Spinning Spools--ASK QUESTIONS HERE

[Helen W.]

I am thinking about using sewing notions for the applique shapes on the Spinning Spools quilt rather than flowers-I am a fairly new quilter and would appreciate hearing if this is a good idea

Julie, I think that would make for a darling wall hanging for your sewing area. Instead of the vines, maybe you could do loops or ribbons or swags as connectors between shapes. You could make paper copies of what you are thinking of doing cut out the
shapes and audition to see if you like what it looks like. HelenW

[JulieOh]

Thank you Helen-I have some cute fabric of different color measuring tapes that I was thinking might be cute to use as the connectors of the shapes

[Helen W.]

I am thinking of machine appliqué the vines down first then adding the flowers and leaves and applique them down next. this would be done prior to adding borders to quilt top. What do you think? I'm waiting for wed class to decide the appliqué method. Still have lots of leaves and flowers to create anyway.....LOL

Leeanna, Sounds like a good plan to me. If you like the look of the overlap of leaves and flowers onto the quilt top, you could lay
your borders in place next to the top. Do almost all the the applique lay out and use a frixion pen to draw the positions of theoverlaypping appliqueson the quilt top. Give the appliques and the drawn piece a number so if color placement is important you can get them
back where you want them, or simply take a photo of it to use for reference. Looking forward to seeing a picture of it in the forum.
HelenW

[Helen W.]

Can the flowers be "preassembled" prior to placing them on to the vine? Maybe by stitching the Little Petal to the Big Petal and then glue basting the center to the five petals? All that layering of fabric with the fuse lite too seems so thick, are there any parts that can be cut away to reduce the bulk?

LLT, I have done preassembled flowers the way you are describing many times and it works great. I lay a piece of tear away
stabilizer down to keep the flower laying flat and in place so they pedals are not flopping around. I glue basted the center circle
to the layout of the pedals. Then I edge stitch around the center with a 1.0 1.0 zig zag or a small blanket stitch. Then I rip it away
from the stabilizer, turn it over and trim away any of the pedal that is under the center leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance. I do the same for leaves, if they are going under a flower. I do the attachment stitching with a piece of stabilizer under it. Rip it off, and then
cut away any leaf part that is more than the needed 1/4 seam allowance. HelenW

[Paula T.]

I have a question regarding the flower applique, the way Alex was saying to do it, so to be clear, on the large flowers, they are a big petal behind a small petal, correct? Meaning we are doing applique through the backing (white), big petal fabric and stabilizer and small petal and stabilizer, so 5 layers? We are not trimming the big flower to decrease bulk etc, I just want to be clear on it before I do it. Thanks

[Helen W.]

Thank you Helen-I have some cute fabric of different color measuring tapes that I was thinking might be cute to use as the connectors of the shapes

Julie, How fun using measuring tapes.Great idea. I drew up a border with applique sewing notions in EQ8, but have had NO success lately
getting my pictures to load to the forum. I have made them smaller than the size Barbara Black says works. I have put in two
tickets with pictures of the screen errors that I get. It is interesting that I can not upload to the forum but I can upload to the submit ticket help location. I made the border with a reverse image of the spool block. Colored the moon shapes and white in the spool area and
the put the appliques in the white area. HelenW

[JulieOh]

Helen-I am sorry you are having issues with sharing your photos-I would LOVE to see your border-it sounds fantastic

[Helen W.]

I have a question regarding the flower applique, the way Alex was saying to do it, so to be clear, on the large flowers, they are a big petal behind a small petal, correct? Meaning we are doing applique through the backing (white), big petal fabric and stabilizer and small petal and stabilizer, so 5 layers? We are not trimming the big flower to decrease bulk etc, I just want to be clear on it before I do it. Thanks

Paula, That is a great question. I would put a small pedal on top of a large pedal. Edge stitch them together , turn over and cut
away from the back side leaving the quarter inch seam allowance. That means you cut away most of the big pedal that is behind
the little pedal. When you get a flower worth of pedals put together, lay them out on a piece of tear away stabilizer or even copy
paper to hold the shape of the flower. Put glue around the seam allowance of the center circle. Lay it on top of the pedals and heat set with an iron. Then edge stitch the center to the pedals. Look at the back of the center area after ripping away the paper. If you can cut any bulk away do so, just leaving the quarter inch. Now you would have a whole flower ready to applique to background.

It would be interesting to know how Margo went about it, since she has already finished and quilted hers. And it turned out fabulous. HelenW

[LLT]

Helen,
Thank you for taking the time to give us great detailed answers to our questions! You are the greatest!

[Paula T.]

Question, if it lets me, says I'm not allowed, logged off, on, trying again. Thanks. So when you lay the pedal on the tear away stabilizer and put the center down, I understand the center, glue, sew, tear but does the petal get actually attached to the tear away somehow? Thanks, confused as this and the other says lay them on the tear away, doesn't say it's attached anyway? Thanks for your help

[edieej]

I want to hand applause my blade, should I glue them down first? If so, what type of glue should I use?

[edieej]

That should be applique!

[Helen W.]

I want to hand applause my blade, should I glue them down first? If so, what type of glue should I use?

Edieej, I like glue basting applique because you don't have the pins to deal with. The most economical is Elmers washable school glue. Sharon Schamber has used it on her award winning quilts for decades. She sell very good tips that make a super fine line of glue. Roxanne Glue Baste it is good to just put dots of glue and Alex has her glue sticks which are much like Fons and Porter
which I have used for years with great results. It is more expensive so I don't use it on every project. It is easier to place the glue
where you want it than the Elmer washable glue sticks. They are fat and I tilt them and just use the edge of it. Don't forget to
heat set the glue with an iron. I put a pressing cloth of plain cotton over my applique and put the iron on it for about 5 seconds.
HelenW

[Paula T.]

I am finishing cutting out the applique pieces, most done, half turned, up to circles, ordering more stabilizer so waiting. On the circles, do you know if the circles outside the flowers were made with the SMALL circle, and maybe the smaller flower with the MEDIUM circle and the large circle with the LARGE double flower, it's hard to tell with the info we have, for those that have done this part, is that what you think it is? Thanks

[Jane B.]

I'm new to appliqué. I'm making the finished appliqué pieces. Anybody have any shortcuts? I'm enjoying the appliquick process. but getting the pieces ready to do it seems never ending. I feel like I've made so many leaves and pedals but it's still not enough.

[Helen W.]

I'm new to appliqué. I'm making the finished appliqué pieces. Anybody have any shortcuts? I'm enjoying the appliquick process. but getting the pieces ready to do it seems never ending. I feel like I've made so many leaves and pedals but it's still not enough.

Jane, You might give interfacing turned edge a try. You cut out a piece of fusible interfacing the same size as the applique piece and include the seam allowance on both. Put the interfacing fusible size down on the right side of the applique. Stitch around the
entire piece with the quarter inch seam allowance. put a slit in the interfacing only, being careful not to clip into the fabric. Turn the
piece inside out and work the edges until no interfacing is showing. That puts the fusible on the outside of the interfacing. Lay it
in place on your border, with fabric side up, and steam with an iron to fuse it. Then edge stitch with your machine or by hand on the edge of the fabric.
Helen W

[Helen W.]

Helen-I am sorry you are having issues with sharing your photos-I would LOVE to see your border-it sounds fantastic

Julie, I has been frustrating. Justin Schultz has been working the problem thru the help tickets I have filled out. I can send
my pictures and screen shots of the error messages I get to them with no problems, but not the forum. He has the web developer working on it. Hopefully they can fix it.
HelenW

[Justin S.]

Hey Helen...can you check your ticket? I responded with a question to you

[mgdamico]

What is the color and brand of white fabric that was included in the Spinning Spools kit?

[Dkkevan]

I have extra fabric from the Spinning Spools quilt kit. If you would like it just send me an email @ [email protected]
i just ask you pay shipping.

[Jane T.]

Been behind in this as I moved and had to set up my sewing room, then make window treatments and cushions. As I was wondering what to quilt, I saw a video on free motion bees. I thought they would be perfect for the border.

[Helen W.]

Jane, Bees and flowers go together great.By the time you get all those bees done, you will have a hive full. Also really like your diagonal ruler work on the spools. Is that about 3/8 inch apart?
HelenW