Hey quilter's...hope all is well. I'll be featuring my new applique technique with my new "scrap-a-long" series. You'll be learning a fun & easy way to achieve a unique design within your quilt blocks without the stress. You know me I'm all about thread & fabric therapy! I love to combine applique within a quilt block but sometimes it can be a bit time consuming. With my technique you'll be appliqueing within your block as you are piecing. I'm pleased to say with my technique your applique looks "pretty perfect" without the stress. This sweet 8x8 trivet has an advanced "basket weave border." I had to get a basket design to compliment the Easter theme. The gorgeous fabric is Northcott Banyan Batiks "Ketan" & the back is Plaster of Paris for Frond Design Studios by Stephanie Brandenburg. I'll be featuring fun & easy projects for your home this spring that will continue into summer, fall & winter. Plus, you know me by now I'll be featuring the "a-play-que" technique with Aurifil thread. If you haven't "played" with Aurifil thread please check them out. I've appliqued small to large projects as "Stain Glass Windows" for Frankston Museum and never had a thread breakage. That was huge and I've been hooked ever sense. Again, time is precious and using great quality items when piecing and quilting for me is a must. As I've gotten older my patience is a bit thin and if I'm having a "hick-up" now I know it's because of me not what I'm using. I guess that's a good thing...right :-) Always with my designs I'll feature advanced techniques & tips along the way. I design toward the beginner quilter, but my advanced steps are still easy & fun. So please give them a try. I encourage you to try a new technique especially in a small-scale project. I truly believe in thread & fiber therapy & less-stress-quilting! For me....sewing & quilting is very therapeutic & my goal is to share with others. So grab your stash & let's "a-play-que" 2gether this year!
Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,
Cat
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Here's all you need...
* 50 # Aurifil thread ( pink 2588, orange 2235)
* Scraps of Northcott Fabrics (rotary cutting measurements are stated in instructions)
* Light-weight interfacing
* Batting
* Insulbright (for hot/cold items)
Here's all you do...
* Rotary cut (2) 3x3 inch squares of light fabric
* Rotary cut (2) 3x3 inch printed fabric
* Rotary cut (2) 3x3 inch interfacing squares
* With your lighter 3" square...fold in half diagonally and finger press. This creates your guide line when using your decorative stitch on your machine.
* Place one piece of your interfacing to the "back side" of light fabric.
Tip: This is why I love piecing with Batiks...you can't get the front/back sides wrong ;-)
* Now using your favorite decorative stitch and your "presser foot" as your guide...sew a stitch on right side of diagonal seam, continue using your 'presser foot" as your guide until you complete enough rows within your square. Repeat on left side.
Tip...I did one light block with the orange aurifil thread and one with pink thread. Then in later step rotated the colors in the center pinwheel design. (see pic) Do the same if you wish.
* Now take your light 3" appliqued square and one dark 3' square and place right sides together.
* On wrong side of light fabric draw a diagonal line (opposite) direction of your decorative stich line.
* Sew a 1/4" seam on each side of diagonal line.
* Rotary cut on line. This will achieve (2) 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 crazy appliqued 1/2 square triangles.
* Carefully remove stabilizer and press towards the darker fabric.
* Repeat same steps to make another set for your center block pinwheel design.
* Another center option if desired.
* Referring to design...sew top 2 squares with right sides together using a 1/4" seam allowance.
Finger press.
Note...this is where you can rotate the fabric colors within the pinwheel design :-)
* Repeat step for bottom 2 squares.
* Now join your squares together at center seam using same method. Iron seams flat on block.
* You now achieved a 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 "crazy !/2 square triangles" & used your scraps! Wasn't that fun? :-)
Tip...use a pin to mark top! :-)
1st Border...
* Press your desired scraps & rotary cut 2 strips 1 x 4 1/2 for top & bottom border of square.
* Sew one strip to top of block with right sides together using a 1/4" seam. Press & square up if needed.
* Repeat same method for bottom border.
* Rotary cut 2 strips 1 x 5 1/2 for Left/right border
* Sew border strips using the same method as above to left & right side of square.
* Your square should now be 5 1/2 x 5 1/2
I love "Ketan" Banyan Batiks by Northcott Fabrics. So many color ways to choose from & I can always count on Aurifil thread hues to compliment my quilting designs!
Check back soon for "Phase 2" :-)
