December | 2017 | Simple Bird Applique

Yesterday I had some time on my hands so I went into my sewing room and shut the door. I was on a mission:)

You may recall in my last post I explained how I wash my finished blocks. Once that step is complete, and the blocks are dry, it is time to trim the blocks to the correct size. Since these blocks finish at 12″ x 12″, I simply used my 12 1/2″ square ruler. I placed the ruler on top of the block and centered it. Take your time with this step. You don’t want to mess it up:)

Next, I carefully trimmed the excess fabric away. Easy Peasy!

The pattern calls for 20 appliqued cornerstones, which didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would. I cut my sashings and away I went!

So far, so good!

Right now the quilt measures 52″ x 68″. Once the appliqued borders are on, it will measure 71″ x 87″. I am intending to hand quilt this beauty and I am excited to get started! So scrumptious…

“Hugs and Kisses” is a Block-of-the-Month that will begin in January 2018…that is just next month! Each month you will receive the pattern and fabric (same fabric as shown) so that you can complete one block a month. Also, as a bonus, I am including (free of charge) 5 spools of Mettler 60 weight to match the fabrics. You have until the end of December to sign up on the website. Also, for those that have asked, you are able to purchase a full set of patterns to stitch along with us, using your own fabrics. I am wondering what this quilt would took like in Civil War fabrics. Or browns and pinks. Or totally scrappy. I could go on and on!

Til next time…

Kerry

My goal was to have this quilt, Hugs and Kisses, finished by the end of the year. I am trying my best, really I am. I have finished stitching all 12 blocks. Yipee! Now it’s time to wash my blocks. For those of you who have been following my blog, you will already know the routine. For those of you who are new to the blog, this post is for you. After I finish each block, I toss it into a sink filled with hot water and a bit of soap. This step will remove the glue, the blue marking pencil and anything else that might be on your block. Cat hair, maybe? You will be amazed at how yucky the water looks once your block has soaked for a while. But before you toss your block into the sink, take a really good look at it and make sure every itty bitty piece is stitched in place. Trust me, this is an important step:)

Once the blocks have soaked for about half an hour, it’s time to rinse them under the tap to remove the suds. Then gently squeeze the block to remove the excess water. Your block should be fairly wet, but not dripping.

Next, lay the block out on a thick towel to air dry. Easy Peasy!

Hugs and Kisses (designed by Sue Garman) is a Block of the Month that will start in January. The blocks are fairly simple so this is a good quilt for a beginner. I think this quilt is an excellent example of a quilt made up of simple blocks, but looks rather stunning when all the blocks are assembled. Mind you, there are appliqued cornerstones and a swag border to follow. Yes, stunning is a good word to describe this quilt.

Til next time….

Kerry