World Series B-7

Well, back to the recent blocks. Since I have done Hunter's Moon (A-3), which has 4 melon shaped pieces appliqued to form a circle, I figured I could start on this one. First, I traced the pattern from the Dear Jane (R) book on freezer paper and cut out all the pieces. the center piece I ironed to the center of a 6 inch piece of green fabric. This will help me place the melons into position ( a hint from the Dear Jane (R) mailing list).OK. Now I placed the melons (inside and outside curves are not quite the same - mark your template!) and used the brute force applique method.

Of course, the melons can still look a little wonky. Mine are always off a little, but I am not going to undo the sewing. The white lines are chalk marks for a five inch square. This was to help me keep the diamonds in the block, and not extend into the seam allowances.

There is a 'short' end to the diamonds, and a 'long' end. Orient them correctly. After appliqueing two, with those tight points, I began to wonder if reverse applique might be a better way. Too late now.

As Brenda says, "Finished is better than perfect."

Viridian

1800's Christmas Jane 130, 40, 1, 3987

Pretty in Pink Jane 95, 33, 0, 2983

Miniature Madness! 55, 0, 0, 776

Merry May

This is post # 96, so getting close to post #100!

Merry May is block E-2 of the Jane Stickle quilt. Another block I put off because of the applique. But this has large pieces, so I would recommend it to a beginner, just tackling melons for the first time.

The melon that appears to be 'underneath' is actually two pieces, placed with the help of the drawing in the Dear Jane book. Applique in place, leaving the seam allowance that will be under the top melon in place, don't mess with it. Then place the top melon down, and baste in place so that it doesn't slide sideways. As always, I use the brute force method.

Add the borders and you are done.

viridian

Hunter's Moon

This is block A-3 of the Jane Stickle quilt, book by Brenda Papadakis.

I started this project in the fall of 2007. Looking back, I don't remember quite what pushed me to start such a major undertaking. I do recall that I realized I was the same age as Jane Stickle was as she completed her quilt. But there had to be something more.... hmm maybe it will come to me.

I prepped the brown block well over a year ago. I cut the brown fabric a bit larger than 5 inches square, and prepared the melons for brute force applique. Then, I set it aside. The thought of those melon points - 8 of them! was so intimidating. I am happy to say my skills have improved. So has my prepping for applique. My points still aren't so pointy but they are flatter. And my curves are smoother.

viridian

1800's Christmas Jane 127, 38, 1, 3840

Pretty in Pink Jane 94, 32, 0, 2932

Miniature Madness! 55, 0, 0, 776

Hannah Lou's Hearts

Just a little brute force applique for H-12.
I am also using YLI silk thread. It is very thin and so very forgiving - stitches don't show. However, how strong is it?
Note: I am using freezer paper on the bottom technique, so I have to cut through the background to remove the paper. I was cutting through the white fabric, and starting slicing through the freezer paper, and came THIS CLOSE to cutting through a red fabric heart. ACK! But I did not.
viridian 61
this is block 113 on my main DJ quilt!

Brute force applique: results

Well, the results are in, and for some Jane blocks, this method works well and my frustration level is waaaay down. top photo shows results. Next photos show how I prep by basting right through the freezer paper, then the final product, with a pink block prepped and pinned and ready to go.

viridian61

Brute Force Applique

Try this method when your frustration level is high and your pieces aren't too small.

1. trace shapes onto freezer paper (FP), cut out, and iron them, shiny side down, onto the back side of your applique fabric.

2. Cut out, leaving 1/4 inch or at least 3/16 inch seam allowance all around.

3. with tip of iron, iron the seam allowance over onto the FP, leaving a nice crease. There may be a little rumpling. Don't worry.

4. Baste down the seam allowance. Sew right through the freezer paper. Do not use your best needle for this. Some force may be necessary. Points may be lumpy.

Here is F-13, Tour de France. Iron your applique pieces flat, flattening out rumples and lumpy points.

5. Place your applique piece on background fabric. Pin into place. Put the point of the pin to back side of your piece so that your thread does not catch on it.

6. Using best needle and thin thread, applique around your piece. I finish, remove the basting stitches, then cut a slit in the back and remove the freezer paper with tweezers. Or, you may stop 3/4 of the way and remove the basting, then remove the FP.

Iron block flat.

I started doing this when just a crease was not enough to follow, or, with freezer paper on the back (no basting) the FP would slide off and my melons would look strange.

Not recommended for heirloom sewing! :-)

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