll have to purchase another yard.)

I'm going to incorporate some specialty stitches, fun finishing techniques, and maybe some (optional) embroidery,  I'll be posting every week until Easter, so feel free to follow along.

I want to piece the the eggs, so I started off by matching each charm square with a contrasting charm that complemented it.  I then cut pair into (1-3/4" x 5''), (1-1/4'' x 5"), and (2'' x 5'') strips.  I took the 1-1/4'' strip and sewed the contrasting 1-3/4'' and 2'' strips onto either side of it.  The #57 foot has a 1/4'' training blade that allowed me to sew all 42 squares together in no time.  (There will be only 16 20 eggs on the Table Topper, so I will have enough to make two Toppers if I buy more background fabric.)

I pressed the seams open.  This is key because I plan to stitch some fun specialty stitches down these seams later in the process. 

As you can see from the pieced charms in the background, you will end up with 21 pairs of pieced charm squares - each pair having opposite placement as far as fabrics go.

Happy sewing!
Amanda