Thursday, May 29, 2014

Pac Man Quilt

Do you ever buy fabric without having a specific plan in mind and, some time later, come up with an idea that redeems the original impulse buy? My Pac Man fabric falls into this purchasing category. It's Geeks Gone Wild by Timeless Treasures, and at one time, I couldn't resist.

Back of Pac Man Ghost Quilt by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod


Inspired by this online clipart, I used EQ7 to sketch out a pattern and determine measurements for cutting pieces.


To complete this quilt's destiny, I chanced upon the most perfect photo spot. Those fingers and skinny little legs belong to my four year-old, who  wasn't terribly pleased with his new post as quilt holder, but reluctantly complied. 


Pac Man Ghost Quilt by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

Want a closer look?

Pac Man Ghost Quilt by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

I used Magic Binding for the first time ever. If you give this technique a try, I have a few recommendations:
  • Use when you are more concerned with time constraints than heirloom quality. I'm not sure the quilt police have approved this method.
  • Try to make the binding on the front larger than the binding on the back, or else you will be more likely to have stitching on your binding on the back of the quilt.
  • Use the same color for the backing fabric and the main binding color. Then, if you accidentally run your line of stitching up on the binding on the back, it won't be so noticeable.
  • If you have an edge-stitch foot, use it when you stitch the binding down on the front.
  • Don't forget to sew the binding to the BACK of the quilt first.
  • Avoid using this method if you have critical details at the very edges of your quilt, like points you don't want cut off.
  • Don't cut off your excess binding until you join the two ends and ensure that it fits the quilt nicely. Joining the ends isn't enough fun to have to do it more than once if you cut it off way too short.
(I may, or may not, have learned all these lessons the hard way.)

Each ghost has a different free-motion quilting filler. Matching thread was used on the top and black was in the bobbin to match the backing fabric. Black lines about 1/2" apart echo the ghosts in the background.

Pac Man Ghost Quilt by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

Download the cutting measurements from Craftsy if you'd like to make your own Pac Man Ghost quilt.

How about some progress shots?

Clyde:
Clyde Pac Man Ghost Quilt Block by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

Pinky:
Pinky Pac Man Ghost Quilt Block by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

Blinky:
Blinky Pac Man Ghost Quilt Block by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

I got carried away and didn't take any shots of Inky until he was totally put together.

Inky:
Inky Pac Man Ghost Quilt Block by Afton Warrick @ Quilting Mod

If you make your own, please share in the Quilting Mod Flickr group.






29 comments:

  1. AWESOME! Love the backing, love the photo spot, love it all!

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    1. Thank you! I'm pleased with how all the factors worked so well together, mostly by pure luck.

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  2. that is so stinking cute! it reminds me of my childhood, we had a real arcade game of ms pac man that we looved to play.

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    1. I always enjoy being a source of happy reminiscing. My four year-old, inspired by the quilt, has been requesting to have me find a Pac Man game for him to try. I bet I can find something online.

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    2. at one time, google's logo was a playable pacman game. if you do a search, you can still find & play it.

      I have a yard of that pacman ghost fabric in my stash - at one point I was going to make a skirt out of it, but I think it will end up on the back of a geeky quilt I am planning to make 'someday' I love your ghost quilt! thanks for sharing!

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  3. Oh my goodness, I loved the backing fabric but when I saw the quilt you made *swoon*! Fantastic, and what a perfect location for the photo shoot!

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  4. What a great finish! I love this! Your quilting is incredible. Glad to see you gave the Magic Binding a go. It turned out beautifully! Well done, Afton!

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    1. Thank you. The quilting has been a continual work in progress, but I'm happy with how this one turned out. I will be using Magic Binding again in the future. I'll just pull it over a little farther on the front next time to make sure it will look nice on the back.

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  5. That is brilliant!! I often do the impulse buys, rarely the justification :-/ your quilting skills are just fantastic.

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    1. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't confess that many of my fabric purchases are still awaiting their justification. Thanks for your sweet words.

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  6. Such a fun quilt. What do you plan on doing with it?

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    1. I haven't quite decided this quilt's final destiny. For now, I've taken it to my local quilt shop, and place of employment, to allow my boss to use it as a shop sample for the solids section.

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  7. Thanks, it was fun to make too!

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  8. I've looked at that fabric before and contemplated buying it lol! I don't have any Pacman graffiti around to take photos in front of though ;) but what a perfect find for a photo shoot! I love how you quilted differently in each ghost.

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  9. Wow.. This is awesome.. Love it!

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  10. Adorable! The picture in front of the Pacman graffiti are so perfect!

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  11. oh my goodness! this is just so cute!!!

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  12. That is such a fun quilt--you were able to put that fabric to great use. That's such a cute idea!

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  13. Afton, this quilt is loads of fun, and the picture with your little boy's legs showing is so sweet and hilarious!

    Thank you so much for linking up with the first Free Motion Mavericks linky!

    Love, Muv

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  14. The pick with your son is awesome. What a great background for a fun, lovable quilt that brings back many memories for this aged Pac Man/Tetris fan turned quilter!

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  15. Awesomeness! Came over from H2H!!

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  16. AnonymousJune 06, 2014

    This is just fabulous!

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  17. Such a fun quilt! I used to love playing pac man.

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  18. This is such a fantastic quilt! Thank you for sharing it over at Fabric Frenzy Friday! We featured your quilt today on the Fort Worth Fabric Studio Blog! I hope you have a lovely weekend!

    -Lindsey

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  19. Very cute! Thanks for the free pattern :)

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  20. Great quilt! Wonderful photo too, the perfect location for your quilt.

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  21. Hilarious and graphically a knock-out! Congratulations!

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  22. Hi Afton! I just wanted to let you know that I am CRAZY about your Pac Man Quilt, and I'm featuring you as one of my Rockstars this week from Creativity Unleashed!

    As a Rockstar you're in the running for this week's MEGA Rockstar! Grab your friends and come vote at http://www.theboldabode.com/2014/06/creativity-unleashed-rockstars-week-23.html

    The MEGA Rockstar gets loads of love including:

    1. Shout outs on all my social media houses.
    2. A bucket full of Pins to my biggest group boards
    3. A big sidebar ad proclaiming them the MEGA Rockstar of the week
    4. And a feature in my weekly newsletter!

    Congratulations and Good Luck!!!

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