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.
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.
Posted by: Louise Thomassin Kahr, Québec, Canada | 04/20/2011 at 06:55 AM
Thanks, Erin. Where several layers overlap, what do you do to get the needle through all those layers?
Posted by: Michelle M | 04/20/2011 at 07:50 AM
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
Posted by: erinrussek | 04/20/2011 at 08:13 AM
Great tutorial, Erin... as all of yours are.
Just want to check in with you to wish you a Blessed Holy Week.
Posted by: Ivory Spring | 04/20/2011 at 12:03 PM
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!
Posted by: paula.thequilter | 04/20/2011 at 12:24 PM
I usually soak the block and let it dry flat
Posted by: erinrussek | 04/20/2011 at 12:50 PM