Miles and miles of bias…….

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Friends of Baltimore, Hand-Applique Techniques, Sue Garman Pattern, Sunday Afternoon Applique Group, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I woke up this morning with one thing on my mind: bias strips! I have been avoiding starting the next block of Sue Garman’s “Friends of Baltimore” because the basket is made up of what seems like miles and miles of skinny bias strips. Well! Today seems like a good day to get started!!

I usually make bias stems with my Clover 1/4″ bias maker. But the strips in the basket are skinnier than 1/4″ so I will use my bias bars. I have 3 different sets of bars. I love (and use) them all! For this particular project, I will use Perfect Stems by Karen Kay Buckley.

This is how I make my bias strips. (It is not an exact science!)

First I figure out what size bar to use. These bars are a little on the thick side so I always choose a bar that is skinnier than what the pattern shows.

I cut my strips on the bias. (I know that seems obvious, but I had to say it!) How wide I cut them depends on the size of the bias bar. You should to be able to wrap the fabric around the bar and have enough extra fabric to hold onto. I usually leave an extra 1/2 inch.

I place the bias bar underneath the presser foot. Then I carefully lower the needle and then stitch along the side of the bar. Did you know that you can actually sew through these bars and it does not harm the machine…or the bias bars? The needle is a different story! The tube of fabric should fit snugly around the bar. I always use a contrasting thread in my machine.

Trim the extra seam allowance as close to the stitching as you dare!

But not too close!

The contrasting thread is helpful in determining how far away your scissors are from the stitch line! It works most of the time!

I twist the fabric tube around so that the seam is next to the flat side of the bias bar. Next I spray it with starch and iron it flat.

I remove the bias bar and press the strip again to make sure it is flat.

If you are not ready to use the bias strip yet, you can wrap it around an empty paper towel roll or you can glue it in place!

It’s time to dress the Civil War Bride! I took the liberty of auditioning different hairstyles for her and decided on this one…

…instead of this one!

Til next time……

Kerry

26Aug2012

No surprises!

Posted in Amy's Quilt, Bouquet For a New Day, Civil War Bride Quilt, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Four years ago, I fell in love with this pattern! It is Sue Garman’s “Bouquets for a New Day”.

I finished eight of the 12 blocks and set them aside. Other projects called my name!

Do you recognize this blue fabric? It is one of the fabrics I used in Amy’s quilt.

I also have it in brown…and red…and green!

Anyway, I started thinking about these blocks and how much I would love to finish this quilt…soon!

But, I had a tiny problem. I was not in the habit of pre-washing my fabric four years ago. If I was going to have any surprises with colors running, I wanted it to be now and not later when the blocks were stitched into a quilt. So I decided to wash the finished blocks in Synthrapol. I am so glad I did! The excess dyes came out of the fabric…and down the drain!

While Jenny and I waited for the blocks to dry …

…I finished the 2nd block of Civil War Bride!!

Til next time…

Kerry

22Aug2012

When bad things happen to good quilt blocks…

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Normally, I am very careful when I stitch and drink coffee at the same time. But not today!

I am not exactly sure what happened….except that the coffee cup missed my mouth and coffee dribbled down my chin and onto Block #2 of Civil War Bride. Yikes!

When I start an applique block, the first thing I do is trace the pattern on to the background with a water soluble marker. I trace all of the shapes and I even number them so I know which order to stitch. Sort of like painting by numbers…only with fabric!

So when I ran to the sink and rinsed the block under the tap to remove the coffee, I also removed the majority of my markings. Really, just a minor detail. I waited for the block to dry and then I re-traced the pattern and continued on my merry way!

First I stitched a few leaves in place….

…and then the bias stem.

Next a flower and some buds. My first thought was to make all the flowers purple, but now I think I will make them all different colours!

Til next time…

Kerry

1Aug2012

Civil War Bride Quilt Block 1

Posted in Amy's Quilt, Civil War Bride Quilt, Friends of Baltimore, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I am so excited to have finished the first block of The Civil War Bride Quilt!

I thought the pieces in the top right and left corners were leaves, so I made them green. After going on the Civil War Bride Quilt blog, I see that maybe they are supposed to be birds! (How did I not see that!?!) Anyway…leaves they will stay!

Every time I put Amy’s quilt down and leave the room, the cat decides it is nap time. I keep a lint brush handy at all times!

I am making pretty steady progress on Amy’s quilt. I have one side border completely done. I have turned a corner and now on to the second side.

The next block of Sue Garman’s “Friends of Baltimore” looks pretty challenging! (See below.) The fabric is pre-washed and I am ready to get started!

chal·leng·ing (chln-jng)

adj.

Calling for full use of one’s abilities or resources in a difficult but stimulating effort: a challenging course of study; a challenging role for an inexperienced performer.

Til next time…..

Kerry

1Jul2012

Not that I need another project!!

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Friends of Baltimore, Hand-Applique Techniques, Sue Garman Pattern, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

Oh!!! It finally arrived!! Talk about speedy delivery!!

A couple of years ago when I was at The Ellie Sienkiewicz Applique Academy, a student showed her stunning version of The Civil War Bride Quilt at Show and Tell. You can imagine the ooohhs and aahhhs from the audience! It has been on my radar ever since I saw it. Thank goodness for the internet! I happened upon the pattern on Threadbare’s website. Needless to say, the check was in the mail and I have been (im)patiently waiting by the mailbox.

Now the fun begins!! I am now auditioning fabrics and backgrounds!! This is such a good way to spend an afternoon!