Thursday, June 26, 2014

Indian Summer -- the First Finish

Ellen Freeman told me that each quilt you make is finished twice.  The first time is when you complete the top.  The second is when it's quilted and you've sewn the binding on.

So my Indian Summer has it's first finish.  I've been working on this quilt for about three years.  Every stitch of the applique is needle turn - and with my work schedule, it's understandable why it took me this long to finish.  I love the colors that I chose for the quilt.  They're different from almost anything else I've used.


Now to buy the backing and batting and get it to Shelle to long arm!

I will start instruction on Block 8, "Hearth and Home" in At Piece with Time next week.  I've had more fun with that block than any so far.  I love the colors I picked out, it goes together really quickly and easily, there aren't too many exposed bias edges, and I absolutely love the applique.  It's all a win-win!

Love and Stitches,

Sherri

Friday, June 20, 2014

More Hints on the Strawberry Applique

The strawberry clusters are probably the most difficult applique pieces on this quilt.  The strawberry tops are teeny-tiny fingers holding the strawberries in place.  The stems are narrow.  The strawberries are slightly pointed.

All of these issues make you pull in all your best applique skills.


I altered the strawberry hulls just a bit, widening the "fingers" and softening the tips.  This made them a little easier to hand stitch.  I kept the stems about the same size, as I did the strawberries.


The best advice I can give anyone with this applique is take your time with it.  Remember, making a quilt is not all about the destination, it's all about the journey.  Enjoy the process.  Feel the pride and self-satisfaction in knowing that you're doing the best work.  Learn from the process.

Sometimes in this modern techno, fast-paced, gotta-have-it-now world, I think we lose sight in the beauty of taking things slowly.  We keep constant check on our email, our cell phones never leave our sides, our Ipads and laptops are never turned off.

This is not good.

Quilters are artists.  The creative process is important.  And sometimes this process needs that time to slow it down and simmer.  Maybe in this fast-paced world, we have become seduced by quick quilts.  They have their place, for sure, but don't forget the beauty in a slower-paced, creative process.

So don't rush the strawberries.

Love and Stitches,
Sherri

Friday, June 13, 2014

A Tisket, A Tasket, Let's Applique This Basket....

I am so far behind with everything that it's not funny....

Ever had one of those days (weeks, months, years....) where you start out with a "to do" list and all the intentions in the world of marking everything off said list by the end of the day (week, month year...)?  I always start the week out that way.  For those of you who don't know, I am the post-it note queen.  I have a post-it for everyday of the week and by the end of the day, it's my chief joy to have all my tasks marked  as complete, crumple the post-it, and throw it triumphantly in the garbage.

This week, no notes have made it to the trash can.  I'm not sure what happened, but everything and everyone else took my neatly scheduled week and obliterated it by 9 a.m. Monday morning.  Most it was beyond any one's control -- life just happened and I will share more of that at another time.  However, if you're wondering, it's not my health -- I am better.  Nor are any of my family sick.

So I don't have the completed applique for the Strawberry Basket Block.  However, I have completed the same set of strawberries on my setting triangles -- three times.  So I can give you a few helpful hints.

First, follow the placement directions that Kristin C. Steiner and Diane C Frankenberger have written for you.  The berry parts go down first, then the stems and caps, and then the leaves.  I am so thankful for these directions.  I'm working on another applique-heavy quilt that does not include directions such as these.  I find myself scratching my head and taking out a lot of stitches....

Secondly, use the placement lines to center your applique.  The vertical line should match up with the point of the top half of the half-square triangle and the horizontal line should rest on the basket top edge.  Part of the strawberry bunch should drape over the side of the basket so that it looks like the berries are sitting in the basket and not on top of it.


Lastly, you may want to soften the caps of the strawberries just a tad.  Those applique edges are teeny-tiny.  If you haven't done a lot of hand applique, it may be easier to enlarge the caps just a tad (no more than an eighth of an inch or they will look too big and bulky) and soften the tips of the caps a smidgen.  It will make applique life a little easier for you.


Again, be careful handling this block as there are a lot of exposed bias edges.  When the applique is complete, stay-stitch around the outside of the block (if you haven't already), press, and store flat.

And if you're appliqueing the setting triangles, keep working on them.  You're going to need them before you know it!

Have a great weekend!  Do something creative for yourself!

Love and Stitches,

Sherri

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

A Tisket, A Tasket....a Strawberry Basket!

Happy Midweek!  The weekend is on the horizon!

I love this time of year.  I am not a cold weather person, so I tend to bungle my way through winter.  The only thing that keeps me going is the promise of spring and summer.  I love being able to go outside without a jacket.   I love being able to eat dinner on my deck.  I love taking Evangeline on walks and seeing her amazement over butterflies, bees, rocks, and whatever else we come across.

I love that this time of year gives us fresh fruit and vegetables.  (Side note here...support your local farmers' market.  A lot of farmers' markets bring produce in from out of county and out of state.  Support your local grower.  They need you and you need them.).   And strawberries are one of those sumptuous fruits.

This block celebrates mothers and daughters and strawberries.  It's an intermediate skill-level block, just plan not to rush through it and be accurate in your cutting, seam allowances, and matching points.  It's by no means as difficult as Tulips and Ivy.

First, there are a lot of exposed bias edges.  In fact, in all but two pieces -- the rectangles -- you have exposed bias edges due to the number of triangles in this block.   So starch copiously and handle carefully.  Also, on step one, it states you will make seven half-square triangles out of the fabric.  This is true, but make sure you do not use the triangles you cut out of the basket fabric for one of these.  There are enough triangle to make eight units, but only seven will be used.

Be sure to cut off the "dog ears" before you sew these together in strips.  This will reduce bulk and make the quilting process easier, whether it's done by hand or machine.  When I first started quilting, I was petrified of cutting anything off a square--I was so scared I was going to mess something up.  I got over that quite quickly the first time I quilted one of my own quilts.  Reducing bulk in anyway really helps.  I wish I could make my thighs understand that concept, but I've about decided that is a lost cause!

The next thing you do is make the bottom part of the basket via a large half-square triangle.

At this point, it's probably noticeable that I've added a few new fabrics into my quilt block.  I told everyone earlier that I was running out of fabric!  Looking at the first picture, it's apparent that I've added three new coral colors.  In the basket, you can see that the left side is a new striped fabrics.  Introducing new fabrics is a necessity (not to mention fun!) at times.  As you're replacing fabrics, like I did in the first picture of the half-square triangles, notice I stayed in the same color family.  I did the same thing with the large half-square triangle.  If you stay in the same color, hue, and value range, you can add fabrics easily and not send tremors through your quilt. For instance, if I had replaced one of the coral colors with something from the purple family, even if it was the same value and hue, it wouldn't "jive" with the rest of my quilt.

These corals and peaches are in the same color, hue, and value range that it works.  Most viewers' eyes would skip over the colors and not even notice.  I also have several other blocks I can use them in, so they will be repeated.  Therefore,  introducing more new fabrics at this time is fine.  If this was the last block made for the quilt, this wouldn't work.  I need blocks I can repeat the fabric in at least a couple of times.

So.... the moral of this is even with the best planning (and the fabric requirements of this quilt said assorted fat quarters but gave no number), sometimes you need more fabric.  So buy more than you think you need at the beginning....or don't panic and just run to the nearest fabric store before you're half-way through with your quilt.

Now you will sew the half square triangles from the first picture into two strips.  The first strip has three half-square triangles.  Before you do this, think about how you want your basket to look.  Do you want the colors repeated in sequence or at random?  The picture in the book shows a color sequence .. that is the half-square triangles on one side is a mirror image of the half-square triangles on the other side.  This is where you decide what kind of look you want.  This decision is yours and yours alone.  Do what makes you happy.

Sew the strip with three half-square triangles on the side of the basket half-square triangle:


It's really a good idea at this point, to follow the pressing directions carefully.  However in step four, press the seam allowances up not down.  It will become apparent why as you attach the four half-square triangle strip to the other side of the basket.

If the seam allowance on the last strip are pressed down, you may not be able to get the seams to "nest" as you attach it to the side of the basket.  This will throw your points off a little, so that half-square triangle at the top of the basket may be off as much as 1/4 of an inch.  Pressing the allowances in that final strip up instead of down solves that headache.

Attach the basket fabric triangles to the end of the rectangles.  Be sure they are facing opposite directions.

Then attach them to the the square.


Couple of things that need to be remembered as this block is constructed:

1.  Spray starch or Best Press is your best friend to protect those bias edges.
2.  Press, don't iron this block.  The back and forth motions of ironing can stretch those bias edges, even with copious amounts of Best Press or spray starch.
3.  There will be more scraps than usual left over from the half-square triangles.  Toss them into your quilt fabric and use them for the applique.
4.  Bulky seams are present in almost every area of this block.  Even with the dog-ears gone, the seam intersections are thick.  If you have issues here, the first thing you need to check is your sewing machine needle.  If you've sewn more than eight hours with the same needle, it's time to change.  I have fallen in love with Superior Threads titanium-coated needles.  They're a tad more expensive than regular needles, but they are super sharp, go through thick seams like butter, and last longer than regular needles.  Needles are like shoes, bunnies.   You get what you pay for.

If you're still having issues, clean and oil your machine.  I make a point to clean mine every time I change the needle.  Consult your sewing machine manual before oiling though.  Some machines require more oiling than others.  And be sure you use good quality sewing machine oil.  

5.  Finally, be sure all your blocks are measuring 10 1/2-inches at this point.

We will discuss the strawberry applique for this block next.  It's a little tricky.  Until then...

Love and Stitches,

Sherri