Applique My Way

Pieced heart applique block

As my regular readers know, the word "applique" makes me nervous.  It is the one quilty technique that cause all kinds of consternation for me.  So many of you do this so effortlessly, that I always feel all thumbs when I look at any pattern that requires even the most basic applique.

Here is a method I have started using that I actually enjoy!

 

For this I use a light fusible interfacing, but I do not fuse it to the back.

 

I cut a piece of fusible the same size and shape that I want my applique to be.

 

For this heart shaped applique, I cut the shape after I stitched, but for circles and other shapes I often cut them both the beforehand.

 

 

For this heart I used a pieced square

 

paper template on interfacing

 

cut

 

pinned

 

stitched

 

trimmed to shape

 

 

I cut a hole in the middle of the interfacing.

 

opening cut in interfacing

 

Turn right side out and smooth into shape

 

front

 

cut background fabric square

 

 

Fold background block to center applique.

 

 

 Press front to background

 

 

Press back

 

 

Applique success!

 

 

Ready to finish!

 

I will stitch around this applique with a bling hand stitch or maybe use  a machine decorative stitch.

 

If you are as timid about applique as I am, I hope you will find this method easy and give it a try,

 

I am using this method for my current quilt test project, which has applique circles and plan to use it again soon for another project.

 

More applique posts coming soon to my scrapatch!

Today I am linking up with ...

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River
 

and

Sew Cute Tuesday @ Better Off Thread
 

Thanks for visiting today!

 

:)  

 

May Goal Completed!

 "Love Blooms"

Flower Shaped Quilt

 

 

For more pictures and the Tutorial
how I made this flower shaped Love Blooms Quilt
please click Here

 

My May Goal is Completed!

ALYOF May Finishing Party Here

The first table quilt for my daughter's wedding reception table is ready!

 

My second finish is this ...

 Hexagon Flower Quilt

I also made this smaller quilt for their guestbook table.

For the pictures and Tutorial for this

Hexagon Flower Table Quilt

please click Here

I am also linking up with

  and
Let's Get Acquainted

Two quilts Done!
 

Many more to go!

Just Keep Sewing!

:-)

 

Monday Morning Quilty

My current quilty project.

 

I am linking up this morning with

Plum and June's

 

 

hosted today

@ Gemini Stitches

 

Today I am quilting this long overdue group baby quilt

for the The Quilt & Needle Quilty Aunties

These little giraffes have been on a wandering adventure.

Soon they will be migrating home.

 

I call this pattern "Animal Walk"

 

This pattern is one I designed on EQ for the Quilty Aunties.

The star chain block is called "Garden Steps."

The applique giraffe pattern I drew myself.

The blocks finish at 9" square.

 

This is how the quilt arrived,  sandwiched and pinned.

After experimenting, I did have to completely remove the pins,

smooth the front and back and repin according to my own method.

Apparently I do not use many pins when I quilt, but I am careful not to

get folds and to keep my backing flat.  Works for me. ;)

 

Katniss stalked the giraffes while I contemplated the quilting.

 

Then Katniss helped me thread my machine.

The baby grandma and I decided on a variegated orange/green/yellow thread.

 

Katniss is such a good helper.

Ready, set, quilt!

 

I am quilting this on my home machine as I do for most quilts twin and smaller.  This quilt is a toddler size.

I like to rent the long arm at my LQS and do FMQ on larger quilts.

I am doing straight line quilting in the sashing, star blocks and border.

In the sashing I decided on a diamond criss cross design.

I mark the sashing with pins as I go to keep my pattern even.  I mark with and remove pins on each section as I go, first one way and then the other.

Progress!

I use three tables set together to support a quilt while quilting on my home machine.

Here is a similar quilt made by the Quilty Aunties for the little brother with zebras instead of giraffes and a blue/green/yellow colorway ...

 

These quilts measure about 60" square for the boys to enjoy as they grow.
 

Spring has finally arrived in my quilty corner! 

Today is sunny and Katniss has moved to enjoy the tulip patch and windows

on our enclosed front porch.

 

Time to quilt!

 

Have a happy quilty day!
:)
 

Pink and White Baby Hugs and Kisses

Pink and White Quilty Aunty Baby Quilt Top

 

This top is done and packed and sent to the

 Quilty Auntie Quilter from the 

 

Quilty Aunties @ The Quilt & Needle

for

our friend Nanci's Grandbaby

Completing and sending this top was my April goal for the
 

ALYOF @ Fiber of All Sorts

I am linking up to the Finishes Party!

 

No matter how many times I make blocks,

piece a top of make a quilt from this

 

Free Hugs and Kisses Baby Quilt Pattern

 

 <3 I always love the quilt! <3

 

At 55" square is also makes a good lap quilt for an adult.

 

It is essentially a Single Irish Chain with the "o" hug block in the middle.  It can be made with any other alternate block

or an 8.5" square with embroidery in the center.

The Snowball block is another really good alternate black

for fussy cutting and showcasing a pretty focus fabric.

It can be made larger or smaller, scrappy or not.

I am linking up this morning with


from Plum and June

hosted today at Quiet Play

 

Have a happy, quilty day!

<3

April Showers Mug Rug!

 

.

.

.

 

 

 

Happy April Fools Day!

 

You did not think I would show my project yet, did you?

 

This blog hop starts April 8th ... 

at

Sew We Quilt

 

 

 

Katniss says please come back and visit us on
 

April 11th,
 

to see my Quilty Kitty Approved Mug Rug.
 

 (sneak peak ... while Katniss is napping)

We are linking up today with



hosted today by

from Pixels to Patchwork

Thanks for visiting!
 

Have a happy quilty day!

 

:-)

Scrappy Always Makes Me Happy

This is what I am working on today. 

It is the scrappy part of my current project. 

I am linking up again at Plum and June's ...

 

 

... which is being hosted today by Martha @ Weekend Doings

There are some lovely quilty projects posted today!

 

 

Katniss, of course, is my ever-present helper. 

These will be sewn in later today and my top will be done.

More pictures later in the week.

Have a happy quilty day!

:)

A Quiltin' Day

This is what I am working on today, 

I have a lot of quilting to do to get ready for the ...

 at Sew We Quilt   The full schedule is posted on Jane's Fabrics  here ~~~~> Hugs & Kisses Blog Hop I am posting on the first day!   Today I am also linking up again with the ...   

 

 at Plum and June.

and enjoying the eye candy while I am taking a break.

There is some very lovely projects liked here!

 

Time to get back to quilting.

 

Have a happy quilty day!

:)