Sue Ross Block of the Month #2 and almost #1
I signed up to the Sue Ross BOM from Material Obsession because I adore the way that they use colour and I thought that doing a block of the month program would force me to extend my piecing skills. It certainly has – the first month’s block (August) was quite a challenge! So, I shall quickly move on to the September block…
What a gorgeous block! I chose the “Pretty” colourway for my blocks, and I certainly haven’t been disappointed. The fabrics I have recieved all work together beautifully. This block took me around three or four hours to cut and assemble and isn’t quite perfect, but I figure that by the time this is quilted I won’t really notice the imperfections. After all, this quilt is a learning experience for me! Here’s some detail:
Those points aren’t too bad for a relative novice, I reckon! Clearly my years of dressmaking experience have been very helpful when taking up patchwork. So, back to the August block. It was meant to be hand-pieced then the circles appliqued on. I chose to machine piece (after all, I figured it couldn’t be harder than setting in a sleeve) but still haven’t got around to learning how to do the needleturn applique to attach the circle to the backing (or the centre circle, for that matter). Please ignore the pins!
My biggest concern with this one is that the circle is a little wavy – I’m going to have to ease it into shape when I stitch it down and pray that I can press it with loads of steam to sit flat when it is all finished. I like it, but it wasn’t easy to do well! So on to October, which arrived late last week.
More curves and more templates! This is going to be a very pretty quilt in a year’s time, and I reckon by the time that I finish it I may well feel completely exhausted, but very happy.
Hard to believe anything would stop Stella Stuntwoman !!! – it does look likes heaps of fun lara.
Your blocks, particularly September look pretty well done to me! It looks like you are doing a beautiful job. If you scroll down on the BOM blogspot there are some links to doing hand piecing and I think applique on the website which looked helpful. Draw your lines on the curved to be turned under with a faint pencil line, a thin chalk line or a gel pen. Turn under on the line so it doesn’t show working from point to point. The most important thing about applique is coming up from the back, grabbing the tiniest bit of the seam to be turned under and going back down through the fabric at the same point. Stitches should be small and in a neat line on the back. If you need more help email me at MO. Have fun! kathy
Beautiful fabric combinations – you’ve done lovely points! It will be a gorgeous piece in the end.
Oh, this is incredible! Your blogs are so beautiful! I love the neutrals with the brights.
You’ve done a great job with the blocks but with your sewing experience I knew you would, lovely and it’s going to be just beautiful.
Not sure if the advice is too late bit I have recently learned needlepoint applique and whilst straight edges are relatively easy I developed my own way to achieve a nicer finish using freezer paper. Simply cut the freezer to the size of your required finished circle and press into place, leave freezer paper on whilst you slowly applique using the edge of the freezer paper as a guide, remove the freezer paper and you should have a lovely circle!….does that make sense? Hope it helps, Tam xo