PICK A PETAL -- MONTH 5

PICK A PETAL is the 2024 Block of the Month quilt designed by Jen Kingwell exclusively for The Quilt Show. It is FREE to Star Members, join today to take advantage of this great bonus. WATCH Jen's Show to see how she makes this quilt--it is FREE for EVERYONE all of 2024: Jen Kingwell Show 3401

It is time to start the applique on the lovely Log Cabin borders. Here are two photos showing Jen Kingwell's stitching. We will learn more about the embroidery in future months:

Here is mine on the design wall. I am preparing two of the borders to travel with me to Texas. The hand applique will be done in my hotel room in the evenings:

All I need to work on these away from home are needles, thread and a good pair of scissors. A needle threader helps too. The pre-wound bobbins of Quilters Select 80 wt. thread is perfect for hand applique and has every color I can possibly need:

I prefer turned edge applique to raw edge so that is what I am doing. The Kit includes Mylar templates for all the shapes used in the quilt. Mylar is heat resistant plastic, use a synthetic setting on your iron, not super hot. 

Searching on the internet for videos to share with you, I found a couple. The first is Jen Kingwell showing hand applique of circles:

MARSHALL Quilt

The second is Margaret Mew demonstrating how to prepare applique shapes using Mylar templates:

Margaret Mew

On my blog I have written MANY times about turned edge applique. Use the SEARCH box in the upper left to look for Turned Edge Applique to find them. 

A very helpful tool for preparing applique shapes is a Sandpaper Board. Jen Kingwell's is perfect, not very expensive and can be used on both sides. Buy it at The Quilt Show Store:

For bias stems I simply cut bias strips 3 times the size of the finished stem. For 3/8" stems, cut 1 1/8" wide bias--or close. These whimsical flowers should be "organic", not precise. Then I fold them in thirds and they are done. Here is a bunch I have ready:

For the flowers I dug through the Mylar templates to find the ones I needed for Month 5. This is the BOTTOM ROW Log Cabin border  of the quilt. I complicated my life by putting 6 Log Cabin blocks on the Top and Bottom rows, and 4 on the Left and Right Sides.  It takes extra effort to figure out which motifs are intended to go on the outside corner blocks. And their orientation. So, I recommend you follow the instructions for the Log Cabin block rows, Month 4.

Then I played with fabrics to make my selections. While I used the photo of Jen's quilt as a guide, I made changes using the Kit fabrics. And sometimes I just used some of my favorite fabrics. 

If the shape could be easily prepared for machine applique that is what I did. Squares are easy. 

Use the Sandpaper Board to hold the fabric while tracing around the template. A mechanical pencil is my marker of choice, as long as I can see it:

I cut a slightly larger than 1/4" seam allowance: 

This is a starch-like product; use starch, sizing, Best Press, etc, to give a crisp edge. I like to use this small Steamfast iron because it is easy to clean the starch off the bottom. (Mine is not one of those recalled for safety): 

Once dry I remove the template and the shape is ready to be sewn in place: 

Once I had the stems prepared, I used very small dots of Roxanne's Glue Baste It to hold the shapes in place for machine applique. I did the stems first then added any other shapes that would be sewn down by machine. If the shapes were easier for me to prepare for hand applique, that is what I did. Here are several prepped and ready:

This shows the stem machine appliqued and the flower parts prepared (the circle) or traced ready for hand applique:

The stitch I use for machine applique is one Alex Anderson has taught several times. It is a Single Blanket stitch. On my Bernina 770 it is stitch 1329, Width .8 and Length 1.7. Play around with your machine to find a stitch you like. Then WRITE IT DOWN so you can use it again. Even though I have saved this stitch in my FAVORITES, I still write it down so I know I am using the same one each time. In the past I have used a small zig zag, that works well too.

Here is a great VIDEO of Alex showing her process. It starts at about 10 minutes into the video:

Alex Anderson Machine Applique

For thread, I used Quilters Select 80 wt, color # 275, a bright green, in the top and a neutral in the bobbin. I knew I wasn't going to change thread colors so this was a good choice. The stitch is small, the thread is fine, it's hardly noticeable even when there is contrast with the applique shapes. Remember, when the quilt is done most people won't see it from any closer than 6 feet away:

Feel free to draw your own "organic flowers"--Jen encourages you to do this in the pattern instructions.

Next month we will be adding the appliques to the Top Border. Embroidery instructions begin in Month 7.

Please add your Progress photos to the FORUM. That is also the place to ask questions, I check there frequently.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

SUNDAY SEW AND SEWS 2024

 The Sunday Sew and Sews meet at my house once a quarter for friendship and to show off progress on their Feathered Star quilts. Read more about that project here:

FEATHERED STARS PERFECTLY PAPER PIECED Part 1 

As this was the weekend just before the total eclipse, three of our group had gone "eclipse seeking", two to Texas, one to Kentucky. They all saw a great sight, and I am glad for them.

Here is our Show and Tell:

Cheryl's Patchwork Barn top ready for quilting

Donna's precise Feathered Star, the first of many

Victoria's Roger and Rita, a loving pair

Victoria has an "out of this world" plan for her Feathered Star quilt

Mazie has her first 2 FS blocks done

Holly's Two-For-One--I am teaching this class locally this Summer at Patches & Stitches AND at Empty Spools Seminar March 2025

Holly's first 2 FS blocks

Jodie has 2 FS blocks too

Jan is making 4 Feathered Star blocks as corners for a long term project of Baltimore Album blocks, all needle turn hand applique. The FS are perfect as corners, Jan saw such an antique quilt which gave her the idea to incorporate the Feathered Stars with beautiful applique blocks.

This very special block flew in space on a shuttle mission with Jan. All the details are beautifully written in hand calligraphy by Elly Sienkiewicz--a most important block. Jan designed it herself. 

Terri is working on her first FS block, she got some good tips for getting everything to fit together perfectly

My first 9, only 4 or 7 more to go. Time will tell.

Making Feathered Stars with Sue Garman paper piecing patterns is a great way to make a complicated block precise and perfect. Each unit is perfect in size once made on the paper foundation. Then I remove the paper and precisely piece the various units together. See more about that here:

FEATHERED STARS PRECISELY PAPER PIECED PART 2

What I find most time consuming is selecting the various fabrics for a block and then cutting them all out. This might not look like much but there is more than a hour of work right here in this pile:

I wrote a detailed blog on the cutting process, find it HERE:

THE CUTTING PART 3

It's not too late for you to make your own Feathered Star block, or many. Sue Garman's patterns are available at her website, managed by her daughters:  FEATHERED STAR HEAVEN and WASHINGTON MEDALLION.  Washington Medallion is a slightly easier version of Stars for a New Day and Feathered Star Heaven. All are great patterns with excellent instructions.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

WOMAN’S WORLD Magazine REVEAL

This is a SPECIAL EDITION of my blog with timely news you might enjoy:

The news is out! My story of how I lost 110 pounds is featured in an upcoming issue of Woman’s World magazine. The April 29, 2024 issue hits newsstands very soon for just one week. 

Here are teaser photos of the issue:

My son, professional photographer Joshua Black Wilkins, was the photographer, hired by the magazine. Hair and makeup was done by the incomparable Chelsea Thompson. I felt like a model and the images are superb.

Here are some “behind the scenes” shots my husband took at the recent photo shoot in Joshua’s studio in Nashville TN:

The clothes had to be approved in advance. We were sent suggested poses which is why I seem to have “attitude” in some of these shots. 

The article is very well written, it is easy to understand the health/nutrition information being discussed. The quotations are close enough to what I actually said and it’s all true so I am happy with the final product. They included several things I really wanted included and nothing I didn’t. And there is even a link to my August 20, 2023 blogpost “How I Lost 100 Pounds” in tiny letters at the bottom of the page.

 

Find it here:How I Lost 100 Pounds

When we finished the photo shoot for the magazine, we hung “Garden Party Down Under” as a backdrop for some professional quiltmaker images. I am thrilled with the amazing job my son did, he really knows his stuff!

If I ever write that book, I have my book jacket photo ready.

It was a thrilling experience I will never forget. When I saw the first images I said to my son “Wow! Those are beautiful. It looks nothing like me.” He said “Mom, that is EXACTLY how you look.” Good boy. 

Look for the issue at local supermarkets/booksellers or, perhaps, online. 

Now, let’s quilt.

Barbara

HERITAGE QUILTERS OF HUNTSVILLE QUILT SHOW 2024

 My local guild, the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville AL recently had our every-other year quilt show. Held at the Von Braun Center, this show has a great reputation as one not to be missed if you are anywhere in the Southeast USA.

This show didn't disappoint. More than 200 quilts were entered in the judged show. There were several Special Exhibits, and a lot of great vendors. Here is a sampling of the quilts and the show. In no particular order:

Core Values  Elaine Wick Poplin

Blue Star Baby Sam Swieszcz

Karma  Trish Harmon

Best of Show Patty Wilson quilter, Karen Measels made the top

Spring Fever  Cyndi Russell

Kiwi Peel  Ben Darby

Full Circle Cyndi Russell

Cosmic Curves  Ben Darby

Christmas Delight  Donna Daniel, Robin Ruth design for The Quilt Show

Main Event  Ben Darby

Quilting 101 with Barbara    Maureen Griffin--student work made in my beginner class

Mandala  Elaine Wick Poplin

This quilt, "EMPTY" by Elaine Wick Poplin, got a lot of attention and was awarded the Judges' Choice Ribbon. Elaine is a retired high school teacher. Elaine says "It features the names of all 175 innocent victims of every mass school shooting since Columbine. I created the graphic and had the fabric printed by Spoonflower. Red quilting, backing made of red solids, raw edges and sutured letters all reflect the sadness of mass school shootings". It is a moving piece of art:

                                                

There were LOTS of quilts made from recent Block of the Month quilts featured on www.thequiltshow.com.  As I work for The Quilt Show, helping those who are working on these quilts over the course of a year, I feel like they are my "babies". 

COLOR MY WORLD, 2021 BOM, designed by Wendy Williams:

Sally Wright

Anne Clough

Beverly Penaranda

Marci VanderGriend

detail showing the quilting, awarded Best Machine Quilting -- Track Machine

Evelyn Spaulding

Lynda Kronenberger

GARDEN PARTY DOWN UNDER, 2022 BOM, designed by Irene Blanck:

Evelyn Spaulding

Cyndi Russell

Amazingly talented Longarm quilter Patty Wilson quilted many of the quilts in this show. This is just a peek at her work.

Judi Hollingsworth

HOMEWARD BOUND, 2023 BOM, designed by Sarah Fielke: 

Beverly Penaranda

Detail showing quilting

AFTERNOON DELIGHT, 2020 BOM, designed by Sue Garman: 

Patty Wilson

My only entry this show was Full Circle, quilted by Patty Wilson:

Another favorite was "Finding Teal Mountain" by Suzie Wilbanks. She worked on this for many years, gathering every teal fabric she could find. I added a few to her stash:

Suzie and I in front of our quilts for the "photo op":

One other quilt I made was at the show. SUNRISE SUNSET was on display in the Southern Charm Quilting booth. I taught this class there and they had a few kits left so this was a good place to sell them. The name of the quilt pattern is "Aether" by Patty Murphy:

One of the vendors had a wonderful antique quilt on display. It wasn't for sale, it just captivated me.  To be as old as it is and in such fine condition, oh, wow. The hand quilting is awe inspiring:

I wish I had taken a few "overview" shots, but I didn't. Fortunately, Kari H did so I snagged these to share with you. It was a great show!

Let's quilt!

Barbara