Month 1 -- ask questions here

[Barbara B.]

How are other people attaching the stems to the background fabric before doing the applique? There is no instruction that mentions that part. Is that what the Roxanne's glue is for? Can I use double sticky 5mm tape? I tried the Hera marker technique & I got very nice, straight, 1/4 inch stems but now I'm not sure how to keep them in place before I sew them down. I did not wait for my fabric to arrive but used some batik fabric from my stash that looked very similar in color to the strips in the kit.

Yes, Sarah recommends using white liquid glue like Roxanne's, tiny dots. Let them air dry, do not iron the glue dry. She explains using glue for basting in her show, along with lots of other important info. If you haven't watched the show yet, do it.

[lehab375]

How are other people attaching the stems to the background fabric before doing the applique? There is no instruction that mentions that part. Is that what the Roxanne's glue is for? Can I use double sticky 5mm tape? I tried the Hera marker technique & I got very nice, straight, 1/4 inch stems but now I'm not sure how to keep them in place before I sew them down. I did not wait for my fabric to arrive but used some batik fabric from my stash that looked very similar in color to the strips in the kit.

[sewskeel]

barb
I have been struggling to draw paper piecing pattern for little house

[sewskeel]

Hey Barb,
hope you are feeling better.
about how many yards of 1/4 inch bias tape do we need to make for whole quilt?
are all stems 1/4 inch?
thanks for your help.

[Gayle L.]

I’m wondering too if the store will be selling them. I was told earlier they would be have seen nothing. Maybe someone will see this and answer.

[Barbara B.]

From the photo and the Fabric Requirements document, Sarah used two fabrics of pre-made bias. We don’t know exactly which she used. She selected two from the Kit that are similar. Matcha is a bright green, Shire is a deep dark green. You certainly could use one fabric for all the stems.

I am using Whisperlite foundation from Thistledown Quilt Company. She has a video on how to make bias stems. It is very easy. I like it better than turning under the edges. This method is sew and turn right side out. The Whisperlite does not add bulk and is easy to turn.

[Sharon K.]

I have a question about the stems. Are they the same color green for the entire quilt? I'm wondering if you could use a single color of bias tape and what color Sarah used. Thanks, Sharon

[Barbara B.]

Question about cutting fabric for Month 1. Cutting the background fabric says WOF but others just mention one strip 2" , one strip 1', etc. Are these supposed to be WOF too? There will be leftovers. Are they used in other mothers? Thanks

First, each fabric says what width to cut a Strip that is WOF. Then it says what size to cut pieces from THAT strip. Each fabric is described this way.

There will likely be some left over each month. I start with that leftover fabric the next time that width of that fabric is needed. That might allow me to save cutting a strip or two as we get farther along.

[Kati]

Thank you Barb- it made me realize that I need a proper ruler and a mechanical pencil in order to do precision drawings. It all maters. It also occurred to me that the 2 strips that include the windows on the cabin could be piece as a 2.5 inches wide strip which is then cut to size for each strip afterwards. It would insure that the windows are level to their counterpart. My sewing machine would be happier with 2.5 inch strips than 1 inch.

[Carol G.]

I wasn't sure if I needed the entire WOF, so I added up the length of the combined pieces and cut that length.

[Barbara B.]

If you read my blog you can see the shapes and show to draw the 5 sections needed.
https://bbquiltmaker.blogspot.com/20...d-month-1.html

[Kati]

I wonder if anyone has drawn the block on software for paper piecing and whether they would be willing to share this file? I worry about the precision when dealing with such small pieces and feel it would be easier by doing a paper piecing. technique, however even drawing the shape on a piece of paper is challenging...

[Alice S.]

What method are you uisng for making the stems? I have always used either the Clover bias maker or the Karen Kay Buckley bias stem makers. I tried Sarah's method with the Hera marker but my stems come out uneven. I guess it is a learning curve.

[Barbara B.]

Silly question: in the instructions for Month 1, they are saying "cut strips"...is this the WOF?

Yes, exactly right.