It's certainly not too early to think about the holidays. I've had this new design drawn up and ready to try in my studio for a year now. It's not that I didn't want to make it, it's just other things had to come first and this sweet design featuring Belvedere kept getting pushed to the back burner. It wasn't until I got some extra help from my sis that I finally have some design, sewing time. My days fly by so quickly that it's been really nice having the extra help stuffing patterns and making up kits.
I was fortunate to get to know my great grandparents growing up. They were the sweetest couple. I don't know if they ever owned a Bel Air, but it's the kind of car I imagine them driving so I thought it would be fun to draw a Holiday design with Belvedere at the wheel. He's such a sweet goofy dog I certainly can imagine him bringing home a Christmas tree. There might even be some gifts boxes in the trunk including some squeaky toys for his doggie friends, Lola and Maddie.
When I do machine fusible applique I play around with stitch length and width on scrap fabric before I begin to make sure I like the stitch setting for the design I'm working on. For this design I used a 2.5 x 2.5 setting for stitch width and length. You may like a different setting based on your machine so play around and stitch on some scrap fabric and see what you like.
On the Belvedere's Bel Air design I used a dark brown thread to stitch around the tree, Belvedere, tires, windows, bumpers, and the turquoise section of the car.
I used white thread to stitch around the bottom white section of the car.
When it comes to embellishing the design with buttons. I use snowflakes 'buttons' for the falling snow. But these buttons from Just Another Button Company do not have the traditional buttonholes to stitch your button on with. I have been asked many times about this. So to fasten these snowflakes onto the tea towel, or your fabric square, I use white thread and do a 'criss cross' stitch in the center of the snowflake design until it's securely anchored in place.
~Belvedere's Bel Air ~
The car can be any color, red, blue, green. I made my car turquoise, I thought it was a fun retro color for an old car. I then sew on buttons for the cars hubcaps using a matching car color. The tree can be left plain but I like the added red button decorations. I used a black pearl cotton to stitch a French knot for Belvedere's eye. I used a satin stitch for his nose. I think this design would be super cute on a table runner or made into a pillow for the holidays.
I hope that you enjoy this new design. It is available on the Quilt Doodle Website and also in my Etsy store, or a quilt store near you!
Hope you have a great day!
Happy quilting,
Cindy and Belvedere
This design is Belvedere approved!
That is adorable!
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