Applique--now this is fun!

The first three months of work on my latest quilt project, Afternoon Delight, the 2020 Block of the Month for members of The Quilt Show has included both a learning curve and skill builder. I have never really done much applique as noted in previous blog posts. But that has all changed now.

This project is just what I needed. And, it is really enjoyable to just sit in front of the television and stitch.

These applique blocks, shown above, are the result of the first three months of this year-long quilt project. I decided to hand applique these blocks, since hand works is the most enjoyable and with which I have the least amount of experience.

These applique blocks along with the pieced blocks, at right, represent just three months of work. There are 64 blocks in all in this quilt.

I’m thrilled with my progress though. Not only am I current and even a little ahead, as related in my previous blog post, but this quilt is going to be lovely, and oh, so colorful. I’m using fabric from prior projects, so as I work, there is already a familiarity to this. Honestly, I love everything about this project.

I have enjoyed the applique process the most. I liken it to being a kid again. What a great activity. It was like I was back in kindergarten again, passing the time with my cutting, pasting, and sewing.

My scissors are a little sharper now; cutting is much more precise as I create templates out of thick freezer paper. Pasting doesn’t include a jar with a brush attached to the cap, but rather uses spray starch squirted into its own cap, and painted on with an artist’s paintbrush. The sewing isn’t done in holes punched out of cardboard cards using yarn and a huge, dull needle either. Today’s project uses a fine milliner’s needle, silk or cotton thread, and very tiny stitches.

There is also lots of pressing with an iron in today’s projects. I didn’t iron in kindergarten, but I did try my hand at it when I was little. My mother used to let me iron pillow cases and sometimes, my doll clothes. I loved to iron. It all came to an abrupt halt one day though when I ironed my doll’s plastic raincoat. I’ll never forget it. I was about five years old. The raincoat was light blue with double white stripes going vertically and horizontally to form a tiny checkerboard. As I put the hot iron onto the back of the coat, I couldn’t figure out why the iron wouldn’t glide smoothly across it like it did on the linens. I kept trying until I saw smoke and smelled something burning. My mother saw what I was up to and snatched the plug out of the wall. Oh, what a smelly, nasty mess.

My applique experience has been nothing like that. However, it wasn’t so easy at first. I made a couple of those blocks three times because I just wasn’t happy with how they turned out.

I tried various methods and techniques, but finally found the one that feels right for me. I’ve really enjoyed making these blocks and can’t wait until the next patterns come out in April.

Nothing is perfect, but I have to at least try

I’ve been working diligently, trying to get caught up with my latest quilting project, a Block of the Month (BOM) that began in January. I finished the last of six blocks for this month and was so pleased with myself that I thought I would do two more.

This quilt will have nine Shoo-Fly blocks in all. I was to make two in each of the three months of this year. I got a late start, but am all caught up; in fact with the last two blocks I created, I’m a little ahead of the game.

Each month also required completion of four applique blocks, but that is another topic for another time.

I decided to take a picture of what I had done so far.

Uh oh! Some of these are not like the others!

What is wrong with this picture?

It looks like I have some seam-ripping to do. Those pesky little four-patches are seemingly facing the wrong way in three of the blocks—both pink ones and the top purple one. What I was I thinking?

As a consolation to myself, those were the first blocks I did. They definitely got better as I went.

In all honesty though, I’m not sure it really matters. These blocks will not be set side-by-side as they are shown here, when the quilt is finished. My mistake will likely not even be apparent. Nonetheless, I think I will hone my unsewing skills and take the three offending blocks apart. If I don’t, this will bother me every time I snuggle up with this quilt. Quilts are never perfect; nothing is, but these mistakes will have to be fixed. That is just how I roll.

I've started a new project

I’m pretty excited about my latest quilt project, a BOM (block of the month), which is really applique-rich, entitled Afternoon Delight. This quilt will be a real challenge for me because I haven’t done much applique. Frankly, I’m not very good at it even though my very first quilt, completed back in 2003 was appliqued.

I hope I can accomplish this, since it is such a far cry from where I began, with this simple Rose of Sharon quilt top I finished 17 years ago. 

I have actually done only a little applique since then. I admit that the little I’ve done has not been stellar. 

But, what better way to practice, with all these applique blocks. I do love a challenge, and this proves to be just what I’ve been looking for.

This pattern was originally designed by the late Sue Garman and was adapted for members of The Quilt Show by Barbara Black. Barbara does a wonderful job of explaining the techniques used to make these beautiful blocks and offers tips and hints to help her readers make this lovely quilt.

This project began in January and will take a full year to complete. The pattern is free to STAR members of The Quilt Show, one of my favorite places on the Internet for quilting how-to’s, beautiful eye-candy, and the best quilting inspiration. When I don’t have time to quilt, I just watch the shows, hosted by Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. I have mentioned previously but it is worth repeating, I am a big fan of Alex Anderson. In fact, I wrote about her inspiration in making my first quilt in a previous blog post. You can read it here.

Of course, I am running late. There were six blocks to be completed in January and six more to make in February. I have two more to finish before starting on the six for March. I will detail my progress and show pictures in subsequent posts. But for now, suffice it to say, I plan to learn plenty as I enjoy hone my applique skills. I plan to do all of the applique by hand. I’m making it very scrappy, using fabric I already have on hand. It will be very colorful. I look forward to sewing in the evenings while I watch TV. 

There is no better way to watch television than by not actually watching it as I sew.

The only real challenge is trying to maneuver a lapful of tiny pieces of fabric with needles, thread, pins, and my favorite cat who loves to snuggle on my lap. No worries! I’ve got this!

My quarter-inch seam is too big!

I came upon this realization after much scrutiny and 20 years of making quilts; my quarter-inch seam is just too big.

I’ve measured seams many times before, which always looked about right, I’ve read so much about the dreaded scant-quart-inch, and I’ve tried different sewing machine feet. Something was just off. After all this time, it is time I do something about it, even though I thought I had. Yes, I’ve had issues sewing blocks and rows together in quilts over the years, but I attributed it to just that is how it was. I presume it will be much easier now.

The light went on for me, when I began a new project; The Quilt Show 2020 BOM (Block of the Month) designed by the late Sue Garman. Something in her instructions demonstrated perfectly what my problem was.

In this quilt, Afternoon Delight, the instructions emphasized the importance of precision sewing, not to mention cutting, and pressing. Each has an important role to play in quilt making. I knew that. I just didn’t know I had a problem. Now I do.

There are 64 blocks in this quilt, with each measuring 7 ¼-inch. With so many blocks needed in a row, a small discrepancy could add up, making the task of assembling the quilt, difficult at best. >To insure that seams are just right, the instructions called for a practice piece to test for sewing accuracy. It suggested cutting three pieces, 1 ½ by 3 ½ inches. Sew them together. The entire set of strips should measure exactly 3 ½ inches square. If not, there is a problem. I had a problem, but I fixed it, as seen in the illustration at right.

I was a little perplexed because not only did I use my quarter-inch foot on my sewing machine, but when I measured the individual seams, they appeared to be right on the money. But when I measured the three pieces, it was too big.

This wasn’t the first time I questioned my quarter-inch-seam. I wrote about it in a prior blog post. I wasn’t sure what to do about it until I decided to simply adjust my needle position, two clicks to the right. I tried to make the three piece sample again. And, it worked! I’ve finally achieved the perfect quarter-inch seam.

I didn’t come up with this answer myself. Thanks to the Internet, and the trusted quilters of the Quilting Board, and a little sleuthing, I learned that often times, the quarter-inch seam made with the default position on the Janome sewing machine, even with the specially designed quarter-inch foot, is too big.

The default setting on the Janome is 3.5 mm. Therefore, whenever I turn on the machine, I have to remember to move my needle two clicks to the right, to 4.5 mm. to come up with the perfect seam. Perhaps it is time to write a letter to Janome asking them to change the default. I may just do that.