August's Block!

 

Happy August! July sure flew by! Summer is two thirds gone... since it's been so dry here some of our trees are showing touches of fall color due to the stress of our hot, dry summer. School supplies are appearing in the stores so I know fall is right around the corner! Many of you have asked when we will start putting the quilt together. Not yet.... we have a few more blocks to make. We will start making some of the quilt components next month so there isn't so much to do at the end.

While working on this month's block my machine decided to cough up a thread ball and refused to sew nicely. So I switched machines mid appliqueing. I decided it'll be ok even though the blanket stitch doesn't match exactly. I used the galloping horse rule. What's that you ask? Well, if you can't see it from a galloping horse, then it's ok. There's also the 20-20 rule. Will you see it twenty feet away, driving by 20 miles an hour.... Once the quilt is done and quilted, those few wonky stitches will disappear. I know that I will see it and it may drive me crazy, but no one else will notice. If you look closely at this month's block I'm sure you will see what I'm talking about. Have I looked at my machine yet you wonder. No.... I'm still sulking, I'll give it a good cleaning and change the needle tomorrow and see if that helps. If it doesn't, Lucy will get a trip to the sewing machine guy for a good cleaning, not my pipe cleaner job.

Let's get to this month's block. This month's block features a buck. I put a red scarf on mine, you can adorn yours's with any color scarf. This block goes together pretty quickly. The pattern can be found on the Quilt Doodle Website as a FREE PDF download this month. So go on over to the website and download and print your pattern so that you don't miss out on it. Hint: download the monthly patterns and print them up even if you don't have time to make the block. Keep all of the patterns together in a folder for when you are ready to make the Woodland BOM 2021 quilt. .

Out of the cream flannel, cut a 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" square for your block background.

 Gather your materials for your block. You will need your 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" background block, fabric for your applique, fusible web, pencil for tracing, black/dark brown and white thread, and applique scissors for cutting you design shapes out.

Trace the shapes of the applique onto the paper side of the fusible web.

I rough cut around the traced shapes and then pair them up with the different colors of fabric. Iron the fusible traced shapes onto the back side of the fabric following the fusible webs directions. Cut the shapes out using a sharp applique scissor.

Peel the paper off the back side of the shapes and following the paper placement page of the pattern, position the design in place. Iron.

When we first started this quilt back in January, I mentioned that you keep track of what stitch you are using to stitch around the raw edges. I keep referring back to this picture which shows what buttonhole stitch I am using along with the stitch width and length. It's so easy just to snap a picture with you phone so that you have it for reference. Stitch around the raw edges.

Using pearl cotton or DMC floss, embroider the buck's eye. Refer to the pattern for eye placement. A French knot makes the perfect eye.

I'm loving how the buck turned out.

~ Woodland Buck ~ 

I hope that you join me in this years BOM. It's an adorable quilt when it is done. Remember it's a mystery. You will get a new block each month and in December 2021 we will assemble the quilt together. The finished size of the quilt is 65" x 80". Each month the pattern is a free PDF instant download after that it will be available for $2.50 on my website and also in my Etsy shop.  It's not too late to join in on the fun. 

 There's also a Facebook Group, please join and post your progress! It's also fun to see everyone else progress too! I post links and sneak peeks throughout the month so you are to be sure not to miss anything. I hope that you have a wonderful relaxing weekend and find some time to quilt.

Hope that you enjoy making this month's block.  I hope that you have a wonderful rest of the weekend. 

Happy quilting,

Cindy and Belvedere