PICK A PETAL -- MONTH 6

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

This month we do more whimsical applique on another Log Cabin border. Which border it is on YOUR quilt depends on which photo you use as a reference. 

I discussed this on the MONTH 5 LIVE, see it again here: MONTH 5 LIVE

This photo is on The Quilt Show website. Find photos under SEE QUILTS.     Notice the bright aqua/purple block on the LEFT SIDE:

Here is the photo that was used with the KIT--I used it on the cover of my 2024 BOM Notebook:

My Notebook.  Now the aqua/purple block is on the bottom:

All this means is for ME, Month 6 is the TOP border, upside down. It doesn't matter what it is for YOU, we're going to make them all eventually. 

Here is mine in progress. All the stems are sewn by machine applique, blanket stitch with green thread. I wrote about that in detail in MONTH 5. Some shapes were sewn by machine, some are prepared for needle turn hand applique--the border travels with me so I can hand stitch while on the road:

Hearts and leaves waiting for hand applique

The apple and leaves ready for hand applique

Green gingham leaf ready for hand applique,
bottom motif to be sewn by hand, stem is done

Feel free to add your own whimsical flowers/shapes. This is a "magic" garden, anything goes.

On the LIVE for MONTH 6, Friday June 7, noon central, I will demonstrate how I secure the very thin 80 wt Quilters Select thread to the fine needle so it doesn't get unthreaded and how I hand applique. If there is anything specific you would like me to discuss or show, put a comment here or on the FORUM

As always, please share your progress or ask questions on the FORUM--everyone learns there.

Next month Jen introduces us to hand embroidery. I encourage you to WATCH THE SHOW--it is FREE FOR EVERYONE all year, not just Star Members. Tell your friends to watch. Jen discusses hand embroidery on the show:

JEN KINGWELL SHOW 3401

Let's quilt,

Barbara

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

PICK A PETAL -- MONTH 2

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's Month 2 and we start making a simple block, the Improved or Glorified 9 Patch :

Jen's Block 1 from the sample quilt

Jen does mostly hand piecing. The acrylic template set makes this block easy to cut out for that purpose. I prefer to machine piece when it's easier and faster, as it is with this block:

My Block 1, machine pieced, hand appliqued

MY METHOD  should you wish to try it:

1. Make an uneven 9 Patch:

         Cut 1 center square 2.25" 

         Cut 4 rectangles 2.25" x 3.75" 

         Cut 4 squares 3.75" 

         Sew the 9 pieces into a 9 Patch:

2. PREFER TO HAND APPLIQUE?:   Add Crescents, Template H, to the four sides of the block. I did it by needle turn hand applique. After showing you my method I will show how to machine applique, if you prefer.

        

Use Template G to add the 3 Dots to the two sides and bottom corner of each of the large squares. I used a Micron pen but be aware it is permanent so you have to be sure to cover it when sewing:

 

3. I made a plastic template of Crescent shape H without the seam allowance on the top curve so I could easily draw the sewing line--I like to have a line for hand applique drawn lightlty with a mechanical pencil. I also added extra to the bottom edge so I can "trim to perfection" when the block is done:

4. I used Template H to draw the dots on the fabric Crescent, again, if using a permanent marker be careful:

5. I finger pressed the curved edge under 1/4", using the dots as a guide. Pinned in place I am ready to hand applique this first Crescent:

6. Once all 4 Crescents are sewn, carefully cut away the excess fabric under the Crescent, keeping a 1/4" seam allowance, repeat with the remaining 3 sides:

7. Press the block as flat as possible, use Flatter or Sizing or Starch or Best Press if you like. Spray, let it dry, press firmly with a DRY iron.

Using an 8.5" square ruler, CAREFULLY TRIM TO PERFECTION. Fiddle a bit to be sure you have the four outer corners accurately aligned with the diagonal line on the ruler and the opposite corners:

45 degree line from upper right to lower left

Get the 1/4" mark exactly at the finished corner

Before and After Trimming

PREFER TO MACHINE APPLIQUE?:   I recommend Print N Piece Fuse Lite by Quilters Select as a pattern and stabilizer. It mostly washes out when the quilt is finished, and does not add bulk or weight.

Place fusible side on the back side of the fabric, allow 1/4" seam allowance at the curve

 Press with a dry iron following package instructions

Cut out 4 Crescents including the seam allowance on the top curve. Use a fabric glue stick to turn the seam allowance over and glue in place. A  nice curve on the back will give you a nice curve on the front:

Quilters Select Fabric Glue Pen is the best I have found for this process

The Appliquik tool really helps turn that curved edge flat

Use your favorite machine stitch for the applique: Blanket, Zig Zag, Edgestitch, there are several on most machines, try a variety to find your favorite. Use the SEARCH BOX on The Quilt Show to find MANY shows that feature this technique:

If you don't want the stitches to show much:

 

    Use fine thread--I like Quilters Select 60 or 80 wt depending on the color I need.

    Match thread color to the applique as closely as possible.

   Try a few different size stitches to find what looks best.

So there you have it, an alternative method to make Block 1. It's your quilt, you get to decide.

There are a total of 20 of these in the entire quilt. The machine piecing method I described here works great as Leaders/Enders. I made all 20 of the 9 Patches while making other things. Using many of the Kit fabrics, I simply cut out 80 each of the small and large rectangles, and 20 center squares. They sat beside my machine to be pieced over time.  

Then I cut 80 Crescents, Template H, again from many of the Kit fabrics. Now I am doing the hand applique in the evenings, while "watching" TV. No rush. And totally portable so they go with me on travel.

Don't agonize over which fabrics to use together--they ALL go. Look at Jen's quilt to get the idea, more fabric choice is better:

Next month we move on to Block 2--I have some interesting ideas about that one.

See me on the Facebook LIVE Friday February 2, 2024, noon central time. All the LIVE broadcasts are recorded so you can watch any time: LIVE BROADCASTS

Let's quilt.

Barbara

HOMEWARD BOUND -- MONTH 9

  This quilt is the 2023 Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show. It was designed by Sarah Fielke exclusively for The Quilt Show and is only available at The Quilt Show. The best news is it's FREE for Star Members of The Quilt Show. Each month in 2023 a new part of the quilt is released for download to Star Members. 

This month we finish the wide applique borders by adding the Birds and more leaves.

As always, I strongly recommend you watch any videos prepared for this month. They are important additions to the pattern instructions. 

First, we add the remaining leaves to the four borders. If using the Kit, here are the fabrics to use:

VINE LEAF SMALL: Tiny Stripes Moonglow  8

                                     Tiny Stripes Fern             8

                                     Tiny Dots Lilypad           8

                                      Dragon's Breath Matcha   8

VINE LEAF LARGE:  Roman Glass Emerald      4

                                      Paperweight  Lime           8

                                       Tiny Stripes Fern            8 --these go on the ends of the 8 vines

                                       Dragon's Breath Shire     8

Once all the leaves are in place, you can add the FOUR BIRDS on the top and bottom borders. 

BIRD BODY: Tiny Dots Bluebell     4 Right Side Up  4 Reversed

FRONT WING: Tiny Dots Candy    4 Right Side Up  4 Reversed

BACK WING: Roman Glass Pastel  4 Right Side Up  4 Reversed

I used Print n Piece Fuse Lite to make the birds, printing four of them and drawing the other four, which are Reversed. If your printer will print in Reverse, you could print all 8 of them. This product serves as a template and a stabilizer. Most of it will wash out when the quilt is completely finished and quilted. 

Print n Piece Fuse Lite fused to the wrong side of the bird parts: 

I used Quilters Select Fabric Glue Pen to turn the seam allowances over onto the back of the PNPFL patterns. Note a few places you need to clip to be able to smoothly turn over the seam allowance:

There are several previous blogs I have written about this "turned edge machine applique" technique. Here is the TUTORIAL and another with MORE DETAILS The product used in these earlier blogs is very similar to Print n Piece Fuse Lite.

I did all the Bird applique by machine. You can do it by hand with the turned edge prepared shapes if you prefer. I was in  a hurry.

I chose not to do the very tiny Heart that is reverse appliqued to the bird. My birds just don't have a heart. I also chose to omit the very tiny eye--mine will be either hand embroidered OR I will use tiny black buttons. Sometimes you just have to say "I am not up to that."

UPDATE: Here is how I solved the "sightless bird" issue: I used small black snaps for the eyes. You could also use a permanent fabric pen to draw them:

OK, now to add the Left and Right borders to the center of the quilt so you can:

1. Complete the Vines

2. Add the four remaining birds

When joining the Left and Right borders to the center of the quilt, be careful to keep the loose ends of the vine out of the way as you join the Left and Right borders to the quilt.

Before you can place the four birds that are on the Left and Right borders, you need to complete the vines as they travel around the the corners of the quilt. 

I used a ruler to be sure the vines cross each other on a 45 degree angle, right in the middle. This also shows how I placed the birds so they would each be about the same distance away from the Star points: 

This isn't perfect but it is pretty close and from any distance looks fine. Much better than if I had just "hoped" I got them close to the middle:

There is a lot of work to finish these four wide applique borders, but once done, you are in the home stretch. I found the rest of the quilt went together quickly, relatively speaking...

Next month we made the next pieced Half Square Triangle borders, very similar to Month 5. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

HOMEWARD BOUND -- MONTH 8

 This quilt is the 2023 Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show. It was designed by Sarah Fielke exclusively for The Quilt Show and is only available at The Quilt Show. The best news is it's FREE for Star Members of The Quilt Show. Each month in 2023 a new part of the quilt is released for download to Star Members. 

This month we continue to add leaves and flowers to the wide applique borders. 

I had a bit of a struggle with the Petal Flower--which I really like. I wish I had drawn some registration marks on the  background for the petal placement so they were stitched as they should have been. The one in the photo above is particularly wonky. This one is better: 

The other thing that was a challenge was selecting the various fabrics from the Kit and knowing how many of each to cut. I made a few "wrong" choices. So they became "Design Decisions". 

To assist you with the Kit fabric selection, here is what is needed for Month 8 from the Kit:

TULIP FLOWERS:  Tiny Stripes Aster 4

                                     Tula Pink Solids Divax  4

PETALS: Tiny Dots Bluebell  16   (listed as Flower for Month 8 in the Fabric Requirements

FLOWER CENTER:   Dragon's Breath Snapdragon   4

VINE FLOWER:  Tiny Dots Peachy  8  NOTE: this is a correction, pattern says 4 of each orange

                                 Dragon's Breath Snapdragon  8  NOTE: this is a correction, pattern says 4 

VINE FLOWER TOP:  Tiny Stripes Mystic  8  NOTE: this is a correction, pattern says 4

                                           Tiny Dots Thistle   8  NOTE: this is a correction, pattern says 4

TULIP LEAF:   Tiny Dots Lilypad    8

                             Tiny Stripes Fern   8

FLOWER LEAF:  Dragon's Breath Matcha  4

The pattern often says to refer to photos of the quilt for placement. I have saved the photo so I can find it easily and it is also in my FAVORITES in the Quilt Gallery--find the photos here:  SEE QUILTS  If you are logged in as a Star Member you can save it to your FAVORITES to find quickly.

There is a lot of applique in months 7-9. I chose to do the bias stems by machine applique, the flowers and leaves by needle turn hand applique, and the birds by prepared turn edge machine applique--I will discuss that in Month 9.

Whatever method you chose, enjoy the journey.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

HOMEWARD BOUND -- MONTH 7

 This quilt is the 2023 Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show. It was designed by Sarah Fielke exclusively for The Quilt Show and is only available at The Quilt Show. The best news is it's FREE for Star Members of The Quilt Show. Each month in 2023 a new part of the quilt is released for download to Star Members. 

It's time to start on the wide applique border that features lots of flowers, leaves and birds. We will work on these borders in Months 7, 8 and 9.

The first TIP is to WATCH THE SHOW that introduced this quilt on January 1, 2023. Sarah Fielke, the designer, shows how to create the paper pattern that is used for placement of the long stems. It is a FREE SHOW FOR EVERYONE, not just Star Members. Find it here: 

Show 3201

The first decision is how wide you will cut the four borders. The pattern says to cut them the actual size needed, 8.5" wide. As I handled them for many hours, I got a LOT of fraying at the edges and wished I had cut them 9" or wider, allowing me to trim away the frayed edges after all the applique was done.

Another idea suggested by a member watching on a LIVE broadcast, is to cut the long edges with a wavy blade rotary cutter. Again, I would still cut the borders wider than needed. 

Yet another way to deal with fraying from all the handling is to use Terial Magic, a liquid stablizer, that adds stability. A light spray is all that is needed. Again, I would still cut the borders a bit wider. And some people simply use starch or sizing to stiffen their background fabrics. 

It is a little tricky to cut the borders wider because a star and square of background are added to both ends of the Top and Bottom borders. They will be the exact size needed.  I did oversize the first border I cut but then changed my mind.  I wish I had left the border like this, so I could trim it to the correct size AFTER all the applique was done. Your quilt, you decide:

WATCH SHOW 3201 BEFORE PREPARING THE PAPER PATTERNS. There is a LEFT SIDE and a RIGHT SIDE. Be sure you know which is which.

In laying out the vines, I made a note of where the ends came to in relation to the Star points and bottom of the border fabric:

Here is the top border. I marked lines for the stems with a Crayola Washable marker so I could see the line but that was a mistake. The pen bled and I will have to wash it out later.

The paper pattern so you can see how it is used.

The stems are added before the vine is sewn in place:

Here are the borders marked, and one with the vines in place:

Remember to leave enough unsewn vine on the left and right side borders--they will be completed once the sides and top and bottom are sewn to the middle of the quilt:

I machine appliqued all the stems and vines, using a small blanket stitch and matching green thread. That was the fastest way to get them done. 

To help with Fabric Selection for those using the Kit fabrics, here are the MONTH 7 fabrics:

Large Circle       Tiny Dots Sky       4

Middle Circle     Background          4

Small Circle       Unicorn Poop Shimmer--used on the Tabs    24

                           Petal flower center does not appear on the Fabric List--it could be Unicorn Poop                                         Dazzle--simply use your favorite for this small circle   4

Petal                   Paperweight Paprika        24

Tab                     Roman Glass Pink           24

Feel free to change these fabrics if you like. I changed the small circle on the petals to a vibrant yellow/gold. Here you can see both choices. In hindsight, I would also make the small circles on the Tabs a deeper color as they disappear on the tabs:

I did all the flowers and leaves by hand applique. For me, the Tabs were easier once I prepped the edge by lightly gluing the tabs to freezer paper templates I made. It was easy to remove the freezer paper with tweezers since the bottom of the Tab was open:

I used a Circle Template to draw the circles the size needed to cut. This one was sold years ago for quilters but you can easily find this tool in the drafting section of an office supply store. I use Perfect Circles by Karen K Buckley for making the circles. Watch her show you how here.:

Next month we will add a lot of flowers and leaves.

Let's quilt.

Barbara