Thursday, October 11, 2012

Applique is all done . . .

So, day one of my machine appliqué work for Hallowe'en 1904 involved piecing the blocks and appliquéing the pumpkins, moon, and stars.  That just left the stems and leaves for day two, how hard could that be?

Here's a nice close-up shot of a pumpkin from the pattern cover.  The leaves were easy, see that cute little curlycue of a stem, that wasn't!


I cut my fabric on the bias so I would have some give and made it the size called for in the directions.  I could not get my strip to curl and lay flat no matter how hard I tried, and I tried hard, for a long time.


Then it occurred to me that I could just draw and appliqué the stems, like the leaves were drawn and appliquéd.  So that's what I did.


And here's how it turned out.


Three little pumpkins sitting on my design wall, all done!


Nicole got clever with her pumpkins and made them her own.  I thought I would add a little something different to my project too, so I made this cat block to go with my pumpkin blocks and moon block.



I got the cat pattern from the Treats No Tricks book by Lynette Jensen.

So I'm all done with the appliqué phase of this project, and it only took me two days, start to finish.



Two FULL days, but I had the time and enjoyed every minute of it.  I'll try machine appliqué again, sooner as opposed to later.

Now it's back to piecing those star blocks.  I'm off on my one full block a day schedule, I hope to get back to that today.

34 comments:

  1. I have appliqued bias strips before and what I do is take it to the ironing board and use the iron with lots of steam. to curve it. I put in the basic direction(s) of the curls, but I don't try to get the curves exact, it is just enough to "get it started." So, if you have a spiral shape you want, I lay the strip straight across the ironing board and then start pulling it around and use the iron to "encourage" it. Eventually, you can get the shape you are aiming for.

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  2. your iron and steam is your friend in getting bias strips to form the shape you really want
    I have been known to just cut out the shape I want too and applique that down!

    good for you figuring out a method that works for you
    so fun watching your progress on this quilt
    Kathie

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  3. I am so impressed with how quickly you can turn a stack of fabric into something amazing Thelma! This is looking fantastic. Great tip re: cutting the shape instead of fighting with a bias strip x

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  4. Thelma your. Locks are wonderful...this is going to be one very awesome quilt!

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  5. I was going to suggest couching some heavy string for the curls. Like your solution and it looks great. Love your addition of the black cat, so cute!

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  6. Thelma, I did the exact same thing one time with some appliqued vines. Much, much easier! I can't wait to see the finished quilt. What a fun project to be doing - I'm watching Nicole's progress also!

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  7. Your curvy stems look great! Haven't done much applique myself, but I think about it sometimes and will remember this tip, and the ones in the comments before mine. Thanks!

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  8. Sometimes you can get stuck trying to make a certain method work, when another method is much easier. I find that is even more true for hand applique. I have learned all kinds of methods and now have a system that works for me - a mixture of needleturn, basting and starch! The vine looks great drawn and appliqued, and I love the addition of the cat!

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  9. Wow! You are moving right along! Looks great too.

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  10. Hi Thelma, Just had to take a minute and tell you how much I love both your Halloween Quilt (your applique looks flawless!) and I can't wait to see it all finished and added to your lifetime list of quilts. You never cease to amaze me with the speed at which you complete your projects. Not to mention your beautiful piecing on everything you do. Thanks for sharing your quilting journey with us! Also, WOW!!! I really love your new blog page layout!!! I especially love your new header, it is wonderful! A real treat to look at and read. Big Hugs....

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  11. I really like your addition of the black cat block.. I think I would replace the star/moon block with another of your black cats.. For some strange reason the star and moon reminds me of the emblem for Russia. It isn't, but that is how I see it in my minds eye.

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  12. Oooh your pumpkins and cat blocks are do dye for! :D I love them!!

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  13. Loved your info regarding the applique for this quilt. I have been wishing for this quilt for ages, but thought it wa-a-y beyond my talents. It's been fun watching, reading the adventures of Thelma and Nicole whipping out this quilt. Love your new header too. Tell us about that shiny little red featherweight; it sure is pretty! Stitch on! Stephani in N. TX (Tomazec@aol.com)

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  14. I love those pumpkins! Where there is a will there is a way!!

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  15. Looking good, but I have to agree with Jacqueline, I am having a hard time with the moon block, just looks out of place, well actually I couldn't figure out what it was (weird me maybe) or maybe it needs to go the other way, ie the open side to the right like a crescent moon. You know I love everything you do and don't mean to be too critical.

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  16. OMG, I love your new header/banner! Now I'll go and read your post.

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  17. Wow, your appliqued blocks are beautiful too! Love your cat block. This is going to be so pretty.

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  18. oh.my.gosh. a new morning~ a new blog-look. what a surprise!!! you never let on...no hints, nothing that you had a new look in the works! the site looks great! if the truth be known...i LOVED your old RED/WHITE theme of the previous look! there's still plenty of red represented with the new look, tho. are you the creator of your re-design? you are one amazing talented girl!!

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  19. New header looks wonderful. :-)

    And, those blocks are fabulous. I've been known to simply cut out the shape too. Love your black cat addition.

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  20. Wow! I love the new look of your blog. I can't remember what the old one looked like now. LOL! Must be my age. Did you do the design yourself?

    This quilt is going to be so pretty. One thing that I love about your posts is that they are like free mini quilting lessons for us all to learn from.

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  21. You have definitely inspired me, I am getting this one out and working on it. Too bad it won't be finished for Halloween this year, maybe next.

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  22. That little black cat is exactly what this quilt needs! LOVE IT!

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  23. Your new header looks great and you have incorporated the red & white "T is for Thelma" quilt too! Am enjoying reading of your progress on the 1904 quilt thanks for sharing.

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  24. These blocks are just adorable Thelma! I am in love with your quilt!

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  25. Thought I was in the wrong site for a second! Keeps it fresh and looks great! I was thinking of maybe doing some embroidery for my twirly stems, but I didn't know how that would look - too much of a mixed media? I should have my kit today in the mail, and I'm trying hard to clear away my WIP so I can get it on the list soon! Have a great day!

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  26. I really like your new header... lots of eye candy. I can't believe how quickly you accomplish your quilting/appliquing goals. The black cat block is my favorite!

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  27. So gorgeous and I love the colors--you had a goal and never let anything stop you--love that about you, XOXO

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  28. You are starting to get my excitement level on high to start the Christmas applique project on my to-do list. I'm not a "confident" applique quilter shall I say... but I do so love the look of it. Thanks for building me up ;-)!

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  29. Love your new header! Your quilt is wonderful and glad you enjoyed the machine applique. I can't wait to see it finished.
    Hugs
    Donna

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  30. Wonderful blocks Thelma! I love your new header too! have a happy day!

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  31. does your little red featherwieght have a name yet? Melissa named her (metallic grey) machine Castiel - but i haven't seen him out of the box since she bought him ... loving 1904, by the way - we're taking a machine applique class this saturday and maybe, just maybe, we will become proficient enough to not be embarrassed by our lack of skills ... well, ONE of us, anyway...

    p.s. - T is for Thelma!!!

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  32. What a pretty photo header you have! You cleaned house since I last visited, so now I have to snoop around! LOL

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  33. I have this pattern in my someday stash .... and love the idea of doing a black cat applique block in there - I think I may adopt that idea if you don't mind!

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