The Splendid Sampler had a Bonus Block and Challenge this week. The block is a cute derby hat and I had just finished sorting scrap fabric and figured I should use some of it up.
I tried the freezer paper technique for the applique of the hat and hat band and machine appliqued the heart. Of all the applique techniques I’ve tried so far, the backbasting method has been my favorite.
Every summer quilt shops across the U.S. and Canada participate in the Row by Row experience. You visit a participating shop and pick up a pattern for a quilt row. Each shop has their own unique pattern, but they all follow a theme.
I don’t really shop hop and gather rows each summer, instead I visit a local quilt shop from wherever I am vacationing with my family. Some time in the future I will have a wonderful blanket filled with memories of everywhere we went.
Last summer we went to Gatlinburg, TN and visited the Great Smokey Mountains. I made a stop at Mountain Stitches by Susan and purchased a kit to make her row of the grist mills and water wheels.
There was applique involved with this piece and I thought I would try it a few different ways. Just to see how it would turn out.
First, the upper windows of the grist mills were reversed appliqued. This meant I put the window fabric behind the grist mill, and cut the grist mill fabric to show the windows. I needled turned the grist mill fabric.
The door was next. For this applique I did the backbasted method. You draw the outline of your applique on the back of the piece you are sewing it onto. Then you lay the piece to be appliqued on top. Following the drawing you baste the piece on using tiny stitches. If you let it sit like this for a while, it makes a perforation of the fabric to make turning under easier. I just pull out a few basting stitches and needle turn the fabric.
Finally the trees were machine appliqued. I cut the design directly on the green fabric and used a straight stitch along the edges. The fabric may fray as time goes on, but I think that would be in keeping with the trees.
To make the trees pop and add dimension, I opened the seams behind them and stuffed the insides.
Finally, I added some embroidery to the bottom. Just to remember where and when.
Here is the finished row;
I am excited to see what rows 2016 brings.
I took a class with Alex Anderson, oh, about two years ago. We learned how to machine applique using a blanket stitch. The class was fun and the quilt pattern sweet. I loved the bright colors. It took me almost a year to finally finish the quilt top and it has been sitting in my UFO box ever since.
You see, I have a fear of finishing quilts. I’ve taken a few free motion classes. It’s not something I do perfectly the first time, so I shy away from it. After all the hard work I put into a quilt top, I don’t want to ruin it with the quilting part.
But time to face my fears!
The classes I’ve taken on free motion quilting all had different advice. I’ve mixed it all up and have found what works best for me.
First, I mark my quilts. I like this chalk set I found at a local quilt shop, I think I’ve also seen it at Joann’s.
I like the interchangeable colors, the case, and the sharpener. Also the chalk rubs off rather easily, which can be a good or bad thing.
I made a general design on the quilt. Just to give me a general idea of where to go. Trying to figure out my next move while sewing just doesn’t work for me. I get all kinds of confused and frustrated. I usually find that I’ve quilted very close together in some areas and very spread out in others, and I’ll get stuck somewhere and not know where to turn next.
I keep a stash of 12 x 12 inch batting and muslins in a box. Before I start free motion on a quilt I make a sandwich out of these a do a practice run. This gives me a chance to check the tension on the threads and see how my quilt design is going to go.
I do NOT press the pedal to the metal when free motion quilting. When the needle moves fast I feel like I need to move fast and I just can’t control the stitching that way. The size of the stitch is as big as you make it when you move the quilt. So if the needle is slow, I move slow. I’ve found I’ve had more even stitching this way.
A little tip from me – I take my shoe off and use a bare foot to apply pressure to the pedal. I feel like it gives me more control.
I use a quilt glove on my left hand and use my right hand to actually grip the quilt.
It’s really about control. I feel like I have more control this way. I do admit, my right hand was hurting after a bit. I’ll keep working on it to find a more comfortable position.
I also start and stop a lot right now in order to move my hands. By the end of this quilt I was getting much better at it.
As I said earlier, the markings are just general directions, sometimes I didn’t follow the way they were drawn. Having them there still helped to know where to go.
The quilting is not in any means perfect, but I have to tell you it is MUCH better than I have quilted in the past. Its just something I will have to keep working on.
You know what? I don’t think I mind that at all.
Well…not really, because this quilt is a hockey quilt and I don’t think they use balls in hockey.
As you can probably tell, I’m not much of a hockey fan. I do like baseball and football, but just can’t get into hockey. However, I have family members who are fans and a nephew who never got his baby blanket from me.
My sister and I did some searching and found this pattern by Kristie at OCD: Obsessive Crafting Disorder and I got to work.
I wanted to personalize the borders and decided on some applique. I will be putting my nephew’s name at the top and on the sides I decided the logo for their favorite team would be perfect.
I have this great circle cutter that I’m in love with. I used it to cut the black and white circles I needed for the logo.
Perfect!
The circles were cut larger than I needed and I used this method by Anna Maria Horner and machine appliqued them.
For the main part of the logo I used Wonder Under and cut out the main part.
Once the circles were machined appliqued on, I ironed the main part of the logo onto them and machine appliqued that on as well.
I attached the borders to the sides and they are looking great on the quilt!
Stay tuned for my next post to see the finished top!
I have been following along with The Splendid Sampler quilt along. I’m not making every block as I have too many projects going on. However, every now and then a pattern has struck me and I’ve just HAD to make it. This happened recently and it was great timing as it was an embroidered block and I was looking for something to do while waiting for my car to be serviced. I love projects that are portable.
This block is called Crocheted Thoughts and is by Alyssa Thomas.
I found some blue variegated thread in my container and was thrilled. Not only do I love blue, but I have SOOOOO much blue fabric. I started pulling out of the bins and laying them out. I take pictures with my phone so I can step back and get a better read.
At first I tried to use some fabrics that came together in a pack and moved them about a bit.
But I wasn’t happy, so I tried a new arrangement.
I got closer with that arrangement. I really like the center fabric, it is a very pale blue, but I didn’t like all the other blues around it.
So, I figured I would use some color theory and asked myself what the complementary color of blue is. Answer is orange!
No way, orange with blue?! There was no way I was going to like it, but I went to my orange fabrics and pulled some out.
Oh my goodness, I think I was falling in love. But to be sure, I cut all the pieces out and laid out the block.
Yes, this is definitely a winner!
The finished block is 6 inches. Not sure what my plans for it is yet, right now I just enjoy looking at it.
While we wait for the next pattern for Crossroads, Sondra Davison from Outofthebluequilts is giving measurements to make mini versions of the Crossroads Blocks.
I decided to give it a try, with a few changes to the original block. Instead of the line down the side of the house matching the background fabric, I made it a darker color of the house, and I took out the main window and added a door.
Here are my fabrics. They are just from my stash, I don’t know the lines or designers.
I knew the pieces were going to be tiny so I decided to try a fabric stabilizer I had on hand and see if that would make sewing easier.
I mixed it up with some water according to the directions, laid the fabrics on a towel, and sprayed away.
It was fun to play with the pieces in the morning. They felt like thin pieces of paper. See? No flopping!
I did find it much easier to cut and sew these tiny, tiny pieces with the stabilizer applied. There was less movement when cutting and sewing and no fraying.
Here’s Momma house and Baby house. Baby house was so cute, I made it a little crocheted frame.
And so you can see how tiny the finished block is, here it is next to a tic tac box. Finished size of the mini block is 3.75 inches by 3.75 inches.
I can’t wait for the mini diamond block to come out!
lovingly, lissa
I have so many projects going on right now and have told myself, “No More.” I’m sure you’ve all said that to yourself at some point or another. However I am following Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson’s Splendid Sampler. They release two new blocks a week and have bonus projects as well. I simply do not have the time to join in, but every now and then something strikes me and I just HAVE to do it.
First was this wonderful pincushion, a bonus project. http://www.thesplendidsampler.com/2016/02/11/meet-the-splendid-sampler-designers-4/
Now, I have never made a cathedral window block before. They honestly made me a little nervous. But I just had to give this a try. I pulled down a basket of fat quarters that my wonderful Mother in Law gave me that I new would just be perfect.
The fabrics are “Sew…A Needle Pulling Thread” and “Quilting Companions” by Cat Williams and “Stitching in the Woods” by Robin Betterley.
Fabulous, aren’t they?
Here is what I learned while making the block;
* Instead, just turn them gently and pin them down. You will still get plenty of your peek-a-boo fabric
I am thrilled to tell you that I am no longer scared of cathedral windows!! In fact I have fallen in love with them! I had to make more, it was addictive. These are for my two high school friends who I am doing a quilt a long with. We live in three different states and I’m so thankful for the internet and this quilt a long to bring us together. (I’ll be posting about this quilt a long soon)
Of course I made one for myself too!
I took mine a step further by adding a thread catcher to it. I used the pattern found at http://mypolkadotapron.blogspot.com/2011/05/thread-catcher-tutorial.html?spref=bl
I love it! I carry it with me all over the house when I do hand stitching. I guess I just need to make more so this one can live on my sewing table, because now….
