GPDU Month 1--Part 2

 Once the Stems are in place, it's time to add flowers, leaves, berries and the  vase.  Irene's Month 1: 

Irene Blanck used Needle Turn Hand Applique. I used Turned Edge Machine Applique. You can even do Raw Edge Machine Applique. Compare the preparation BOTH Turned Edge and Raw Edge Applique using Print & Piece Fuse Lite  in this detailed post made for the 2020 Block of the Month: Afternoon Delight

PREPARATION OF THE SHAPES  Irene's method, Needle Turn Hand Applique:

Using a lightbox, trace the shapes with a suitable marking device on the FRONT SIDE of the fabric. Markers  to try might include a mechanical pencil, chalk pencil, washout marker, or Quilters Select Self-Erase marker. Different fabrics require different markers so you can see the line to turn it under.

Fabric on top of pattern with lightbox turned on: 

After tracing the  leaf, lightbox turned off: 

Cut out the leaf with about 1/4" seam allowance. I gently turned the edges under with my fingers: 

Using the lightbox for placement, use a few tiny drops of glue toward the middle of the leaf to secure it for sewing: 

All shapes are prepared in this way. Let's discuss Flower C. It is designed to be made with 9 individual petals, sewn to the background, then a circle is sewn to the center.

PREPARATION OF THE SHAPES--Turned Edge Machine Applique

Because my method is turned edge machine applique, I found it easier for me to make those as one Flower, then make a slightly larger center circle if needed to cover any edges at the place where there is very little seam allowance. 

I used Fabric Glue stick and the Appliquik tools to turn the seam allowance under: 

Now it is ready to be stitched by machine.  If there were 9 separate petals it would be more challenging  to get them glued exactly in place before sewing. Or maybe that's just me. There are 2 Flower C's in this block--why not try both methods  to see which you prefer?

STITCHING:

There are Videos on the 2022 BOM Month 1 page showing both hand and machine stitching. Show 3001, available for all to watch for FREE, shows machine stitching.

Irene likes to use about 5 neutral threads ranging from light cream to medium brown for all her applique. I usually prefer to use thread that matches the applique--probably because I love color. It's
your choice, try both to see which you like best. 

Irene uses Wonderfil 60 wt Egyptian cotton thread. This a Wonderfil 100 wt polyester set in similar colors to those she uses:

Quilters Select 80 wt polyester Prewound Bobbins. When doing hand applique or hand sewing a binding, I rarely find this not to have exactly the color needed: 

While I enjoy needle turn hand applique, I usually chose the speed of machine stitching these days. In Show 3001 I show how I tried several machine stitches before settling on a small zig zag stich for GPDU #1. Width is 1.5 and Length is 1.0. That worked well for me and I am using it again for GPDU #2.

Since I had 9 of us making blocks for the sample quilt, I wanted to give everyone the same thread. It was eye-opening to the Sunday Sew & Sews that green thread could be used on so many different fabrics and it worked fine. They were skeptical at first. We used Quilters Select 60 wt Perfect Cotton Plus thread, color #208 Chartreuse: 

I think both the Neutral threads and this green work so well because they are so fine. On a few of the darker fabrics I will use a darker thread. Try different threads to find you favorite.

NOW COMES THE SCARY PART: 

When all the stitching is done, carefully trim your oversize block to exactly 18.5" square. There is a Video on this task in Month 1 Videos. BUT--note the CHANGES I had to make on how to accurately cut my center block--see the photos and explanation below. 

Trimming the Applique blocks to the correct size after all the stitching is complete is important. Having a big square ruler helps but you can use any ruler that is at least 9.25" long. Simply be sure you know where the exact center is and measure out 9.25" in all directions. I use an erasable marker for this method, double checking before making those cuts

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:   BEFORE YOU MAKE THE FINAL CUTS TO SQUARE UP THE CENTER BLOCK, check to see that ALL the appliques are far enough inside the area of the Block. 

Notice HERE the outside berry will be right at the seam allowance if I trim it here:

Instead, I moved the ruler over to have about 3/4" space from the outside cut edges to the appliques on BOTH  the left and right sides:

You also want to be sure the bottom edge of your vase is sitting straight on the block:

Once your lovely center applique block is 18.5", it's time to add the Dogtooth borders.  See that process in Part 3. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara