Thursday, October 7, 2010

Hearts and Flowers Center

In an earlier post, Theresa asked about the center panel to Kim's Hearts and Flowers quilt.  This was probably the largest applique' block that I'd ever done, and here is how I did it.  First I traced the heart onto freezer paper - the outside fingers, the inside heart, and the middle heart. 
Then I machine basted the center horizontal and vertical lines onto my background fabric and traced the applique' design on the background with a Mark B Gone pen.  I ironed the freezer paper to the dotted fabric and drew around it with a Sew Line chalk pencil. 
 I did a rough cut around those outside fingers, but didn't do the final trim until an inch or so before I did the actual needle turn.  Then before I trimmed the inside of the heart away, I went back to the machine and basted on the line for the inside heart.  The Mark B Gone pen shows through on the back.  The line for the heart gave me a guideline for placing the inside heart.
I cut the heart shape out of the center of the freezer paper so after I appliqued the center heart to the middle heart fabric, I'd have a guideline to use to trace the applique' line on the middle heart fabric.
This is my center so far.  I still have a few berries and tongues to finish before the center is complete, but I've had a lot of fun fussy cutting leaves and berries from my fabrics.  My Stars and Sprigs has been shipped, so I've got to step it up a bit.   

17 comments:

  1. Thank you for showing how you did your center. Pics always make everything much easier to understand?
    Your quilt is gorgeous..I love the fabrics you've used. :)

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  2. You do amazing work with your colors.

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  3. LuAnn, your center is stunningly beautiful!! What great fabric selections!
    hugs,
    brenda

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  4. I love it, too - the centre fabric is gorgeous!
    Hugs - Lurline♥

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  5. Your heart is beautiful. I love the fabrics you used.

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  6. Oh I love that centre and wish that it was mine. It looks fabulous. Can't wait to see the rest of the quilt.
    Shirley.

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  7. Your colors are my favorte, pink and green. Your heart is perfect!

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  8. Beautiful choice of fabric for the center of the heart and lovely work!!

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  9. Wow, LuAnn, I love the center fabric you chose for the heart! Thanks for sharing your placement directions also. Beautiful!

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  10. oh your heart is beautiful, what lovely lovely fabrics.

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  11. Thank you for sharing your tips and techniques, LuAnn. It is SEW wonderful we all get to learn, watch, and participate here. : ) I LOVE your colors choices, fabric selections and fussy cuts. VERY nicely done!

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  12. LuAnn, your directions are wonderful, very clear.I just love that fabric you've used in the centre of the heart, it's stunning. Lovely fussy cutting too! Kim McL

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  13. Beautiful Centre..Beautiful Block.

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  14. LuAnn your center block is very striking, love the center fabric. Brilliant
    I don't have the book, curious what is the measurement of the center block.

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  15. Gorgeous! I love how all of us doing this particular quilt and using Kaffe's fabrics are making each one strikingly different. It is fascinating!

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  16. Denise the center block will measure 25 inches finished, I believe. I have thought that just that center portion of the quilt would make a great wall hanging. Thanks to all of you for your nice comments on my center.

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