Month 1 -- Ask Questions Here

[Barbara B.]

[[email protected];n891143]Sorry, I couldn’t find another place to ask this question. I’m trying to get ahead a bit as I’ll be away in February. Can you tell me approximately how many inches of stem is used in Block 2?[/QUOTE]

There will not be information early for this project. I did give the background cutting sizes so they could be planned for those using The Kit or smaller amounts of their own fabrics. And several times I have said there is about 600” of bias, 400” 1/4”, 200” 1/8. Just make some so you will be ready for Month 2.

[Joanne B.]

Thanks very much!

[Gwen K.]

I am having difficulties with getting the print fuse n light to stick. I am using a low heat dry iron and even using a goddess pressing sheet. Suggestions?

[Barbara B.]

[[email protected];n891164]I am having difficulties with getting the print fuse n light to stick. I am using a low heat dry iron and even using a goddess pressing sheet. Suggestions?[/QUOTE]

Increase the heat until it sticks.

[Micky F.]

Help! The paper peicing dogtooth boarder is driving me nuts! I sew on the paper line, flip over the triangle...and it doesn't cover the space completely. Any advice? It sounds so easy but somehow it's not working smoothly for me.

[soniasimone]

Such a common problem! Barbara's advice will help.
I always have to pin the piece and flip it over to make sure I have coverage. Triangles are a little counterintuitive.

[Barbara B.]

[QUOTE=MickyF;n891171]Help! The paper peicing dogtooth boarder is driving me nuts! I sew on the paper line, flip over the triangle...and it doesn't cover the space completely. Any advice? It sounds so easy but somehow it's not working smoothly for me. [/QUOTE]

The triangles have to be cut larger than would be needed if doing regular piecing. Did you watch the video and read the Month 1 Part 3 blog—both of those explain how to cut the triangles. To be sure you have the triangle placed correctly, so it will fill the space it needs to fill, try pinning on the line before sewing. Open on the pinned line to check. If it’s OK, sew it. If not, move the triangle, repin and recheck. Angles can be challenging until you figure out where to put the piece.

[Helen W.]

[QUOTE=MickyF;n891171]Help! The paper peicing dogtooth boarder is driving me nuts! I sew on the paper line, flip over the triangle...and it doesn't cover the space completely. Any advice? It sounds so easy but somehow it's not working smoothly for me. [/QUOTE]

Micky,
Barbara's first suggestions of making it bigger is critical. I put an extra 1/4 inch all around my template. See photo. Then the
next common problem is that triangles go on at an angle, and you are doing mirror image to the front, so placement needs to
be adjusted. If you draw the lines onto the blank side of the paper, you can test it and see if it covers the lines by at least 1/4 inch.
See photo two, trace the lines. When you place the fabric on the paper, it must be at least 1/4 inch below where the line starts,
because the flip+seam allowance makes it go up that amount. See next two pictures. Once you get the hang of it, it is easy,
but angles often give beginners trouble. HelenW

CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE BETTER.

[Barbara B.]

[[email protected];n891183]I am with you Marian. I dove in (very late and recently) and made several mistakes. I am keep on keeping on even though I keep reviewing the videos. They don't seem to be in any kind of sequence. Seek and ye shall find - not really. Is there a way to know which sequence the videos should be watched instead of the hunt and peck way?[/QUOTE]

Joan, the first thing you need to do, if you haven't already, is watch show 3001. It is the overview of the quilt and explains a lot.

Each month watch the videos that pertain. For Month 1 there is one on hand techniques and one on machine techniques. Watch either if only doing one method.

Other videos for Month 1 explain how to use the patterns, how to make stems, etc. They will not be repeated in the future. Watch them before beginning to avoid mistakes. It does not matter what order you watch them in.

Finally, I strongly encourage you to read the blogs I post each month--this is how I "teach" steps important for this quilt. For Month 1 there are 3 parts because there is so much information at the start. Each time a blog is posted I post the link on the Forum.

Facebook LIVE broadcasts are full of good information. Find them on the main page of 2022 BOM Garden Party Down Under. There are two so far and a new one will be added the first Friday of each month.

There is much information at the beginning because many of the skills needed start right from the beginning.

Month 2 will have only 1 video and 1 blog. All the information already provided continues to apply.

If you are very experienced you could just read the few pages of General Instructions from Irene Blanck and the two pages of instruction she provides for Month 1 construction.

[soniasimone]

Tip for folks doing the appliqué by hand: I have been using the Yoko Saito method for my 1/8" stems. It works very well, and isn't difficult at all. You use a running stitch to secure the strip along one side, then just fold it over and blind stitch down the other side. You can get them very tiny.

I know there's also a TQS show that demonstrated this technique, but I can't remember which one it was.

It makes more sense to see than to explain, so the best way to find it is to Google "Yoko Saito bias stems" and you'll get a quick YouTube video on it.

I'm pretty sure the English interpreter in that video is Priscilla Knoble, who did a TQS show (#1505) with an introduction to Saito-san's work. :)

[Barbara B.]

[QUOTE=soniasimone;n891200]Tip for folks doing the appliqué by hand: I have been using the Yoko Saito method for my 1/8" stems. It works very well, and isn't difficult at all. You use a running stitch to secure the strip along one side, then just fold it over and blind stitch down the other side. You can get them very tiny.

I know there's also a TQS show that demonstrated this technique, but I can't remember which one it was.

It makes more sense to see than to explain, so the best way to find it is to Google "Yoko Saito bias stems" and you'll get a quick YouTube video on it.

I'm pretty sure the English interpreter in that video is Priscilla Knoble, who did a TQS show (#1505) with an introduction to Saito-san's work. :)[/QUOTE]

Yoko Saito's show is a good one, find it here or by simply typing Yoko Saito in the Search Box at the top of each page here on this website:

[URL="https://thequiltshow.com/watch/hand-applique/how-to-make-a-house-block-japanese-style-with-priscilla-knoble"]https://thequiltshow.com/watch/hand-...iscilla-knoble[/URL]

Her narrow bias technique starts at about 19 minutes.

[groomer]

Hi all, Has anyone tried applipops to make the small circles for the
BOM? I was planning on using the Karen Kay Buckley perfect circles, but it’s too time consuming Thanks.

[Molly B.]

Has anyone tried to make the 1/8 inch stems on a 9mm Bernina? On the video, Karen K Buckley had tried the #10 foot but then said they had to use a zipper foot instead but did not say why. I am suspecting if you use a Bernina 770 (9mm), the feed dog is too far to the left to move the fabric forward with the #10 foot. So I reverted to my old Bernina (I love it!) 1260 and the feed dogs were closer to the foot so that the fabric would move along. Is there something I am missing?

[Barbara B.]

[QUOTE=MollyBurgess;n891237]Has anyone tried to make the 1/8 inch stems on a 9mm Bernina? On the video, Karen K Buckley had tried the #10 foot but then said they had to use a zipper foot instead but did not say why. I am suspecting if you use a Bernina 770 (9mm), the feed dog is too far to the left to move the fabric forward with the #10 foot. So I reverted to my old Bernina (I love it!) 1260 and the feed dogs were closer to the foot so that the fabric would move along. Is there something I am missing?[/QUOTE]

It is most likely there was not a #10 foot on the set so the zipper foot was a substitute. I use the #10D on my Bernina 770 with no problem.

[Barbara B.]

[QUOTE=groomer;n891228]Hi all, Has anyone tried applipops to make the small circles for the
BOM? I was planning on using the Karen Kay Buckley perfect circles, but it’s too time consuming Thanks.[/QUOTE]

I have used them and showed them on Show 3001, the overview show for Garden Party Down Under. I find them very slow when there are many of the same size to make. Perfect Circles work better for me.

[Sandra Woods.]

I am hoping some of the hand appliquers will see this. I am trying to do the applique without using any non-traditional materials, just scissors, needle, thread. Does anyone have any tips on the 5/32" circles? I've looked at some instructions from Becky Goldsmith and Liuxin Newman. How do you do it? I am tracing the circles with a ruler and pencil and cutting with a 3/16, more or less, allowance.

[soniasimone]

I would try a cardboard template, then use the "perfect circles" method. You could experiment with doing it as a "yo-yo" with no template inside, but that seems really fiddly with a small circle. But it might work.

You could also go around twice (or maybe three times) to get it as round as possible.