This blog is dedicated to applique. Glorious applique!!! The focus here will be hand applique, but there is room for machine applique too. Kim McLean is the designer whose patterns and quilts we will be working on together. Are you ready?! Let's SEW!!!
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Friday, August 27, 2010
Question on weekend cutting??
Somewhere on a previous post or comments, I remember someone (I think it was Kim???) saying she cuts all the pieces for her quilt out in one weekend. This idea is really appealing to me--I am afraid if I do it a bit at a time, my color preferences will shift and the blocks won't go together as well. (I tend to go in color spurts) If anyone does this (the all in a weekend thing), I would appreciate hearing more about the process and suggestions as to how to keep the process under control and not become overwhelming. Any pointers or suggestions? (I finished cutting out all the background pieces for my Roseville today so I'm excited to get started!)
Can Understand where your coming from Donna...I have pre-prepped applique blocks for other projects before...sometimes I'll spend a whole day just doing that...I put each prepared block into a Zip Lock Bag & label which block it is...then they are ready to go..
ReplyDeletecheers
Works well for me. One thing is the consistency of fabric/color, an other thing is that I am not that fond of the pre-work:) Doing it all at once means I always have blocks ready to grab and sew.
ReplyDeleteI have also purchased Kim McLean's Roseville Album Quilt pattern. I don't know about just a weekend to get all those pieces cut, but when I do start, I will select fabrics and cut all my pieces at one time. I find I am much more consistent in designing and in my color choices. When I actually get around to stitching, I can always change something if it doesn't work. Labeled zip lock baggies are the way to stay organized.
ReplyDeleteI tend to prep my pieces before I begin sewing and keep them in their own little Baggies with block and row numbers on them. My method is to do a block at a time - I usually iron on freezer paper but have been known to trace over a light box. When I go from paper to iron to cutting, it's not as overwhelming and I can stop for a break or a meal (or nap!) and not wonder where I was. And I don't set foot in a quilt shop while prepping or I'd be too tempted! This may not be for everyone but it works well for me.
ReplyDeleteI am just the opposite. I like to choose fabric as I go along. I pin the individual blocks to by design wall and then see what colors need to be used to blend and balance with the other blocks as I sew along. I do keep all the fabric I'm going to use for the quilt top in a specific container and don't touch it or add to it as I go along so the colors will be consistent.
ReplyDeletei tend to pick the fabric and place them 'right through' as many days as it takes.
ReplyDeletein the past when i did a large quilt and did not do this.. i was not as happy since sometimes I found a perfect fabric later that i wish was in a block 'across the way'..but that block was already appliqued so I could not repeat the fabric
I would think it would take more than a weekend to get all the fabrics cut out. I usually work a block at a time because I'm too impatient to get stitching.
ReplyDelete