A couple of hours later...

A couple of hours later...

I had a few hours on my feet at the ironing board at the LQS today!! Wore my running shoes to our "sewing session", and didn't even sew! Hee hee.

Feeling awesome that I got all the other elements for the block traced (yippee!)...

Found, bought and tried out fabrics for the Genie-Lamp style flower pot... well I think I've found them..  still working on turning over the seam allowances....

The bluebells are fun so far. Not sure about the stem colour yet.

I really can't start stitching down on this block. It's all about the way the fabrics interact, if they are too busy, if they balance within the block, if they complement each other.

Using the double freezer paper with starch method to turn under the seam allowances is such a time consuming thing, but I love the precise effect. I had 2 1/2 hours, and really, didn't get that much done. No stitching. Hee hee. When I get started on the stitching, I will probably wear a hole in my finger!

Of course, by the time I choose all of these fabrics and prepare the block, it will probably be time to choose fabrics for the next Diamond Hill block (it's a free BOM with each block released on the 15th of the month).

Much faster to prepare than the starch method is the washable glue and freezer paper method.... but that is with washable freezer paper - Polyfuse by Matilda's Own. My LQS didn't have it in store.

Getting better using a big iron to turn seams, I think I will stick with this method, and eventually buy a Clover 11 mini iron with red protective parts on the hot stem to protect me from burnt fingers (I can get a bit clunky at times).

And in other exciting news, three of my quilts arrived in the mail today, sensationally quilted by my dear Mummy.  Thanks Mum! I can see a mixture of custom quilting in free hand work and cut away designs..... *happy sigh*.... it feels good to be closer to finished quilts!!!

This week I get to prepare the binding for the wedding quilt. Hurrah!

Linking up with Esther's Working on Wednesdays. What are you making? Please share.

I love choosing fabrics!

There is  only a little bit of stitching left to do on Diamond Hill block 2.

That's a bit more portable than the preparation of applique pieces... so when I had an hour or so last night to myself, I jumped into playing with this fabric for Secret Garden block 2.

The left curving leaves and right curving leaves are aligned with different sections of the fabric.

Ohhhh. I knew this fabric would make great leaves when I saw it 2 or 3 weeks ago in Sunlit Blooms. Happy me, it fits the leaf sizes for Block 2!

I tried one or two leaves out, and they seemed to work. I need to make all the leaves to truly audition fabrics for the block.

I am using my favourite (so far) applique technique of double layer freezer paper, fold edges under with starch and iron, then remove paper, press, and baste on with Roxanne's glue.

Having decided these will be the leaves, now I need to make my other fabric choices sing, and really give the Alice in Wonderland feel.

There is a bird in this block. I haven't decided if I will swap it into a Dodo or a Flamingo as shown in the movies, or keep the bird in the pattern and place a card of hearts in its mouth.

These are fun decisions. I LOOOVE choosing fabric!

More applied research into turned edge applique

Everything seems to be going slowly, slowly.

Perhaps it is because I am trying to pay attention to the effects of the applique techniques...

Perhaps it is because I am improving my skills, which takes more time and concentration...

Perhaps it is because I only had about an hour a day to work on my applique..

And then, maybe it is just a lack of faith in my abilities.. like I had forgotten how to "sit into" my skills, and KNOW I've always been good at this stuff, and just let it grow underneath my fingers without second guessing and inspecting everything so much.

However! There is progress!

Hurrah! And I am happy to share some findings once again.

This is a flower with tiny little fiddly curves and sharp points.

circular flower made with two layers of freezer paper, and starch method

Each piece overlays another. In my "old days" stitching applique, I could make the individual shape EASY PEASEY with smooth curves and pointy points, but the pieces would move everywhere and would not overlay, and the outsides probably wouldn't make an even circle. This is why I am trying out different methods. I want precision placement.

For these shaped pieces, this was the best technique for me (double layered freezer paper with starch method, and pieced removed before stitching). The trickiest parts were the curves into the centre of the flower. I used Roxanne's to baste the pieces down, and stitched them very very quickly. With no freezer paper left inside, the sewing was fast.

In direct contrast, the sepal (green bit at the base of the flower, connecting to the stem), had the Floriani fusible stitch n wash still in there. It felt bulky to stitch around compared to the swirls of the flower.

Still to come: I have prepared another circular flower  using the Floriani fusible stitch n wash with starch. It needs to be hand stitched before I decide if I like it.

I love the way the shape came out on this flower. It feels firm and supported.

Floriani stitch and wash fusible left inside flower, edges turned with starch

The Floriani fusible stitch n wash is inside the whole flower. I didn't like stitching the yellow section down as the needle had to go down right through a section of stabiliser on the back of the orange fabric. The wide sweeping curves were easier to turn with the stabiliser than the fiddly curves on the previous flower.

It feels nice to touch, but it was not as pleasant to stitch.

So far, I feel double freezer paper with starch and removing the freezer paper before stitching  is my favourite. The technique needs more practise on my part, perhaps the new Clover 11 iron will help as compared to using my standard sized iron, which is heavy, bulky and blocks my view when turning under seams.

Experimental applique techniques with freezer paper

Reporting back on experiments with new (for me) applique techniques.using freezer paper:

almost all shown is now stitched down

For about fifteen years I have been using a single layer of freezer paper fused to the wrong side of the fabric, then I use the needle to turn the edge around the template shape, while pinning the pieces to death. Then I cut a hole in the back to remove the free

With a single layer of freezer paper, if I am painting the seam allowance with starch then turning the edge over and ironing it, sometimes the paper bends on a curve. So that, instead of a sweeping curve, I have a straight bit on a leaf, and a couple of corners. Oops. And the points aren't always so pointy on a leaf, there is a lot of excess fabric to try to squeeze into a leaf tip.

I tried out a double layer of freezer paper, and  instead of painting on starch and ironing, I used a Bostik glue stick. It was so fast to stick the fabric down around the template, but, then you have to wait for the glue to dry.

*I tried it two ways: leave the fabric glued to the template, and stitch it down, but then I had to cut a hole in the back of the fabric to remove the  freezer paper anyway, and the glue held on to fabric tightly. When I removed the paper I felt the stitches were too big. Maybe because there was two layers of freezer paper, or maybe because with all the tugging of the glue, the stitches became a little bit loose.
*loosen the glue and remove the template, iron, then stitch. I didn't like this one either. The seam didn't stay pressed under neatly -  the sweeping curves were lost, and it was hard to glue baste down.

I also tried a double layer of freezer paper with the paint starch and iron method, remove template, re-iron, then use Roxanne baste glue. This one is my favourite so far, but I still need some practise folding under the seams with a big iron. Maybe the Clover mini iron 11 will help to get around corners. I have a little iron, but it doesn't have the fine point, and it gets heavy in your hand holding onto a little handle, and there is no rest, it feels a bit dangerous when I put it down. The seams aren't so stiff as they are with the clear gum.

Next thing to try is this: Floriani stitch and wash fusible product.
Reporting back in the next few days.

The good news is, I am trying all of these out on the actual quilts I am making, and not just sample pieces. What better way is there to learn and improve your skills than to make quilts?

Linking up to Esther's Working on Wednesdays.

Discussing freezer paper applique techniques

For the first flower I thought I would try out a different technique... the next flowers are circular and need to be very precise.  Apparently some people use the freezer paper on the wrong side of the fabric, then use a washable glue stick to fold under the seam allowance. This is how I have attached the purple petals.

working out the first circular flower for Diamond Hill

I thought I would give it a try. First I glued under the vanilla background circle. Uh-oh. Had to remove it from the freezer paper to see through  the fabric for placement of the other (purple) pieces... and if I had left it in, I would've had to stitch right through the double thickness of freezer paper. No, that wouldn't be good for the needle or my finger or my stitches.

The purple petals were turned under using a Bostik washable glue stick (I've been using that brand for years for foundation piecing), then I used Burrows clear gum from Officeworks to baste the petals onto the vanilla circle.

How do I remove the freezer paper?

In the past when using a single layer of freezer paper, I have stitched around the freezer paper, leaving it in until fully stitched. Then I would cut a slit in the background fabric, and remove the freezer paper there. No freying ever occurs as the applique on top prevents exposure of the slit on the top, and once it's quilted nothing can be seen at the back.

back of Diamond Hill block 1, made using my usual needleturn technique

 Even when I have handled blocks for years (as in my Baltimore album blocks which literally took 10 or 15 years to make, and aren't even assembled into a quilt top yet, and Civil War Bride blocks), no damage has occurred by cutting a slit, and no glues were left in the fabric.

The edges on the purple petals above are turned under with glue, and stuck to the freezer paper. I think I will have to hand swish/wash the block to remove the glue before I can cut a slit and pull away the freezer paper without damaging my stitches.  Then, a yellow circle is to be appliqued over the centre of the petals.



Now I am looking at the next circular flower which is different again.

Last night I was thinking to cut a circular background again, and applique every second petal. This will make some of the applique pieces come forward, and some will recede. This is my favourite plan, not just for ease of stitching, but because I like a variety of depths, colours and prints in my work. (Even in jewellery I am not into matching, but prefer to co-ordinate earrings and necklace).

 If I made every petal individually and stitched them, I would have to cut the freezer paper slightly smaller than marked line to account for the thickness of the fabric in the turned under section, then try to line up the outside to make a circle.

Esther also has a tutorial on how to machine stitch those seams when making leaves, but I estimate it would be a bit frustrating for me on a circle where I want the outside to line up perfectly into a circle.

Esther has another tutorial on how to use Floriani fusible stitch n wash, but that still requires ironing over the seam with a starch product, not glueing. I am finding the ironing over to be a bit heavy on my arm, and not all the curved edges are as curved as I would like using the ironing over technique. Hence, why I wanted to try the glue.

There are two circular flowers in the pattern above. I am still wondering whether to use this technique: applique 4 parts onto a large piece of circle fabric, stitch, wash to remove glue, cut slits to remove freezer paper inserts, then iron on a large circle template onto the back, cut out, glue and applique, then wash again later to remove glue, then cut a slit to remove freezer paper. OR this technique: applique background circle first, wash, cut a slit to remove freezer paper, position petals, stitch, wash again.

Either way, with this many layers I see the block being washed at least twice. It's going to be a matter of getting all the flowers to a certain point, then washing to remove glue, cut a slit to remove freezer paper, then add second layer with a second washing at the very end.

I really don't want to wash the block more than twice.

The reason I am trying all these gluing things is to improve the placement of my applique, as without basteing, it seems to migrate all over the place while I sew.

Maybe I just need to try a different iron, and take more time. I have just seen the Petite Press Portable Mini Iron, which looks like you can apply pressure with a finger.

And I've just done a little bit of youtube research.. I think I'll buy the Roxanne glue baste, the Sewline glue stick and the Floriani fuse and wash papers. Giving it a go on this applique journey!

I welcome your ideas, and sharing of your experience with any of these techniques in the comments below.

Thank you.

In the background

All it takes is a little bit of attention each day, and your projects keep moving forward.

It's so much easier when others are also working on the same project. Online stitch alongs are like my quilt community at the moment, and I am so grateful. I am thankful for the opportunity to see everyone's fabric choices, and colour pallettes.

I am very surprised at the number of quilts being made with Fairy Frost. Yes, I am using it too, making a quilt for an older woman. Maybe it's more appealing to the older market with eyes that need the extra twinkle in the fabric for definition and contrast... or maybe it's because now that more shops have them in stock we can source them easily!

This is my first time using the Fairy Frost. I had no idea it was so popular. I bought a few little pieces of 20cm or 30cm to start a pallette for the two BOMs with Esther, with plans to use one of the shimmery vanilla ones in the border of Diamond Hill. I can see it twinkling already!

All of the tendrils and light coloured leaves are stitched on the second block of Diamond Hill now. Time to add some flowers I think. Although I find the more pieces I baste on, the stiffer the block is from the glue and the spray starch - it's the first time I've ever used this method of applique.

And in the background, mostly stitching in the car when I am occasionally chauffeured around by my sweetheart... is the ever growing Red Brolley redwork for the Christmas quilt.

Slowly, slowly, the redwork grows.

I really must get around to looking for the missing bolt of fabric to catch up on the Labyrinth quilt stitchalong. Eek!

Getting away from it all with our sewing...

Do you ever use your crafting to take you away from it all? Like, really go somewhere else for a while? It's definitely less harmful than substance abuse, but probably just as addictive.

There are busy times in our lives when we don't really have time for our sewing... funnily enough those are the times when out brain needs our crafts more than ever...

Even if there isn't time to actually stitch, I will try to think on the fabrics, and drool over possible combinations, think on future projects, browse online fabric shopping, and admire what others have done (mostly on blogs and social media).

It's been a crazy couple of days here preparing important documents and burning the candles both ends in a way I can't remember doing since I was completing big assessment tasks... except now I'm also juggling a balanced family life, and the assessment isn't just about getting a good grade, it feels like a major assignment for studies was nothing in comparison to this... and the intense relief of submitting the papers in time stands alone.

Here's what I did in snatched half hour sessions of "getting away from it" with my sewing. Prepared all the leaves and tendrils, and the stems for block 2 of Diamond Hill.

This time I've used 2 layers of freezer paper, then used Crisp spray starch to iron the seam allowance over.

And this is what I've got glue basted in place.

It doesn't look like much, but it really helped me to zone out for a while.

It's a funny thing. Some sewing projects are so emotional, I can look at the quilt and remember what I was watching on TV, or which music I was listening to, or even how I was feeling.... in kind of the same way that smell can trigger memories, I think my sewing triggers emotions and memories too.

I wonder if I will remember these last few days when I look at Diamond Hill when it is finished.

Enjoy where your sewing is taking you while we create memories. xo