Quilting with Tea Bags
For my challenge project with The Endeavourers, I chose to try quilting with tea bags. The theme for the challenge was to try something new, or expand on a technique. I had never done any quilting with tea bags, but I had been inspired by tea bag art by Carol Ann Webster, which I had seen on Pinterest.
I started by emptying out the tea bags and drying them. Then I basted them to a piece of linen-like material. I decided that my blocks would each have a tree, each of which I made by free hand. They are unusual little trees, with their own unique look. Before adding the trees and other pieces to the tea bag foundation, I played a bit with Inktense Pencils, adding some color to the sky in each piece. My first block has a small little tree.
I layered the fabrics, using a glue stick to anchor them to the tea bag foundation. Then I just played with some stitches. I let the fabric fray to compliment the rough edges of the tea bag. I also frayed the edges of the foundation piece when I was finished.
My second tree grew a bit more, and is a nod to the Lake Superior shoreline views with the basalt rocks and trees growing in and around them.
For this block, I used some chain stitching in the water, which is difficult to see. I left the selvedge on the gray for more texture. A little blue Inktense pencil in the sky for a little cloud, along with some gulls, completed the block.
My last block was a full tree, and the most difficult to free hand. It reminds me just a little of the Joshua trees in California.
Once the tea bag blocks were finished, I made a quilt sandwich, and quilted it, using a brown/gold batik with houses and mountains in the design and a piece of gold fabric for the backing.
The gold backing fabric shows the quilting, a square-ish meander using a rusty-orange thread so it blends into the fabric.
Once I was happy with the placement of the three blocks on the quilt, I used a quick spurt of basting spray to anchor them. Then I did a big running stitch around each block in an orange floss, using 2 strands.
Quilting with tea bags was quite fun. I hope to try a few more, using different techniques and textures. I’d like to try a variety of teas for some different dyes to the tea bags as well. It was an enjoyable experiment and a great way to use up tea bags.
Have you ever used tea bags in your quilts? I’d like to hear about it!
Wendy
A Winning Thursday
26 Comments
Cindy Pieters
I love this Wendy! It looks like you had fun playing with some new ideas! Perfect choice of background fabric. I need to start collecting tea bags.
nanamickie
What a fun challenge and love the results! Nope never quilted with tea bags but then we only drink coffee. Very sweet project Wendy!
Diann@LittlePenguinQuilts
Your tea bag quilting is fascinating, Wendy, and I love how it turned out! I’m going to have to look up Carol Ann Webster. What size are the tea bag pieces, and how big is the finished piece? I am picturing Lipton tea bags and they are tiny! The background you made for them is beautiful, too. Very neat project!
Katy Sweigart
I love this! You are so creative. These little pieces would also look good framed.
The Joyful Quilter
OMG, Wendy!! Your challenge quilt turned out beautifully! I can’t fully express how much I love it. I think you had me at tea bags, as I sit here with my morning cup. :o))
texasquiltgal
My goodness Wendy it’s magnificent! So artsy and creative. I love that you did not add leaves. I really like the layout, as it looks like it transitions from sea to land. Did you use the giant tea bags? Love the stitching you did.
Tracie
I haven’t heard of using tea bags for art quip, so this is so fun to see. Each scene works very well with the others. What’s the overall size? It looks like a fun project!
Nettie Sews
Such a cute work of art! I had never thought of using tea bags for a quilt. That is definitely trying something new.
Helen
Well, I don’t know about the whole teabag thing, but I do know that I love the artistry in this piece.
Vicki in MN
I had never heard of using tea bags in quilting before. But you sure made an awesome piece of this. I have that gold backing fabric in my stash also;)
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! I’ve never heard of using tea bags before but you surely made a fabulous project using them! I love that triptych design – it almost looks like the same scene during different seasons. What a fun project – it looks like you enjoyed this very much! {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
Kathleen McCormick
What a fun group of blocks! I love the details on each, the handstitching, the inktense pencils, the variety of trees and landscapes. The background fabric is perfect and your quilting works well. What a fun quilt, Wendy!
karenfae
I have never heard of this quilting with tea bags – how unusual
Cindy Berry
How pretty and clever – what a great project and you nailed it! Your improv is inspiring.
Ann Butler
I love your project, and am wondering how many tea bags you used per block? I want to try this.
Laura
Great play session! Very creative, and the results are terrific! You have a good eye for sure!
I lived in the Mojave Desert for a few years, and am well acquainted with the Joshua trees. They are unique! 🙂
Rochelle Summers
I’d read on article in AQ several years ago and thought about doing it. I even saved used bags for a while. But (and there is always a but) I procrastinated to long and the urge to try that was superseded by the next issue of AQ. You did an excellent job with both the tea bags and the free hand work. Congratulations.
quiltinggail
Thank you for the detailed instructions on how you quilted with tea bags! I found it very interesting.
You did a fantastic job! And the result is a wonderful wall hanging! Love it!
thedarlingdogwood
Wow! I have not seen this before! When I read your title, I assumed you meant tea, like tea-dying, which I have heard of, not using the actual bag–neat! I love your trees, they look fantastic! Fun challenge!
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
I love the differences in trees and vistas in each panel. About how big did the quilt finish, and do you think you’ll use it as a table runner or hang as more of an art quilt?
nanacathy2
Wow. I love this idea. The middle one is my favourite for sure.
Brenda @ Songbird Designs
You did a great job with the tea bag blocks and I love the way you put them together in the quilt. I was hoping you would let the frayed background fabric shine, and you did! Awesome! We don’t drink much tea anymore unless the family is all here, so I don’t have as many tea bags as I used to, but this was a great challenge – one of which I’ve never seen or heard before!
Katherine Duquette
What are the tea bags made of? I like your color choices and the use of inktense pencils. I use them a lot.
The Morning Latte
This is just so interesting and fun! It turned out great and what a conversation piece to have at the table!
marissthequilter
Wow. Your trees are beautiful and the composition enchanting. You must be very pleased with this piece.
Sandra Walker
I have never heard of quilting on teabags. Love all the photos and your description of making each tree. I especially love the Lake Superior one!