How to Make a Mosaic Tile Portrait of Your Pet

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Jennifer Stern, contributor

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This is my new wall hanging featuring a mosaic image of my dog Emma.

Jen Stern

Here's the original picture of Emma before I cut it up.

Jen Stern

There are a bunch of different brands of Inkjet Fabric Sheets. I think Printed Treasures works the best. It comes in an iron-on version that's great for this technique!

Jen Stern

This is my new wall hanging featuring a mosaic image of my dog Emma.

Photo: Jen Stern

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If your photo has a face or other detail, space the pieces slightly closer together so you can see the details through the pieces.

I tried to get the pieces around the eyeballs a generous 1/8 inch apart!

When you're happy with the arrangement, stick the pieces to the background fabric. Truth be told, I used the wrong package of printable fabric to do this project...I had to individually spray each piece with 505 Temporary Adhesive Spray. My fingertips are a little gummed up! And, I also had a package of the fusible version sitting on the shelf!

After sitting back and looking at my arrangement, I decided that it needed something in the corner opposite Emma's face. I hooped a piece of Tear 'n' Wash Stabilizer and stuck the corner in my largest hoop. I chose a flourish design and stitched it out around the corner and partway down the side of the picture.

Because I used the largest hoop, I wanted to get more than one design out of it. So I snugged the embroidery design into the top half of the hoop so I could gently tear it out, keeping the lower half intact—I did all the embroidery using the same piece of stabilizer!

Here's an embroidery action shot!

I rehooped the leftover stabilizer I had in the extra-large hoop to stitch out "Emma." I then added 3-inch borders. After layering Warm and White Cotton Batting and a plain Kona Cotton backing, I used monofilament thread to stipple over the entire quilt.

The clear thread was a good choice because it did not distract from the overall design.

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Comments (4)

littlednme writes: What a cool idea! I LOVE mosaics and my dogs! I can't wait to give it a try. Thanks for the idea!
Posted: 7:13 pm on July 19th

JenniferStern writes: Hi Meredith and Linda, Thanks for ringing in. I would use the fusible version from Printed Treasures, it works great, and you don't have to do the step of dealing with separate webbing. And, I've washed it in gentle and it stays fused and the colors stay pretty good too! Here's the address for Printed Treasures (that will take you right to the fusible version. http://www.printedtreasures.com/products/ironon/Pages/IronOn.aspx
Happy sewing!
Posted: 1:13 pm on February 15th

LindaPermann writes: this came out cute. do you have a recommendation (as far as brands, etc go) for the printable fabric sheets? i have been curious to try them, but the last ones i bought were not washable. thanks!
Posted: 8:31 pm on February 14th

MeredithP writes: I love this mosaic idea. Having never worked with the printable fabric, it sounds like there is a fusible version? That's cool, because as I was reading I wondered whether you could fuse some web on the back before cutting. My "subjects" would have to be locked away while working on this, they would love to help with all those pieces. This is a neat idea and any photo would work. Thanks for the inspriration.
Posted: 2:02 pm on February 14th

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