Tumbler Fish AWS
Tumbler Fish
Works with these size Tumblers: 1/2", 1" 1 1/2", 1 7/8", or 2" Pattern designed by Diane Gilleland, author of All Points Patchwork. allpointspatchwork.com
This is a versatile design you can use in many kinds of projects. You'll get several pattern variations below, and suggestions for using each one. The last page is a sheet of tumbler graph paper to plan out your projects.
Baste fabric to the tumbler templates according to the package instructions. Try the suggestions below for fabric selection or make up your own combinations.
Use a simple textural print for the face segment
Try a large-scale print, fussy-cut to resemble a flowing tail A medium-scale print resembles fish scales
Adding Eyes: A 3/8" diameter circle works well with most template sizes. You can embroider the eyes, or stamp them with a fabric-safe stamp pad, using a new pencil eraser as a stamp.
Assemble the fish first. I often make up about ten fish before deciding on a design. It can be helpful to lay these out in various configurations to get a full-scale view of how the fabrics look together. When you've decided on a design, make as many fish as needed. Then sew the background tumblers together in units. Depending on the design you choose, you might want to sew these together in strips or in groups.
Variation #1: Random Fish This one's so easy - make up a dozen or so fish, and then assemble some background tumblers in a range of batiks, solids, or subtle prints. Insert a fish wherever you feel like it. Stop when the patchwork is large enough to incorporate into your project. This pattern works with quilts, pillows, wall hangings, bags, and more. Use smaller templates to make smaller projects.
Variation #2: Back & Forth Fish Assemble strips of fish as long as you need for the project you've chosen. Place one background tumbler between each pair of fish. Then assemble strips of background tumblers the same length. Assemble them in an alternating pattern. Use this design for large or small projects. 2-3 rows of fish make a cute border to applique to a skirt or tablecloth.
Variation #3: Kissy Fish Assemble pairs of fish, and sew them together in rows the length you need for your project. Place two background tumblers between each pair. Then assemble two strips of background tumblers to place between each row of fish. This design has a larger repeat, so it works well with larger items like quilts or wall hangings.
Variation #4: School of Fish This denser design is great for large and small projects. Try it as a mug rug, table runner, or border on a blanket or curtain. Assemble the fish, and then assemble the background tumblers in groups of three. I like to sew these together in strips, alternating the fish and background groups. Then sew the strips together. You can arrange your fabrics in the wavy pattern as below, or place them randomly.
Variation #5: Dancing Fish This pattern has a large repeat, so it needs a lot of space. Use it for quilts, or use a 1/2" tumbler to make smaller projects. I find it easiest to assemble the groups of background tumblers that appear in the centers of the diamond shapes first, and then sew the fish around the outside edges of these.
Works with these size Tumblers: 1/2", 1" 1 1/2", 1 7/8", or 2" Pattern designed by Diane Gilleland, author of All Points Patchwork. allpointspatchwork.com
This is a versatile design you can use in many kinds of projects. You'll get several pattern variations below, and suggestions for using each one. The last page is a sheet of tumbler graph paper to plan out your projects.
Baste fabric to the tumbler templates according to the package instructions. Try the suggestions below for fabric selection or make up your own combinations.
Use a simple textural print for the face segment
Try a large-scale print, fussy-cut to resemble a flowing tail A medium-scale print resembles fish scales
Adding Eyes: A 3/8" diameter circle works well with most template sizes. You can embroider the eyes, or stamp them with a fabric-safe stamp pad, using a new pencil eraser as a stamp.
Assemble the fish first. I often make up about ten fish before deciding on a design. It can be helpful to lay these out in various configurations to get a full-scale view of how the fabrics look together. When you've decided on a design, make as many fish as needed. Then sew the background tumblers together in units. Depending on the design you choose, you might want to sew these together in strips or in groups.
Variation #1: Random Fish This one's so easy - make up a dozen or so fish, and then assemble some background tumblers in a range of batiks, solids, or subtle prints. Insert a fish wherever you feel like it. Stop when the patchwork is large enough to incorporate into your project. This pattern works with quilts, pillows, wall hangings, bags, and more. Use smaller templates to make smaller projects.
Variation #2: Back & Forth Fish Assemble strips of fish as long as you need for the project you've chosen. Place one background tumbler between each pair of fish. Then assemble strips of background tumblers the same length. Assemble them in an alternating pattern. Use this design for large or small projects. 2-3 rows of fish make a cute border to applique to a skirt or tablecloth.
Variation #3: Kissy Fish Assemble pairs of fish, and sew them together in rows the length you need for your project. Place two background tumblers between each pair. Then assemble two strips of background tumblers to place between each row of fish. This design has a larger repeat, so it works well with larger items like quilts or wall hangings.
Variation #4: School of Fish This denser design is great for large and small projects. Try it as a mug rug, table runner, or border on a blanket or curtain. Assemble the fish, and then assemble the background tumblers in groups of three. I like to sew these together in strips, alternating the fish and background groups. Then sew the strips together. You can arrange your fabrics in the wavy pattern as below, or place them randomly.
Variation #5: Dancing Fish This pattern has a large repeat, so it needs a lot of space. Use it for quilts, or use a 1/2" tumbler to make smaller projects. I find it easiest to assemble the groups of background tumblers that appear in the centers of the diamond shapes first, and then sew the fish around the outside edges of these.
