Cottage Quilt Designs

Have you been wanting to make an appliquéd quilt that is beyond the fusible web technique? I have a free tutorial that you can download from my site that explains it fully. But for those of you who like color and photos I am showing you how to do the freezer paper basted method for hand appliqué.

I’ll be using the single block pattern, Moth Orchids, which you can find at this link on my site:  http://www.cottagequiltdesigns.info/catalog.php?item=72&catid=1&ret=catalog.php%3Fpage%3D4%26category%3D1

You can make the pattern in fusible web or hand appliqué but we are using it here to teach you something new and easy! I teach this method to beginners and they like the simplicity of it.

Here is how to make a orchid flower using pink and red tonal fabric, freezer paper, an iron and thread and needle.

Step 1. Trace out the reversed shape of what you want to make on the paper side of the freezer paper. Cut it out on the lines being careful how you cut. What you cut out is what your shape will look like.

Step 2: Iron the cut out shapes to the fabric you want to use. The plastic side of the freezer paper fuses to the fabric. Leave more then 1/4″ between each shape because you will need that much to turn over the edge of the freezer paper.

Step 3: Cut out each shape leaving at least 1/4″ around the shapes.

Step 4: Cut slashes in the seam allowance around the shapes every 1/8″. Cut almost up to the paper edge. For the inside corners around the tip of the two top petals, clip up to the paper. This allows you to fold over the seam allowance at the paper’s edge.

Step 5: Fold over the seam allowance to the back of the petal having the side in the photo facing you. Use a knotted single length of thread and baste the slashed sections down through the paper and fabric. Pleat the slashed sections as you baste around the curves keeping the curve as smooth as possible. Remember to fold the fabric over the paper and not fold the edge of the paper too because this would change the shape of your petal.

Step 6: Baste all the edges of the petals. Press the shapes front and back to get a good crease along the edges. Your shapes are now ready to appliqué in place on your background square. Notice that the slashes at the inner corners of the two top petals are deep and separated when basted.

Step 7: Position the curved triangle-shaped petal first on your background square as shown. Appliqué 3/4 around the shape using matching colored thread. Stop, remove the basting thread, and tug out the freezer paper shape inside. It helps to slide something between the fabric and the freezer paper to break the fusion. Tweezers are great to pull out the freezer paper. Then push in the seam allowance to where it should be and continue appliquéing the shape down. Repeat to add the red petal next and then the two top petals as shown in the block.

Practice this method and you’ll have consistent looking appliqué shapes!

As some of you know I regularly submit quilt designs to two magazines, Quilter’s World and the online web magazine, Cotton Spice which are published. The October issue of Quilter’s World has one of my designs which is a tablerunner made from homespun fabrics.

What a surprise, last week, when I checked their website to see what’s in the upcoming issue and there I see a photo of it! I knew it was going to be in the magazine but it’s so special when they feature it on the website.

In fact they are offering the beautiful picture they took as a free screen saver for your computer. You can see it at: http://www.quilters-world.com/ Just scroll down the page and click on the photo for the Autumn Cardinals. It’s gorgeous with a wooden table, apples and a lit candle.

The editor asked for designs that involved birds for the October issue. It could be using the flying geese unit, blocks that have a bird name or quilts with appliqué in them. When I submitted the idea and said that I wanted to use homespuns she put me in touch with these fabulous homespun fabrics from a fabric company called Diamond Textiles.

Here is the photo I took just before I sent it off to the magazine. The appliqués use fusible web and black blanket stitch finishing the edges. We all loved it here-can’t wait to have it mailed back!

Now….do I give it away as a Christmas gift or keep it for myself??

I’m sharing with you today a tip I just put in the August newsletter from Cottage Quilt Designs.

Are you happy with the size of the flying geese units when you make them? I’ve been asked by students why the two corners of the units come up short and I didn’t have a good answer until now.

I have found that it matters how you press the seams between the corners and the geese segment. For those of you who are new to quilting here is how to make this basic unit.

To make a 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ unit:

1. Pencil a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner on the back side of two 3 1/2″ pink squares.

2. Lay one pink square rights sides facing the black print 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangle and sew on the penciled line.

3. Trim off the pink corner leaving a 1/4″ seam.

4. Press open the seam. This is what solves the problem of the corners not being full enough. When the seam is pressed open the fabric is evenly distributed and lies flat. It doesn’t pull at the corner.

5. Finish your flying geese square by placing the remaining square on the left side of the rectangle and sew, trim and press open the seam.