One Piece at a Time

Florabunda Block 4

As promised here is Florabunda Block 4.The pattern has two formats. The first is a full size pattern (12” square you can download here) that you can save to a USB drive and take to a copy place to have printed. The other is a ¼ size drawing (download here) that should print on a regular printer. You can make 4 copies of this one and tape it together for a full size pattern.

For all you who like to share pictures you can join our FLICKR group at

http://www.flickr.com/groups/florabuddies

Have Fun and

Happy Friday

Florabunda Block 3: the Specifics

Here are a few pointers for Block 3 that I wanted to point out.

First of all, when doing shapes that have inside curves like the two parts to the large flower, I always press the inside curves first. I should also point out that I also clip those curves as you can see.

Here is a time saving trick when making petals in which one is the reverse of the other. I place the two pieces of fabric that I’m using right sides together.

I draw the petal on one side.

After you cut it out, don’t forget your seam allowance, you will have two petals which are the reverses of each other. I find that if I use these scissors that I can cut four petals at a time.

Also, it really helps to pre-assemble the flowers before you put everything together.

Hope that helps.

Florabunda Block 3: Alternate Colorway

I didn't get this all done for yesterdays post. Here is the alternate colorway.

Florabunda Block 3

As promised here is Florabunda Block 3.The pattern has two formats. The first is a full size pattern (12” square you can download here) that you can save to a USB drive and take to a copy place to have printed. The other is a ¼ size drawing (download here) that should print on a regular printer. You can make 4 copies of this one and tape it together for a full size pattern.

For all you who like to share pictures you can join our FLICKR group at

http://www.flickr.com/groups/florabuddies

Have Fun and

Happy Friday

Florabunda Block 2: The Specifics

I'm back from taking my son on a high school trip. There were 2200 kids participating in a DECA (something to do with marketing and business) event at a fancy hotel in Colorado Springs. I almost never saw anyone over 18 years old. They were all dressed better than me as well. Luckily for me Colorado Springs has AWESOME quilt shops so I was good.

Here is a little tutorial to help us with Block 2.

First of all, Block 2 is full of points so we will all get some practice here.

When I make my point I first starch and press around the whole shape. Then I use my fingers to fold the point in like this.

Then I dab it with a little starch.

Then I press.

For more on this see “Appliqué Lessons” under “Categories” on the left.

After all my flower pieces are done I pre-assemble my flowers using Roxanne’s Glue Baste.

To avoid having a big glob of stems in the center I glue one stem on in one piece. The other stem I glue in halves. First lay out and glue both sides of the stem like this.

Then cut the stem so it just fits under the whole stem.

Tuck under and glue like this.

My last little tip for those of you using dark backgrounds is to use a light box or window to mark the pattern onto the background fabric. Use these traced lines to glue baste your shapes into place.

Hope that helps.

Florabunda Block 2

As promised here is Florabunda Block 2.The pattern has two formats. The first is a full size pattern (12” square you can download here) that you can save to a USB drive and take to a copy place to have printed. The other is a ¼ size drawing (download here) that should print on a regular printer. You can make 4 copies of this one and tape it together for a full size pattern.

For all you who like to share pictures you can join our FLICKR group at

http://www.flickr.com/groups/florabuddies

Have Fun and

Happy Friday

Ooops...I almost forgot, here is Block 2 in the other color way

Random Monday

Thanks to all of you who have signed up for the FLICKR Group. I think it is fun to see what people are working on and what fabrics they pick.

As I mentioned when I started Floradoodle, there will also be a smaller 12 block version you can do if you want to skip the center medallion. I’m doing this one in pinks and greens on a brown background. You can see my Block 1 above. I’m thinking that this one will have different sashing and an appliqué border. I’ll keep you posted. I’m using one of the Bella solids for this because I just couldn’t resist the name…It’s called Hershey, like the chocolate. I found it at Fat Quarter Shop.

Here are a few random notes on the starch and press method of preparing your appliqué shapes.

Some fabrics will soak up the starch faster than others. You will get the best results if you don’t start ironing until the starch has soaked into the fabric. This is also a good reason to pre-wash your fabric since the sizing can inhibit the starch from soaking in as well.

Yes, I do actually use a standard size iron for this but I TURN THE STEAM DOWN. It’s a little scary to get your fingers close to an iron but I found if I’m careful I won’t get burnt. The only times I have gotten a little burnt are when the steam has been on.

Sometimes the Mylar or Templar can warp, especially if the shape is on the large size. I’ve found that they both warp so one isn’t better than the other. I just hold the edge down as I’m pressing. When I take the template out I press the entire shape flat. Another template material that works is several pieces of freezer paper ironed together. I have made templates this way and they can be re-used a few times but eventually the starch will soak in and you will have to make a new template.

Just for grins I’ve added this picture to show how I photograph and sew at the same time. My husband couldn’t figure out how I got my fingers in the picture.

Also, here is a shoutout to this guy

He is my HTML technical support person. He’s also my son and very inexpensive. He helped me with my new ETSY shop button that you can see on the left. This will be where the patterns I have for sale will go. I put the Miss Hannah pattern in there because people are asking about it but REMEMBER this pattern will be offered for FREE in December as part of the BOM. The next pattern will be this.

Happy Monday.

Florabunda: Block 1

 

Here is Block 1 of my 2010 Block of the Month: Florabunda. I’m a little new to putting patterns up on my blog so if you have any trouble downloading the pattern let me know by leaving a comment. I have the pattern in two forms. The first is a full size pattern (12” square you can download here ) that you can save to a USB drive and take to a copy place to have printed. The other is a ¼ size drawing (download here) that should print on a regular printer. You can make 4 copies of this one and tape it together for a full size pattern. Good luck and let me know how it goes. If we have enough people doing this it would be fun to have a gallery.

Also, I have added some tips for pressing the appliqué pieces. If you look closely you will see that mine isn’t actually stitched yet (Ooops). I decided to take the kids to Avatar in IMAX 3D and I had a 3D movie hangover.

 
I can cut multiple shapes by pinning. These scissors from Karen Kay Buckley help.

Clip your inner points

  
I press my inner points first 

This is how I fold the puter points 

After applying a little starch I press the outer point

Viola! A finished flower

Announcing Florabunda: Block of the Month

 

I am happy to announce my very first, all designed by me, Block of the Month Quilt.  Starting next week I will be posting a quilt pattern each month (hopefully with a picture of the completed block). These patterns will be free to download from my blog for the whole of 2010. There will be two ways to finish this quilt. You can make the free patterns and finish it as a twin size quilt OR you can combine these with my pattern “Miss Hannah” for a medallion quilt. The blocks I have designed are very compatible with the starch and press appliqué method I have been writing about this week but really ANY appliqué method would work great. This is going to be fun. Maybe if we get enough people doing this we can have an online photo gallery going. Let me know what you think.

Getting Ready

I’m so excited I can hardly sit still. In 2010 I am going to do two blocks of the month on this blog. You will be able to see it all here in step by step detail. I will have the patterns up in my Etsy shop so if you want to participate you can. The first quilt will be very similar to my quilt Bluebird’s Piece O’Cake (seen below) except all the designs will, of course, be my own. It will be 12 small appliqué blocks around a larger medallion with an appliquéd border. There will also be a 12 block twin size sampler version.

I’m calling it Florabunda and here is a glimpse of my fabric selection.

The next quilt will be based on this setting design. It will have two options, one completely pieced and the other a combo of piecing and appliqué.

I’m calling this quilt Gathering and here is my fabric selection.

I’m working on both center medallions and hope to have pictures up soon. My very good quilting buddies Debbie and Amy are going to help as well. Here’s to a year of fun sewing.