Tag Archives: applique

Show & Tell…

Posted on by
2

I’m happy to be back home, even though it means I’m not in Hawaii. Home is indeed where the heart is.

Two very fine quilters sent photos of their quilts for me to share with you. In both cases, the applique colors shine against the black backgrounds.

MilliesGarden-JoyceLytle

Joyce Lytle wrote this about the first quilt:

In the retirement village where I live (Savannah Lakes Village) in South Carolina, we have a group that meets every week. Every 2-3 years we make a quilt, then give it to a non-profit organization in our town of McCormick to raise funds for their group. That way we do not have to sell the raffle tickets, they do. Of course we all purchase tickets and hope we win the quilt! LOL.

The binding still needs to be stitched to the back and a sleeve attached. We haven’t decided which organization will get the quilt yet, but we are sure they will be thrilled.

I agree—the winner will be thrilled. You all did a wonderful job!

StarsInGarden-RoseanneBullock

Roseanne Bullock, from Adelaide, Australia, sent the second photo. She wrote:

Have attached a photo of my version of your Stars In The Garden quilt, which I am happy to say came equal second in our exhibition jut last weekend.  No prize, but considering we had 108 quilts, hangings, etc, I feel very happy with the result.  Hope you are too!

Loved the pattern and only modified it slightly, as I was hand sewing, missed doing the hydrangea block… Did a mini stipple all around the flowers, took me two weeks!

This is a lovely quilt! I’m impressed that it only took 2 weeks for a mini-stipple :-).

I thank you both for sharing the photos of your lovely quilts. They are inspirational!

 

Wool Applique The Piece O’ Cake Way!

Posted on by
1

If you subscribe to my newsletter, you know that our newest book, Wool Applique the Piece O’ Cake Way, has arrived. I haven’t written much about this book on the blog yet because I wanted to make videos first. I had to wait until I got my nails done, yesterday, to film the videos because when your hands are going to be preserved online for all time, you want your nails to look nice :-).

If the video isn’t there, click here to see it on Youtube.

I’ll post with more wool-y news soon. Until then, happy stitching!

Show and Tell…

Posted on by
9

I received this lovely photo on January 24…

Made by Carolyn Janz

Made by Carolyn Janz

Carolyn says that she started this quilt in 1998, finished it that day. She has made a lovely version of the Simply Delicious pattern. Very nicely done, indeed!

Show and tell…

Posted on by
7

I have received photos of 3 very different quilts made from Piece O’ Cake patterns recently. I think you all will enjoy seeing them!

The first quilt is Magen’s Flower Garden made by Nadia M., in her own colors. It’s so pretty and I love the way she coordinated the colors between her hex-flowers and the central fabric.

NadiaMassoni-quilt

Linda S. wrote to say that she just finished making Welcome To The North Pole for a friend. She says that this quilt was so much fun and she knows the recipient and her friend will enjoy it for years to come. I would add that everyone who sees it will enjoy it!

LindaSouza-quilt

 

Mannette A. made the next quilt. It’s not from a Piece O’ Cake pattern but she said:

I’m including a pic of my finished quilt that is my first appliqué project. This quilt is hand pieced, appliquéd, and quilted. I would NEVER have attempted the appliqué if it weren’t for your tutorials and advice (not to mention supplies)
Thank you so very much!

ManetteAnderson-quilt

Didn’t she do a great job! And, even though I don’t make them often, I’ve gotta say that I do love to see a quilt made solely from neutrals.

Thank you each for sharing your quilts with us!

Posted on by
5

I got an email from Rebecca. After I replied I thought you all would enjoy both her email and my reply…

Hi, Becky!  I have both of your applique sampler books, have read them through several times, dog eared and highlighted, et cetera. I have also watched your videos.  You must be a wonderful teacher in person!  I’m working on my first needle turned applique block and all was going well until I got to the small leaves.  The block design is my own “Frankenstein” whig rose, combination of several different applique patterns from back issues of Quilter’s Newsletter, and I tried to include as many different shapes and sizes as I could so it would be a good learning piece.

I’m having trouble with the end where the leaf is round in a tight outer curve. I have been trying to finger press carefully along the chalk line, but I end up smearing the chalk and can’t seem to finger press a smooth enough curve exactly on the line—and my leaves are looking a little lumpy where they ought to look smooth. I have tried making my turning allowance narrower and turning only one stitch at a time.  Anyway, your other videos have been so helpful. I would love to see a tutorial on how to do a small, tight outer curve. Rebecca

I’m having trouble with the end where the leaf is round in a tight outer curve. I have been trying to finger press carefully along the chalk line, but I end up smearing the chalk and can’t seem to finger press a smooth enough curve exactly on the line—and my leaves are looking a little lumpy where they ought to look smooth. I have tried making my turning allowance narrower and turning only one stitch at a time.  Anyway, your other videos have been so helpful. I would love to see a tutorial on how to do a small, tight outer curve.

image

My reply:

Hi Rebecca:

Your stitching is lovely! Truth be told, you might be too critical of your own work. That said, if it was a circle instead of a leaf, more round would be better.
I wish I could do another video on tight curves and will but it’s going to be a while. I’ve got several weeks of work to do on the next book and barely have time to look up!

However, maybe I can help you with words, if not a video.

First, slow down on those curves. What I mean is that this area is not going to turn under particularly quickly.

Where you see the little bumps at the edge, I suspect that the fabric is pleated, or folded over itself, on the underside. When I sew a curve like that, I can feel the pleat with my fabric-holding-fingers as well as see it with my eyes. It is at that point that you should park your needle and use the point of a damp toothpick to reach underneath and smooth open the pleat.

Some pleats take more fooling with than others. That’s why you need to slow down and just work with it until the edge is smooth.

If your curve flattens out, use the point of the toothpick or needle to move it back into round.

Your stitches look pretty small (close together) but this is an area where you want to be sure that there don’t appear to be gaps between your stitches.

I hope this helps, both Rebecca and others who might be having trouble with curves!

Becky