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How was your Thanksgiving? I had a wonderful time with my family, we all traveled to my brother's home this year. I could get used to the beach for Thanksgiving! Block #7 might have a new skill for some of you, so I'm doing a tutorial to help you out. It has appliqued stems that I made with the bias maker.
This is a Gorgeous Block. Joanna has a bonus project in her book using 4 blocks for a table topper. See the back . As always the Red & Green is just like the quilt in the book. I am doing the tips with Something Blue Fabric as I make a 2nd quilt
How This Works:
- The Book is Required, it has the sampler of 20 blocks and the book has 10 additional projects using the blocks.
- CLICK HERE for Supply list for both colors
- Christmas Figs fabric
- Something Blue Fabric designed by my friend Edyta
- On the 2nd Friday & last Friday of the month I'll post notes about this weeks block
- I'm doing the blocks in the order they are in for the book, you have all the patterns in the book so you can work on it anytime you like.
- There are lots of triangles, so pick up my Triangle book to have step by step photos and additional options for making them.
TIPS for Making the Blue version
- I cut just what is needed. I do not subcut as my fabric is not an exact substitution for the red/green quilt in the book. I don't want to waste any fabric
- We are going to make a bias stem and applique it for this block, I LOVE making bias stems!
- Mark your cut shapes to keep track. The alphabitties are perfect as they have numbers and letters to match the book.
Pat's Tips
- Sew and flip construction for the flying geese, you should be getting good at it!
- My Triangle book can show you how if you are new
TIP
- To make the bias place the 45 degree line along the bottom edge of the fabric, it will be angled like photo #1
- Cut along the edge. Now you are on the bias of the fabric. Which is needed to curve the stems
- Cut a 1" strip. That is what you need for a 1/2" bias stem. It folds under 1/4" on each side.
- BONUS Quilt Math Lesson - 1/2" finished stem size + 1/4" seam + 1/4" seam = cut a 1" strip
BUY a good Ruler, this is my fav
And buy a GREAT rotary cutter, Olfa in Pink, Turquoise and Purple!
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Pat's TIPs for Using the Bias maker:
- A - Feed the bias strip into the wide end wrong side UP
- B - Let it come out the end just a little bit. Next step is pressing.
- I'm using a thick wool pressing mat and i am IN LOVE with these! They are very firm which is excellent for making your blocks flat, And flat blocks help you keep your patchwork accurate. And it's great for pressing stems as you'll see, we can pin into it!
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- Press the stem with STEAM! The steam sets the folds.
- Press close to the end and pull the maker with the handle on the left, it's SO easy!
- I thought I had a video, but couldn't find it. Someone remind me in December to do a video
- Here it is done, and curving nicely
- I position the center stem and run a bead of Roxanne's basting glue. under it
- Press
- Next follow the book directions to measure where to put place the side stems. You can easily pin right into the wool mat, sweet!
- Both stems in place, the pin in the wool mat works perfectly!
- Glue baste all the stems so you can machine applique them.
- I place a single strand of Aurifil 50 wt thread over the stem to see which color matches best. The top one, #2326, wins!
- I use the blanket stitch on my machine.
- Here is how I blanket stitch by machine with some extra tips!
- This is for baby lock and I'm using the awesome Crescendo Machine.
- Check your position before sewing.
- Once again being able to pin into the wool mat is GREAT!
My Favorite tools for this project
- Seam Trimmer if you didn't get one yet.. we used it for Block #3 and will use it more
- A Wool Pressing Mat
- An Oliso Iron for 20% off with FREE shipping an my code PATSLOAN20
- Aurifil 50 wt thread
- Alphabitties
- Wonderclips
I am making the blue blocks weeks... a few days.. the day before.... I write the post using my digital rough draft above.
The digital is not exact fabric placement, it's just a draft for me to work from.
TIP:
- Be sure you download the supply list or read what is used for the blue one
- AT the END share you block in my Quilt show! Several times during this sew along I will do random prizes for people who shared their blocks
Be sure you are ready :
- Christmas Fig BOOK IS REQUIRED - BUY the Book HERE (on sale!)
- Project Details
- My Triangle Book
- CLICK & Enter your email to get notices of my new articles
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