Here Comes Trouble

Cue the theme music from "Jaws"

Die-hard hand appliquers, step away from the computer screen.  Everyone else, place your seatbacks in their upright and locked positions, and stow away your tray tables.  There's the possibility of turbulence today.

Deep breath everyone.  Ready?  Here we go:

The subject of my post today is MACHINE APPLIQUE.
Yes, I am making Lollipop Trees as a fusible, machine applique project.  It's a different approach to what you usually see on this blog.  But I think it's a legitimate one.  And it's fun--so what's not to like?  

As I was thinking about what I was going to write, I realized that my approach to the quilt is a unique one, and not just limited to the fact that I'm using the sewing machine:

Fabric selection:  when I ordered the pattern from Glorious Color I also got the Kaffe Fasset fabrics that were available with it.  We all agree they're really fantastic.  But here's the thing about fabric collections.  I do feel that if you use only one designers fabric, then it looks like the designers quilt, not your own.  Quilting is deeply personal, so I always need to feel that it's unmistakeably MY quilt.  So I've incorporated my own fabrics into it.  

I've read alot of posts on this blog and others about people suffering from Fabric Selection Psychosis and Paralysis.   It's completely understandable.  I've avoided it by choosing fabrics for my blocks the following way:  I chose 1 or 2 or Kaffe "feature" fabrics for the main body of the block.  In the above block it's the large leaves, the flower center and the large circles.  The selected fabrics should look nice together but I don't get all hung up on things matching perfectly.  Then, I go to my stash to see what else might work.  The olive green leaves, the small purple circles and the orange polka dot are my own fabric.

Here's another thing that's making this quilt personal for me:  in the original pattern photo you will see that the blocks are symmetrical; that is, the elements on the right are identical in size and fabric to the elements on the left.  But mine aren't.  There's not a huge amount of asymmetry, just enough to shake things up a little.  I like it.


 This quilt is really all about the incredible design and the beautiful fabrics, so I'm keeping the quilting stitch a narrow, simple satin stitch.  The thread either matches the fabric, or is a complementary color.

So is anyone else doing this or another Kim M. project on their sewing machine?  Let your voices be heard !