For those of you who are participating in the Friends of Baltimore/Baltimore Squared BOM, you should have received your first block by now.  So, as promised, here is how I constructed the basket for Block 1.  In a couple of days, I will do another post to show you how I finished the block.

OK…here we go….First I started by taping the pattern together.  You can make a personal photocopy (for your use only) so that you have a master copy.  You never know, you want to make these blocks more than once.  Next, I traced the pattern onto the background with a clover Water Soluble Marker (the thick one).  Take note that I only trace the outlines of a design and I don’t trace the inside detail.  Once you place the first unit on the background, you will cover up the inside markings.  And you will say to yourself… “Well, I just wasted my time tracing things that didn’t need to be traced”.  Trust me.

So I was laying in bed the other night thinking about baskets.  Specifically, baskets that are made from strips of bias.  And the fact that they are usually appliqued right onto the background.  And I wondered…”Where are the stems?  If the basket shows the background, shouldn’t I see green stems from the flowers?”  So then I thought…”I wonder what it would look like if I  added a layer of light blue fabric to the background, and then applique the bias strips on top of that.  And then the stems would be “in” the basket”.  So that is what I did.  Which is why I did not trace the stems onto the background (just in case you were wondering haha!).

Maybe you have never made bias strips before.  You probably think it is really difficult.  Well, I am here to show you how easy it really is.  First, you lay your ruler on the edge of the fabric so that the 45 degree line is lined up with the edge of the fabric.  It should look like this.   Here is a post you can read about how I make my bias stems.

By the way, we are cutting our bias strips on a 45 degree angle.  Each one of those lines on your ruler represents a different angle, so make sure you are using the correct line.

When I cut my freezer paper template for the light blue piece that sits under the dark blue bias strips, I did not include any seam allowance along the sides, but I did include it on the top and bottom.

Next, I removed the freezer paper template and traced the stem lines from the paper pattern onto the light blue fabric.

Then I glued the light blue piece in place making sure the top and bottom were lined up properly.

Now I am ready to glue the strips in place.  You will notice that there is a bit of “over and under” going on with the stems so you’ll have to pay attention.  Clearly I wasn’t  paying attention, so I had to loosen the glue a little, but now it’s all good!!

Yes…..it’s all good!

Til next time….

Kerry

Is it just my imagination or did December fly by unusually fast?  I can’t believe it is 2017 already and 2016 is a distant, fond memory.  I did, however, manage to find some spare time to work on Block 5.  I’ll be honest, taking time to stitch saves my sanity (and my family’s sanity).  Along with the usual things to do in December, cooking, baking and entertaining, Paul and I have been doing quite a bit of snowmobiling.  Yesterday was a beautiful day to be out in the fresh air!  We hit the trails around lunch time and came back at dinner time.

I ran into a bit of a glitch with this block.  I traced, I cut, I prepped and glued most of the pieces onto the background, hoping that I would find those rare pockets of time to stitch.  And stitch I did.  Almost everything was stitched in place before I realized I had grabbed the wrong background.  What to do….what to do?  I swore.  Then I un-stitched every little leaf, every little strawberry, every little piece.  Then I carefully pulled each piece away from the background, traced the right background and glued everything in piece again(!).  Now I can sit and stitch and chuckle:)

Block 5 is another one of those blocks that go together like a jigsaw puzzle.  Also, this blocks consists of a few layers, which means that some pieces get placed on the background first, and then pieces get placed on top of those pieces.  Believe it or not, there is a very logical sequence to this block!

First, I traced the block on the background (the right background!) with a Clover Watersoluble Marker.  I like the “thick” one for tracing the pattern on the background.  I traced all my pieces on one layer of freezer paper and then ironed that piece to another piece so my templates are 2 thicknesses of freezer paper.  I started to build the epergne.

Next, I started to add the leaves and the fruit.

You can see in the top right corner there are some 2-tone leaves.  They are easy to make.  Completely prep one side of the leaf, and leave the other side with the seam allowance un-prepped.

So, I just kept adding each piece, paying attention if it went underneath or on top of the next piece.  Love the pineapple!

Now it is time to add the watermelon!

Next, I added the strawberries, blueberries and grapes.  I still need to add the green little thingies that connect the blueberries and strawberries to the branches.  I’ll do that after lunch:)

Here are the first 5 blocks in this BOM I launched back in September.  If you are new to my blog, you can find the details of this BOM here.  If you would be interested in stitching along with me, you can still sign up on my website, Simple Bird Studio.  We have added another option for you to consider.  You can sign up for the pattern and fabric, or you can sign up for just the fabric, for those that already have the patterns.  You have until January 15 to sign up:)

Til next time…..

Kerry

As it turns out, I did not get much time to stitch while on holidays.  There was just way too much to do!  I am always on the lookout for designs that remind me of quilts.  We stayed at the Boulderado Hotel, in Boulder, Colorado, which was built in 1908 and rich with history.  These tile floor are from the hotel and they are everywhere…the foyer, the restaurants and they even continue outside.  Very inspiring!

This is the Christmas tree that was in the foyer.  It is 28′ tall and very festive.

OK.  Let’s get started. This block is the 4th block in my new BOM, which I launched in September.  If you didn’t get a chance to sign up, you can do that now(!) on my website.  You have from now until January 15 to sign up.  We will be making 9 blocks from Sue Garman’s “Friends of Baltimore” and using the setting from “Baltimore Squared” (another awesome pattern designed by Sue Garman).  Some of you have contacted me and asked if this BOM is available as fabric only (because you already own both patterns).  That option is now on the website.

Block 4 is a perfect example of a block with lots of layering.  If you tackle this block like you would a jigsaw puzzle, you will sail through it without any stress.  You will notice that I started filling in the pieces around the outside edge…just like a jigsaw puzzle.

I started with the delicate purple and yellow flowers.  See how easy it is to place the pieces on the background when you draw that seam allowance on? Magical!

Now you can start adding some leaves and more purple flowers.

Notice that the purple flower sits on top of the stem of the pink rosebud.

And this purple flower sits on top of the pink rose and part of the leaf.

So you can see I have completed the outer edge and now I can start filling in the rest of the flowers and leaves.

It’s time to add some stems.

There are so many pieces in this block that look the same.  To keep myself organized, as I placed each piece on the background, I kept track by scribbling on each piece on the paper pattern.  The little red dot means that I made the freezer paper template and the check mark means I prepared the piece.  Just trying to stay organized!

Didn’t I say there was lots of layering?

So far, so good!!

Next, I started gluing the stems in place.

Once all the stems were in place, I added a few more leaves and the ribbon.  The ribbon is easy to do, just really skinny.

As I was placing the ribbon on, I noticed something didn’t look quite right.  I used the wrong green for one of the leaves.  So much for trying to be organized!

Thank goodness it was an easy fix.

Next I added the sweet little bluebird and Voila!!

Here are all four blocks.  Goosebumps!

Tile next time…..

Kerry