The Bows

After preparing the backing, I wanted a change from stitching, so I turned to the bows. Each corner of the textile is decorated with a rayon bow, smashed from being folded for so many years. I figured out how to press them, using my tiny quilter's iron and the stuffing from a super tampon as a mini ironing "ham". I dampened each bit by wetting my fingertip with water and blotting gently on the fabric, then ironing it with a warm iron. It worked well. I only did one bow, as they'll have to be freshened again right before framing.

Preparing the backing

A layer of muslin was cut larger than the frame and stapled on the backside, so the staples will not contact the surface fabrics.

A layer of batting was cut to fit the frame and basted to the muslin; this photo shows it pinned, prior to basting. The smaller pieces of batting are the beginning of a pad that will support the center of the textile.

The purple broadcloth was stretched over the padding and stapled to the back.

Since I wanted the textile to be centered side to side and top to bottom, I used black threads to square up the corners.

 The muslin-covered pad was pinned in place and then stitched to the backing. You can see how the layers of padding, graduated in size, form a nice mound.

 

The backing was taut, the pad stitched in place. It was time to stitch the textile to the backing.