GPDU--MONTH 8 One Applique Block and a Shoo Fly

 Garden Party Down Under is the 2022 Block of the Month quilt from The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. It is offered FREE all of 2022 to Star Members of The Quilt Show. Designed by Australian designer Irene Blanck, this quilt has captivated a lot of quilters around the world and many are making beautiful variations of this pattern.

This  month there is a striking applique vase. The vase can be cut from a single piece of fabric, or cut the  handle from a different fabric to add interest. Your quilt, you get to decide.

Here is mine from the quilt made as a sample last year:

Here is Irene's: 

The handles are reversed because mine was made with a pattern printed on a fusible, then ironed to the back of the fabric, thereby reversing the design. Irene does all of her applique by hand so her pattern was traced from the front side of the pattern.

That is what makes this such a GREAT PROJECT--use all the information provided to make a "Sampler of Techniques"--try several applique methods to determine which you like best. 

The borders in Months 1 and 2 can be appliqued or paper pieced.

When we get to Month 10, the outer Diamond borders will be introduced--they can be appliqued, as Irene did, or machine pieced, as I did. Instructions for BOTH methods will be provided.

Take a few minutes to look on the FORUM at some of the wonderful work being done by many quilters around the world. Click on PHOTOS  at the top, just above the purple bar, to see all the photos posted on that months' Show Your Progress Here Topic. 

You don't have to be a Star Member to see the FORUM, you do have to be a Star Member to post on the Forum:

MONTH 7 -- SHOW YOUR PROGRESS HERE

I wrote detailed instructions for the SHOO FLY BLOCK in the MONTH 6 BLOG, FIND IT HERE.

 Please take time to post your photos on the FORUM for the world to see. And if you post on Social Media, please use #gardenparty2022bom on your posts.

Let's quilt,

Barbara

AFTERNOON DELIGHT--Month 2

This pattern is the 2020 Block of the Month pattern offered FREE to Star members of The Quilt Show--join today to receive the entire year of patterns free. This is in addition to all the great content provided by The Quilt Show, 26 shows, a new one every two weeks, and so much more. If you want to know more about why I am such a fan, here is why.

THE PIECED BLOCKS--SHOO FLY VARIATION:

This month we will make 2 more Shoo Fly Blocks, using the same instructions as last month. See my blog post for more information:

Month 1--Part 1

Let's talk about PRESSING these blocks.

All 9 of the Shoo Fly blocks will be sewn to a Double Nine Patch block--we start making those in June. To allow the seams to "nest", it is best to press the Shoo Fly seams AWAY from the center, toward the outside edges:

You have to be assertive in pressing sometimes. Using starch or sizing or a product such as Best Press, can help get those seams to lay flat. I also found I like to "twirl" the intersection seams just as we did with the little four patches. The block on the left has been pressed with twirled seams, the one on the right has not been pressed:

THE APPLIQUE BLOCKS--HOW TO CUT OUT THE PATTERNS

I have decided to use raw edge applique for my applique blocks. The speed of preparation, compared to turned edge or needle turn hand applique is the reason. Review both the pattern instructions from Month 1 and my Month 1 blog instructions for more information:

Month 1--Part 2

TIP: Before cutting out the pattern, use a light mark with a pencil or other marker you know will not bleed, to give a few "positioning marks" on the background. This white fabric is easy. With a darker fabric, you may need a lightbox or window to trace a few simple lines:

First, I rough cut the printed patterns. I do save all the remaining fusible sheet, these pieces are large enough to use for other small projects. I simply store them in a ziploc bag:

Blocks 5 and 6 from my Sample Quilt:

Block 5

Block 6

Let's look at Block 5. The large shapes, P1 and P2, bump right up against each other. This is true for many of the blocks. With raw edge applique, if I cut all those pieces exactly on the black lines, I will have to be certain I position the pieces exactly next to each other, so none of the background fabric shows through.

NOTE: Had I followed Sue’s directions, making a pieced four-patch to cut the appliqué, this block would have been easier. Always READ the directions, she said to herself...

Instead, I cut the shapes from the lighter fabric, P1 here, with 1/4" extra sticking out on the two sides that will touch shape P2:

Yellow pencil line drawn 1/4" beyond edge of shape

Both sets of shapes cut

This allows the darker shape to be attached to the lighter shape as all four shapes are glued to the background, with no chance of white background fabric showing. Notice the extra fabric goes beyond the center lines:

I did the same thing with the P1 piece in the center:

Here is the block, stitched, soaked, trimmed and done:

For Block 6, I used Sue's directions in Month 1 to make the stems--they are straight so they don't need to be made from bias.

The tulips, leaves and center circle can be cut exactly on the black lines for raw edge. Make a few reference lines on the background, add the leaves, then the stems, then the tulips, and the center circle.

There are a LOT of circles in this quilt and if you prefer a turned edge, Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circle method is a winner. Perfect Circles, Show 2007. There is no reason you can't use turned edge circles along with raw edge shapes in the same block--I call it the "hybrid" method.

Let's look back to Month 1 for a moment:

Block 1 from last month has a lot of pieces that touch edges. Here is how I cut those flowers out. The edges cut right on the line, the lower edge of pieces 5, 4, 3, and 2, will have the fabric extended so the piece below it sits on fabric, just as if I were doing these with traditional hand needle turn.

The center of Block 1 has a double circle--there are several of those in this quilt, too. Feel free to only add one circle, the larger one--that's a great place to fussy cut a fabric if one is perfect for that size--here I only cut 1 circle, not 2:

I liked having the extra fabric under each small piece and it wasn't hard to stitch. The finished block. Notice I changed my mind and did both circles in the center:

Post photos of your blocks on the Forum Show and Tell page. The Forum is a great place to get the latest information and ask questions. If something comes up that I think lots of you will want to know I post it on the Forum.

Also, the Newsletter which you sign up for  comes out every couple days--another way to know what is  happening in the quilt world--not just about this quilt or our shows. Personally, I love the puzzles!

Here are the other two applique blocks from my sample quilt. Remember, if using the Kit, you get to choose which fabrics you want to use for each block:

Block 7  

Block 8

Let's quilt.

Barbara

AFTERNOON DELIGHT--Month 1, Part 1

This pattern is the 2020 Block of the Month pattern offered FREE to Star members of The Quilt Show--join today to receive the entire year of patterns free. This is in addition to all the great content provided by The Quilt Show, 26 shows, a new one every two weeks, and so much more. If you want to know more about why I am such a fan, here is why.

Welcome to Afternoon Delight, designed by the late Sue Garman. This month you will begin to make both pieced and applique blocks. Part 1 will discuss the pieced Shoo Fly block. Part 2, coming January 2, 2020, will discuss applique by machine, both raw edge and turned edge techniques.

Find information on Fabric Requirements here.

Read ALL the directions before beginning. If you have the Kit, you will find it easiest to cut the fabrics according to the list provided each month. This month simply decide which fabrics are Backgrounds 1-6 and Prints 1-6 and cut the sizes listed in the pattern accordingly.

For example, Backgrounds 1 and 2 are cut 8" x 12" to start with. They will be used for the Shoo Fly half square triangles and Applique blocks 1 and 2 backgrounds. Each fabric is listed as to where it is used that month and what size to cut the fabric to accomplish this.

TIP: All the applique backgrounds are cut 8" square to start. After all the applique is stitched, you will trim the block down to 7.25"--this is the unfinished size. More about Applique in Part 2.

The Shoo Fly Block:

Sue's directions are excellent, with great visuals. I won't repeat what she says here. I will only try to clarify a few things.

The instructions say to cut Background 1 and 2 into two 3 1/8" squares. Since you know Background 1 and 2 are also used as Applique block backgrounds, you can cut those 8" x 12" fabrics into one 8" square each and use the remaining 4" x 8" pieces to make the two 3 1/8" squares from each background. NOTE: I cut the squares 3 1/4" and sewed them first before cutting--see below.

Follow the directions for Prints 1-6 to cut the pieces needed for the Shoo Fly blocks. All of the fabric left will be used in the 4 Applique blocks. Do the same for Backgrounds 1-6.

My sample quilt is being made from red, white and blue fabrics. Here are the parts ready for two Shoo Fly blocks:

NOTE: I prefer to make half square triangles from squares and I cut them slightly larger, 3 1/4" instead of 3 1/8". After sewing on both sides of a drawn pencil line, I cut them apart, and "trim to perfection":

I am willing to waste that much fabric for that much perfection. Trim to 2 3/4"

I am working scrappy, from leftover pieces and yardage. All I do is see what sizes of Background/Prints are needed and cut those from scraps. I am using some fabrics more than called for, some less.

The entire quilt has a total of 9 Shoo Fly blocks, each with 41 pieces. They will be placed all around the quilt, not assembled until the end. So it really does not matter which fabrics are used in each block. Just spread the colors around as you like.

With my red,white and blue theme, I had at least three choices when it came to the Shoo Fly blocks--red and blue corners in each block, or some all red, some all blue. Which do you prefer?

My choice is shown at the top of this post.

You will like how those little four-patches "float", meaning the corners of the little squares not not supposed to touch the outside edges of the block or half-square triangles. That's just the way the simple math works out and it's easier too.

You are encouraged to post photos on the Forum in our Afternoon Delight Block Progress Show and Tell Topic.  Show and Tell Your Blocks Here

The Forum is the first place I post updates/suggestions and each time I post a blog that covers Afternoon Delight, I post a Topic on the Forum to alert you--just in case you don't follow my blog.

Please feel free to ask questions--the Forum is a great place to ask--I check it at least once a day.

There are 9 of these blocks in the entire quilt--Sue spread them out over 5 months. But now that you know how to make them, if you are itching to get ahead, go on and make some more--remember, just 9!

Part 2 posts January 2--we will tackle the Applique blocks there.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

My Next Lifetime?

As my first Lifetime quilt is heading toward completion, I find myself thinking "What's Next?" A new Leader/Ender quilt has to be decided upon...

Here is one I am considering. It is an antique top I bought in 2014 from Cindy Diller Rennels. She is an antique quilt dealer I have gotten to know and buy from at the big shows. This one came from Paducah, April 2014.

When I bought it, I thought it was a Shoo-Fly block but upon closer examination, it is an X-block block with alternate white blocks between. Here are some detail shots:

This beautiful bright blue print is a Centennial print, with 1776 and 1876 printed on it along with many states' names. So the top is no older than 1876--I think it is somewhat newer than that--I will have to study it again closely to try to find the "newest" print:

Not the best Leader/Ender project as I will have to pre-assemble fabric groups if I want to create blocks with the same fabrics in each, and pre-cut a bunch of the white background. But it is certainly a contender.

What say you, quilt world friends? Would you make it as close to this as possible or use different background prints? Do you find it appealing?

In the next few posts I'll present a few others for consideration.

Let's quilt.

Barbara