Remember how I said we were considering skipping around on the blocks in order to leave all the applique blocks to the end but decided to just be brave and go in order? Well, that brought us to block #4 and the first of the applique blocks. I had never done machine applique in my life and certainly not with my new machine. Terry and ShaRee had limited experience and honestly, we were all shaking in our boots. It was ShaRee’s turn to be the team lead and she took care of us splendidly. We had previously chosen the fabric for this block so she traced all the patterns and even provided us with a sample tulip on scrap fabric so we could test out our blanket stitch. Those samples all turned out great and all our machines did a beautiful blanket stitch.
We began by piecing the basket at the bottom half of the block and then moved on to the applique. The stem and tulip went first and we had decided to do all the blanket stitching in white. Those looked good and we moved on to the leaves. We all got them done and then decided that we should have done them in a green thread for better contrast. We were also out of time together so the birds became a homework project.
The evolution of the colors. ShaRee did her birds in a blue but decided it should have been a little darker, so Terry used darker thread but wasn’t totally thrilled, and since I finished mine last I did an even darker blue. They both said they would have liked the leaves in a green thread. Because I got around to mine last I benefitted from their experience. I unpicked the white on my leaves, replaced it with a dark green, and did a dark blue on the birds. We are now sold on the idea of contrasting thread.
Block #4 Basket and Birds 12×12
block by ShaRee
block by Sue
block by Terry
At the beginning of March we tackled the next block. The directions call for the blocks to be made in descending order of size so we are doing the 12×12 first, then will come the 9×9, the 6×6, and the 3×3. We can only do a 12×12 in an afternoon but as we get to the smaller sizes I expect we will do more than one each sewing day. There are three more 12×12 blocks after #5.
We made another shopping trip to gather more solids to go with our prints because our stashes just don’t include many solids. We are drawn to cute prints and that’s what we buy for future projects. Solids just don’t have the allure, even though they are necessary for projects.
For this Arrowhead block we deviated from the suggested color scheme. First, we are tired of the pink, yellow, teal palette. Second, we had that teal print we used in the center with the yellow and red accents that we were all in love with and wanted to use. So this block is infused with more color and I wholeheartedly approve. I’m all about the bright colors!
Block #5 Arrowhead 12×12
block by ShaRee
block by Sue
block by Terry
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