Thank you so much for the lovely compliments for my panel.
It really is difficult to decide what block is next.
Donna, when I needleturn the trees I first traced the shape onto my fabric but before cutting it out I placed it on my fabric background in one solid piece . Then I cut away a few branches at a time and needleturned. Not difficult just time consuming, but I enjoyed every minute.
Denise
With the trees, I iron the freezer paper on the right side of the fabric, then cut the fabric in one big blob so that it surrounds all the branches. Then I mark all around the template. I then place the fabric still with the template onto the background and poke the pins through both fabrics to make sure the template is on top of the marked design on the background. When that is so, I peel of the freezer paper. Now I baste inside the marked lines so that the applique piece is in place. I then applique as Denise, cut the branches as you sew along. This way you won't have fraying fabric and pins to contend with. There will be places where the seam allowance is not much, but just needleturn as much as you can. I did this on purpose because I didn't want the branches spaced out too much, it would have looked weird (I think). But having said that, do what you are comfortable with, take more seam allowance if you like, we're doing applique here, not building a bridge! I've done this tree in various forms in previous quilts and it has always looked interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe inspiration for this tree is the tree in the " Reconciliation Quilt", here, the tree is a bit more sparse. Mine looks more like the coral growths in the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. I saw the Reconciliation Quilt many years ago in the Cyril Nelson Quilt Engagement Calendar and have been facinated with it ever since. You've all probably seen this quilt in books. Cheers, Kim McL
I think the extra time spent appliqueing the trees will be worth it. I like this cutaway method for tricky shapes, it makes it more manageable.
ReplyDeleteKim's advice is really helpful! I had to figure this out by trial and error and some problems keeping the large shapes straight. Now I am basting them down to the background first; the needle turning then just zips along. Next time I will try the cutting-away-as-I-go to make the whole process even more accurate.
ReplyDeleteTHANK you Donna and Kim!!! Having you share your tips and techniques is oh SEW helpful!!! I too snip as I go with these challenging shapes. I had been wondering just how I was going handle those trees...
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the advice-I admit the trees intimidate me, but at least now I have hope I can do this...I can do this...
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