Welcome March! This month's block features a couple of House Sparrows. They are a sweet little bird that I can always count on to visit my bird feeders. The block is adorned with a couple of daffodils and a few shamrocks for luck. Let me assure you, there are no daffodils blooming in Minnesota this time of year. Sometimes you just have to create your own spring flowers by either buying them at the store or stitching them up on a quilt block.
This month's pattern is a free PDF instant download. (Unless you are asking me to print it up for you, details can be found below.) If you miss a month, the patterns are available for $2.50 on my website and also in my Etsy shop. So, let's get to stitching... here's how I made this month's block.
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| Print up the pattern and gather your fabrics that you are going to use for the applique block. I have already precut all of my background rectangles the beginning of the year. The background rectangle measures 8 1/2" x 10 1/2" |
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| Trace all of the applique shapes onto the paper side of your fusible interfacing and then match the shapes up with the fabric you will be using. Following the manufacturer's directions, iron to the wrong side of the fabric. |
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| Cut all of the shapes out... |
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| Here's a great hint! Slide the pattern placement page under your fabric centering the design. If you are using a light fabric, chances are you will see the design thru the fabric to make applique placement a breeze. If you are having troubles seeing the design, a lightboard is helpful. Peel the paper off the backside of your applique shapes as you place them on the fabric background rectangle to form the design. |
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| When you have everything placed just so, press in place following the fusible web's manufacture directions. Now you are ready to stitch. |
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| I've mentioned this before, take a picture of your stitch setting, or make a note of it so that you use the same stitch setting to do each monthly applique block. |
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| I'm using a dark brown thread for all of my machine stitching. |
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| Referring to the pattern, stitch the bird's eye with a french knot using black pearl cotton or DMC floss. To make the bucket's handle, use a backstitch and black pearl cotton or DMC floss. |
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| ~ House Sparrow ~ |
Just in case you missed the last blog posting, I have been asked to offer printed patterns for the BOM this year for those of you who don't want to download PDF's or don't have a reliable computer or printer to use at home. I have thought about this and have decided to offer this thru my ETSY store. Unfortunately, there is a cost to print and mail these out. I've kept the cost to $2.50 with a .50 shipping fee in the USA. I am able to offer a cheaper shipping cost thru ETSY then thru my website because how I have it configured.
PRINTED PATTERNS CAN BE FOUND HERE
I also suggest getting a file folder and printing up the patterns each month and stashing them in the folder. Especially if you aren't planning on working on it right away. That way you won't miss a thing!
Fabric Requirements
Many of you have been asking about fabric requirements. I am encouraging you all to work from your stash, I am using a combination of tone or tone fabrics and civil war repos that I have been hoarding the last several years. So here is an estimate of what you will need without giving away the design or layout of the quilt.
1 3/4 yards cream fabric (background for applique blocks, corner stones plus scrappy blocks)
1/2-yard dark fabric (cornerstone blocks)
1 1/2 yards quilt border
Various scraps in medium to dark tones adding up to about 2 yards
1/2 yard for binding
Various scraps for each monthly applique (twelve total applique blocks)
I hope that you are having a wonderful day!
Happy Quilting
Cindy
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