Needle Turn Applique

During these lazy days of summer I have fallen in love with needle turn applique again. I have a couple of quilts that I did in the 80's that had some hand applique. There is something so relaxing and therapeutic about hand stitching a quilt block. I also think it's very 'old school'. I have pulled out my two very big projects, my Dear Jane quilt and It Just Takes Two quilt. I have been camped out in my living room watching chick flicks, drinking my tea or diet coke and hand stitching. The perfect way to spend the day... I'm not perfect at hand applique but let me show you the process. Just don't look too closely at my clunky stitches. I'm sure I will improve as I continue to work at it. It's been awhile since I last hand appliqued.

I have traced my design onto the 'wrong' side of the background fabric. Then I layer the

design fabric and the background fabric right sides up. Then I used white thread and basted

on the drawn lines. It's really hard to see in my picture....

From the 'front' side you can see my basting easily.

I trimmed the 'design' fabric a quarter inch from the basting stitches.

I pull the basting out as I turn the edge under to hand stitch. Remember to clip corners and curves as you sew along. I am using thread that matches my design fabric.

Here are some of my blocks that I've done needle turn or reverse applique on.

As you can see, I've been busy catching up on my Takes Two quilt. I am only using scraps from my stash.

I have always loved applique. If you ask me my favorite type of quilting, I would have to say applique is on top of the list along with paper piecing. Most of my designs (almost all) is fusible applique, which I love. Fusible applique is quick and easy, but I'm starting to think of designing some needle turn designs too. hummmm it's time to look for another good movie and pull out my hand stitching... I hope that you give needle turn applique a try.

Happy quilting and stitching!

Cindy

Takes Two Quilt Progress....

Life sometimes happens and we need to adapt and adjust.... that's been my summer pretty much.  Last weekend was our scheduled quilt retreat and well, life threw us a curve ball again and I had to get my catchers mitt out and I adapted and made some adjustments.  Quilt retreat was spent at mom and dad's sewing at the dining room table as I helped to care for my dad.  My sister joined us and it was very nice.... I still got to see what everyone was working on and enjoyed visiting with my family.  I maybe didn't get as much done but that's OK.  I allowed myself time to just slow down.... I watched some John Wayne movies with dad while I stitched along, I got to admire my sisters projects.... she's got a super cute block made for the Dots on Dots Blog Hop. Mom worked on a pretty fall quilt.

While at mom and dad's, I worked on my Takes Two Quilt.  I am so hopelessly behind on this project.....  big sigh...... I started my weekend putting my printed instructions in order.... I haven't worked on this in months.  I just faithfully printed up directions twice a month and man, did my stack pile up! So here is what I got accomplished this last weekend....

Here's block #40
It took a while to get pieced together, don't look too close... my set in seams aren't great.

I was able to piece together section A.  Woot! Woot!

These are the blocks I got done this weekend.  I'm in love with the
airplanes... I think they are so sweet.  You can't see it here because I
strategically layered my blocks to hide it, but one block is put together wrong.
I made the same mistake TWICE... so I put the block away for another day....

Happy Quilting and perfect stitches to you,

Plugging away....

I have been plugging away on my Takes Two quilt and have found I am hopelessly behind.  The hand applique blocks have been a challenge to say the least.  I've always considered myself to be a pretty good quilter but I am rethinking my position.  The hand applique blocks are nearly sending me to the funny farm.  I'm ready for the little white jacket with the extra long sleeves that buckle in the back.  When I printed up the directions for Block 34, I almost started crying!  But then took a deep breath and decided I could do it with a quick turn method using fusible interfacing.  This quilt has been challenging my skills, it's a good thing.... I think. 



This block (#27)  took me awhile to do, it is done using needle turn applique.  Don't look too close...

Block #23 'Grandma's Favorite Compass'
This block was sewn by hand....

Block #34
I am doing this block using the quick turn applique technique.  I still need to blind stitch the pieces in place.  They are temporarily ironed on in this picture.



 Quilting Gallery is hosting a 'Quilts for Mom' contest this week.  I've entered my Magic Vine Quilt.  It reminds me on the flowers I plant in mom's garden.  Stop on by and vote!  Of coarse I would love it if you voted for my Magic Vine Quilt, but there are many lovely quilts to vote for.  You can vote for up to four quilts.  Have fun!



'Magic Vine'

Happy Quilting and perfect stitches to you,

Happy New Year

My first set of blocks finished for "Just Takes Two"

Happy New Year everybody!  It's that time of year that we make promises to ourselves, be it to loose weight, exercise, be more organized, finish those UFO's.  I typically do not make a New Year's resolution.  How about a quilting wish list of what I would like to do in 2012....

Wish List

• Would love to finish a couple of UFO's
• Continue to work on my Civil War Diary Quilt and be better about posting every Saturday.
• Keep up on the "Just Takes Two" Quilt Challenge
• Would like to start the "Building Houses from Scraps 2012" Quilt Challenge.  I like the idea of using scraps.
• Change my needle after every big quilt project...
• Keep my studio organized between quilt projects

I also have the 'normal' New Year's resolutions.... loose weight, walk more etc.  I will try to do those things too. How about you?  Do you have anything on your "Wish List" for 2012? 

A year ago I started my Civil War Diary journey and I'm looking forward to continuing my work on that.  I got 3 rows completed last year.  Not as many blocks as I would have liked to get done, but more done than if I didn't blog about it.  So thank you, loyal followers, for giving me a reason to work on my quilt.  I'm looking forward to posting my progress each Saturday, hope that you join me in my journey.  This Saturday I will be posting about the next two blocks...'Thousands of Diamonds' and 'Preparations for Smuggling'. 

Happy New Year!

Happy quilting and perfect stitches to you.

A couple more blocks finished for "Takes Just Two".