I Like Thursday ~ Quilty Challenges

 

I like learning something new. 

This is my first ever hand appliqued block.

It is not perfect, but I like it!

I learned a lot making this first block and think my work improved

by the end of making this block.

This is the Strawberries Block from the

The Vintage Flower Sampler Quilt Book by Atsuko Matsuyama

For my Vintage Flower Sampler Quilt ~ Started Here

I am using prints from her pretty 30's fabric lines for this quilt. 

For my next block I made this set of templates.

I actually made two sets of templates, 

one for me and one for a quilty friend.

These templates are for the Sugar Plum quilt block from the book.

Hand-piecing is recommended for this block but I like to sew curves 

on my machine so I may try using that method to piece my block.

This block will be a challenge.

I like quilty challenges.

If you like quilty challenges, too, and are interested in making this block,

there is currently a sew along happening for this block pattern

Sugar Plum Quilt Along @ Sunny Day Supply

This is the pattern, 

Sugar Plum by Judy Newman,

 for the quilt along in their shop.

I believe from what I have read that this pattern

 and the templates from Paper Pieces

are for 14 inch finished blocks.

The block I made from the Atsuko Matsuyama book will be 12" finished,

as are all the block sizes in this book. 

I may someday make a quilt like this,

but for now I will be happy to finish one block for my sampler.

So you could also purchase the book to make this block.

My Wordless Wednesday photo shows my useful thimble for 

stitching my applique block.

I like this Clover Adjustable Ring Thimble with Plate

for sashiko, embroidery, hand applique and piecing and any other hand sewing.

I like to wear it on my right ring finger with the plate against my palm.

What finger do you like to use for your thimble

 and what is your favorite kind of thimble? 

Thanks to my online quilty friends 

for answering my applique questions

and encouraging me along.

Thanks also to the lovely group of bloggers at

I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color

for filling my Thursdays with bright photos and thoughts.

Happy Thursday! 

Slow Sunday Stitching ~ Hand Applique

This is my current slow stitching project.

I am learning how to do hand-applique my way,

which means after watching many videos and reading many how-to methods,

I am figuring out what actually works for my many thumbs

by trial and error.

I started

  My Vintage Flower Sampler Quilt in January

with my Atsuko Matsuyama fabric stash. 

After completing

 My 2nd Vintage Flower Pieced Block Here

I decided to try one of the applique blocks.

I can manage an adequate raw-edge machine applique block,

but for this quilt I decided to try my hand again at hand-applique.

I attempted to learn needle turn applique many years ago, 

but put it aside feeling all thumbs and not completing a block. 

I have always wanted to try again. 

I started 2024 deciding this would be my quilty challenge for the year.

This is the block lay-out and my threads.

This photo was taken when my pieces were cut and not yet prepped.

At that point I had planned a white tone-on-tone background 

before I decided a softer looking background was needed for these fabrics.

I bought the package of 30s colored applique threads at a quilt show

 many years ago and they have been waiting and waiting, still wrapped, in my stash.

Then recently I purchased the creamy white and a few more colors.

This is Aurifil 80 weight cotton thread which is new to me. 

This thread is so much nicer than any of the many others that I have tried before

I think I will never use any other thread again for invisible stitching again.

I had a surprise kitty helper today!

This is the first time Cassian, who was a stray we took in at the end of 2022,

has taken any interest in any of my sewing or stitching endeavors.

Katniss sits with me everyday on my sewing table

 so I put one of her favorite furry cat beds there for her.

Cassian very quickly started settled as my kitty supervisor and inspector. 

It was purrrfectly wonderful to have him sitting with me while I stitched.

My boys came over for a nice visit this afternoon and my needle was idle.

I only have a few more pieces to stitch though so

I hope to have a finished applique block very soon.

Linking up tonight with the lovely stitchers at

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Enjoy the links! 

Finding My Way With Applique

 

The pieces for my first Vintage Flower Sampler Quilt hand applique block 

are finally prepped and ready to set in final places and sew.

It has been quite a trial and error process trying to find my way 

with this effort to actually do hand applique.

The large strawberry pieces that I started HERE 

were done using the freezer paper

method that so many of my online quilty friends use.

This still does not seem to be working for me

 despite watching many video tutorials. 

So I am exploring alter ways for me to prep the pieces.

Since it has been two weeks since I last posted this

you can deduce it has been a struggle. 

I am persevering.

As you can see in the above photo, I also am switching

 to a red on off-white Fig Tree Quilts eyelet print

 for my background fabric for my applique blocks.

The bright white looked too stark with the soft colors

 of the Japanese 30's reproduction fabrics. 

For the circles, I used a method I have employed in the past

for making nicely rounded circles.

I cut and pressed a small fusible fleece circle

 in the center of the back and gathered my edge and pressed.

Then I found the center of my new background square

and used a few drops of applique glue to hold

the first pieces in place.

All the pieces on the first strawberry were done with the 

freezer paper and starch method.

My thumbs are still multiplying when I try this technique.

So I decided to try using a piece of fusible fleece instead of the freezer paper.

Then I did use the brush and starch to turn the seam allowance on the back.

This felt better to my many thumbs so I may switch to this in the future

for all top pieces.

For the leaves which tuck behind the berry, 

I decided to try using non-adhesive interfacing 

and machine sewing to the front around the edges,

leaving an opening on the seam that will be covered by a top piece

 and then turning and shaping and pressing.

This works well for me for medium to large applique pieces.

In the past, for large pieces, 

I have closed the stitching around the edge 

and cut an opening in the center of the interfacing 

to turn right side out. 

For the smallest ones, I think I am going to have to use 

the fusible fleece and glue method. 

Since I completed all these pieces in since yesterday

I am feeling better about my efforts,

imperfect as they may be.

So now I am ready to start the actual applique tomorrow,

which is forecast to ne a another winter storm day 

with possibly several inches of snow.

Wish me luck with the sewing. I will need it.

The storm will probably be just a small bit of winter in New England.

"Play With Some Scraps"

 

A quilty friend wrote today, "Play with some scraps."

So I sewed scraps today.

I started with  these small HSTs that were cutoffs 

from a Vintage Flower Sampler Block.

Since February is heart month, I decided to make a heart.

 

I added some more small scraps.

I decided that I really wanted to add this selvage

"Love at first sight" by Yuma

so I cut a 2.5" strip for the top and bottom.

I love this little block.

I am not sure what I will do with it.

Maybe add use it for a label for my Vintage Flower Sampler Quilt.

Maybe make a mug rug.

This was so much fun.

It was nice to be reminded to just take some time to play with my fabric scraps.

Then I saw a lovely stitchy project on Instagram,

Chained Feather Video by Larissa @ Sticthingnote

and I decided that I had to find some thread 

and add this edging around my scrappy heart.

I have done this stitch many years ago, but not on a quilty project

so this is new to me. 

Here is the video ... 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Larisa 🌸 (@stitchingnotes)

I find watching hand work like this is so pleasant and inspiring.

I also sewed my temperature tree block for today.

The temperatures are the same as yesterday's tree

and tomorrow's may be the same.

It is just above freezing and sunny in the daytime

and it drops about 10 degrees at night.

This is mild weather for winter in New England.

I hope you had a happy day and found time to play, my friends!

Learning Hand Stitch Applique ~ One Day at a Time

 

Here is the layout for my 

Vintage Flower Sampler Quilt

Only the strawberry piece is prepped for stitching.

I washed out what I had done the previous day and started over. 

After a few attempts using the freezer paper technique

 that so many quilters online find tried and true,

 I eliminated the freezer paper.

I am using a brush to dampen the 1/4 inch seam allowance, 

letting it dry and become stiffened 

and then I am turning and pressing the edge under.

Tomorrow I hope to get the leaves prepped and ready

so I can begin hand stitching.

Hopefully this is going to work.

I will keep trying, if it does not.

After two days of rain and above freezing temperatures,

we have another snow storm arriving tonight and tomorrow

and the freezing temperatures are back.

May your weekend be happy and all be well in your quilty place.

Vintage Flower Sampler Quilt ~ Block 2

Late last evening, I finished the second block for my

Vintage Flower Sampler Quilt

So now I have two blocks.

I am thinking to frame each block with a white tone of tone and sash with a red/pink print.  I may make nine patches as the sashing posts.

These are busy blocks, in part because 30's reproduction fabrics are typically busy

and in part because sometimes 

I like a colorful jumble of fabrics and prints.

Here is my busy, busy Atsuko Matusuyama 30's Fabric Collection

all laid out on my cutting table.

I think I have another bundle of fat quarters somewhere in on of my closets.

I also have her other book, but that is among the missing right now, too. 

I bought the first book and first bundle at a quilt show many years ago,

because I do love 30's reproduction fabrics.

I did not realize at the time what a famous Japanese Quilt Artist she is

 and how hard these fabrics can be to find at a reasonable cost.

I did find some more at a special fabric sale jumble one year.

The rest was found here and there online. 

My collection is Fat 16ths, Fat 8ths, Fat Quarters 

and a few half yards.

I do love strawberries and strawberry fabrics ... <3 

May your Saturday be full of colorful fabric and threads.

Sunday Sewing ~ Vintage Flower Sampler Quilt

 

Today has been a happy Sunday. 

I decided to cut some of my treasured ...

Atsuko Matsutyama Fabric ~ Posted Here

This block is from my copy of the 

Vintage Flower Sampler Quilt Book by Atsuko Matsuyama

I love the fabric and projects from this talented Japanese quilt artist. 

This is the Rolling Stones block. 

I am very happy with how this block worked up.

I am not sure if I would have taken this big step today had not posted my fabrics is a private Facebook Group devoted to this quilter and her patterns and fabric. I received a lot of encouragement from the kind group members.

Most likely, I am slowly going to work my way through the traditional pieced blocks and then think about trying to sew the applique ones.

I am feeling good about cutting and sewing some of my fabric treasures.

More blocks (hopefully) soon.

~~~

Here also is my Tree Block for today. 

The temperatures here are dropping and we have had a significant wind chill factor.

The bitterly cold weather from the middle of the country is moving eastward.

I expect I will be cutting some new colors of fabric in the coming days.

Despite the cold, it has been a lovely weekend here in the Scrapatch,

where I have been cooking and baking,

sharing family time with our sons and watching the football playoff games,

as well as play time with my sewing machine.

May you and yours stay well and warm and have a good week.