Thursday, February 24, 2011

Just A Little Bit More . . . .


I have just a little more information to share on Evening Bloom, my hand applique project.

First, I took this picture to give you a sense of the size of the blocks, which are 24 inches.



I have one of these pattern sheets for each block. I use it to trace the pattern pieces onto freezer paper.

After I cut out the freezer paper and iron it to fabric,


I cut it out, leaving a reasonable amount of fabric, and trace around the wax paper, that's how I know what to turn under to get my shapes.

I also trace the pattern onto a sheet of pattern-ease,

to create this overlay.

This is how I determine the placement for each pattern piece,


without having to draw the pattern on my background fabric, leaving marks that may or may not get covered with the pattern piece, or may or may not wash out.

When I fell in love with the pattern Evening Bloom, and read the book's directions for needle turn applique, I immediately knew I would need additional help with the whole process. I had absolutely no background knowledge on this method of handwork. So I contacted a fellow quilter who teaches needle turn applique classes. As luck would have it, not only was she willing and eager to teach me how to applique, she was planning to make Evening Bloom and had even already purchased her fabric.

We decided to work on this quilt together (yeah, another sew along!) and immediately made plans to meet for my first lesson.

In addition to miscellaneous applique accoutrements, my applique teacher brought this to my first lesson.


A hot chocolate cupcake with vanilla peppermint icing. A moist, sweet, delicious cupcake with a marshmallow center.

A cupcake from one of the best cupcake bakeries in New York City, we live in Illinois.

She bought this cupcake, carried it all over the streets of New York, through airport security, and them home, to give to me. Needless to say, we get along pretty good!!

We've both finished our first block,


mine is on the right,
my patient, skilled, generous, and knowledgable applique teacher's block is on the left.

Marianne, thanks so much for all your help, I could not have done it without you.


15 comments:

  1. Thelma, it's gorgeous and you're so brave...learning needle turn applique LOL!

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  2. Wow! I think you are a very fast learner. It's beautiful. (And so is the cupcake...and the friendship behind it).

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  3. They're both beautiful! What a perfect combination - quilting and cupcakes!

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  4. Both absolutely beautiful! I've never learned needle turn applique. Have used the button hole stitch method, and have recently learned an invisible method for applique, which is time consuming but it works fairly nice. I'm now working on the Bunny Hill Christmas applique, as well as 3 other BOM's - and the sew along for Eventide...geezzz no wonder I can't keep up! I now have 6 blocks done for Eventide and I'm liking what I'm seeing! Thanks again Thelma for leading the charge.

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  5. Thelma,
    Your needleturn block is gorgeous! You have done a great job.
    I learned needleturn applique several years ago and have been working on a project for a while now ... it is rather large.
    I so wish I had a bite of that yummy looking cupcake for breakfast.
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  6. The applique looks fantastic!! Just gorgeous!! But I am sooooo happy that you were able to finally try the Crumbs Cupcake. Aren't they heavenly? You should check out their website. They have other locations too!

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  7. Both blocks look as yummy as the cupcake. :-)

    Are you using wax paper or freezer paper? I use freezer paper so I'm just curious.

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  8. Wow it is gorgeous! And what a yummy looking cupcake :-)

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  9. I am so excited to see Evening Bloom come to life! Your block is beautiful and yes, I am really really jealous!

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  10. oh, and that is a super cute name for a bakery!

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  11. Thelma you did an amazing job! Fantastic!

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  12. Wow, I just found your blog, and you are a VERY TALENTED WOMAN! I LOVE your quilt second from the right on the top row of your banner! (not sure what it's called) That is just my style!

    I love these blocks too! I DO NOT DO APPLIQUÉ personally, but I like the looks of it! I LOVE your teacher's block, it looks so dainty and antique-ish with that sheer lacey fabric, but I bet it was difficult to work with!

    Your block is amazing too......the flower stands out as the focus with the solid white fabric, whereas the background stood out more with the sheer fabric IMO.

    Good for you in tackling appliqué..........I have no interest in it. It seems like it would take too long, and give me a headache, lol

    So glad to have found your blog and see all the eye candy.........maybe some day (when I'm caught up on all my UFOs) I will try a few of them :)

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  13. ok next time I am in NYC I am going to have to find this bakery and have a cupcake!
    LOL
    I love cupcakes too!
    great post I always use an overlay too, but I use a vinyl overlay I buy it by the yards!

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  14. Your applique block as very beautiful. I am very drawn to applique flowers, but I am a bit fearful about trying it. Your ideas about how to cut the pieces and the overlay will be added to my techniques file. Maybe I will try this one day soon.

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