Basting a Complicated Block

I’ve had some questions lately about how I handle my stems and other overlapping elements when I baste and sew my blocks. I thought the best way to do this was to just show you how I put together a block for sewing.

First, I make all my leaves, stems, flowers and in this case birds. The flowers and birds are pre-assembled so they move as one piece. This is really helpful since I don’t want to be continually realigning the birds feathers etc. After they are all made I lay them out close to how they will go on the block.

I center and pin the pattern to the back of my background fabric.

I can see the design through the fabric, if I am using a dark background I use a light box. The first step is to glue the stems.

 

Then I do the leaves.

Then I do the first set of flowers. At this point I check to see if the leaf and stem fabric is showing through the flowers. If it is, I carefully trim it so it stays under the flower but doesn’t show through.

Next I do the second set of flowers and check for dark fabric shadowing through.

Finally, the birds and one final check for shadowing.

Hope that helps.

Comments

[Louise Thomassin Kahr, Québec, Canada]

Thank you Erin, it does help. So you glue baste the complete block before you start appliqué by hand? When are you doing a book. I would be first in line to buy it.

[Michelle M]

Thanks, Erin. Where several layers overlap, what do you do to get the needle through all those layers?

[erinrussek]

I sometimes just go through the layer right underneath the shape Im sewing down...when there are several layers its hard to go through all of them

[Ivory Spring]

Great tutorial, Erin... as all of yours are.

Just want to check in with you to wish you a Blessed Holy Week.

[paula.thequilter]

Once you are finished with the applique, do you soak the block/top to remove the glue before the quilting or do you quilt it with the glue still there? Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks!

[erinrussek]

I usually soak the block and let it dry flat