Pomegranate

This is the first block in the Southern Album Quilt that is totally, completely applique.  This quilt, as a whole, is applique heavy, with four blocks entirely applique.  I've love applique and have done it for years, but I was introduced to a new technique with the Pomegranate block.

The method is whole cloth applique.  The cloth frames that surround all four of the completely appliqued blocks are done with this technique.  And the best advice I can give you is read all the directions for the whole cloth applique method first before putting rotary cutter to material. 

These blocks are uniquely different from the pieced blocks in more ways than just the applique.  The pieced blocks, when complete, should meausre 12.5 inches.  The appliqued blocks are bigger -- you will cut them 14 inches square and they will remain pretty much that size during the applique process.  You will cut them down later.  I would wait until you're ready to put the quilt together before doing this.

Cut both the framing material and the background applique material and put them together, right side of background material to wrong side of framing material.  Fold the material into quarters and press so that when you open the fabric up, the fabrics are divided into fourths.  At this point, I basted both pieces of material together with a contrasting color thread to hold them snugly and avoid slipping.  Kristin Steiner and Diane Wilson give directions for using a freezer paper template for the frame, but I found a template made of template plastic (sold in fabric stores or quilting supply shops) works better and will last for all for applique blocks and can be kept to use again.  Trace the frame made from the template plastic onto the framing material and then cut around the tracing, being careful not to catch the background fabric and leaving enough margin of the framing material to turn under and stitch.  If you have trouble managing the concave and convex curves, try making tiny clips in the fabric to the marking lines -- do not clip past the outline of the frame.

Be sure to follow the numberical sequence given in the book for sewing down the pieces of the pomegranate. This will ensure that everything looks the way it should when you're finsihed.  This block (as well as quite a few of the others) have points (the tips of leaves, the tops the crowns on top of the pomegranate) and rounded curves (the leaves and the pomegranates themselves).  I have found that a dampened toothpick helps in turning the material sharply for the points and curves. So as you applique, keep a toothpick nearby...say in your mouth...that way you've already got it nearby and it's already damp!