MONTH 3 — Show Your Progress Here

[Ann W.]

I"m not a hand application person so I've been playing with the blanket stitch. Much harder to make objects perfectly round but it ends up I really like the look. A few more leaves to add but will wait until after the coneflowers are done.

[Helen W.]

Ann, You did a really good job of blanket stitching circles. Doing the pivot and keeping the inward stitch at a 90 degree angle
is no easy task. How did you turn the edge of your circles? HelenW

[Ann W.]

Helen, I used the foil method and then go a little help from Roxannes glue.

My first attempt at needle turn applique

[Anina]

[Helen W.]

Anina, Your quilt screams SPRING IS HERE!!! Very pretty. HelenW

[Alice]

My month 3 progress. I tried needle turn by hand again but still looked bad so went back to machine appliqué. Left 2 leaves on each block un-stitched as recommended.

[Alice]

Thanks Helen! With engineering background, choosing color is the most challenging thing for me...

[NinaMarie]

Hi Alice, I was an engineer in my former life...then I thought I needed a bit more color in my life and started selling clothes for a living!

[Alice]

Yay - Great job and I’m so happy for you NinaMarie! It’s an encouragement for me to keep going too

[baerbel.sch]

I made half of the leaves with needle turn and the other half with the starch method. I am not a good hand sewer but I hope that this quilt will improve my skills and I had fun so far. Baerbel

[Helen W.]

Baerbel, I like the way you used a zig zag down the middle of the stems. Looks good and adds interest. It will be fun to see
when you compare your center of the quilt to the outside edges as your skills improve. HelenW

[Marcia D.]

I needle turned 3 leaves per quadrant and will add the other leaves after next month. Having fun with all of it and using fabric I couldn't live without but wasn't sure just where I would use it. This certainly provides the place. thank you

[Helen W.]

Marcia, Love your star fabric. Also like the way you used the same green for leaves and stems. In an explosions of colors it
gives a little unity. Looking good. HelenW

[midnight33]

I’m finally caught up. I’m not happy with invisible thread machine appliqué, but don’t want to start over with another technique.

[Helen W.]

Midnight 33, I agree with Carol G. Your applique looks good. I had to get my nose right up to my computer screen on the zoom to see the stitching. When I did that I could only see the stitching at all on a few of the lighter colored circles. It looks like you used
a blanket (buttonhole) stitch. Did yo?. Normally if you are using invisible thread you don't do a decorative stitch. You could try
a sample using the invisible thread with a 1.0- 1.0 zig zag. The needle takes a stitch right on the inside edge of the applique,
then the next stitch is just at the edge of the applique ( almost like it is stitching in the ditch it is so close). Personally I think you
applique is great. One more thought, that I noticed when I got my nose up to the screen. When you place your leaves, if there
is one of those little dots on the back ground fabric right at the point it looks from a distance that the point is slightly blunted.
Not something that anyone would notice except us quilters striving to do the impossible perfect quilt.
Just a thought. Your quilt is going to be beautiful. Love the colors you have used. HelenW

[NinaMarie]

I think this looks great. Machine applique like anything is an acquired skill. Honestly, it's not a bad idea if you wanted to try a different technique in Month 4. BOM's are all about learning different skills and seeing what works best for you after all! I love, love the color choices btw!

[Cheryl L.]

I just completed my first machine fusible applique and like you I didn't like the way the invisible thread looked or felt. I was using a 100 weight. I didn't start over and I changed thread two more times. It is not noticeable. Also, I thought I liked the buttonhole the best on my test piece, but it seemed to m, the piece frayed more, so I changed to the zig zag and it didn't cause as much fraying. After it was done, I don't think even a judge would see all the changes and my 99 year old mother-in-law loved the piece!!

[Carol G.]

I’m finally caught up. I’m not happy with invisible thread machine appliqué, but don’t want to start over with another technique.

Kandy you're too critical of your work. I think your circles look good.

[Melanie H.]

Finally finished all those circles! Will add the rest of the leaves after I do the cornflowers. I like this quilt and am using the techniques from last year. BUT, next year let's do something different, please.

[MalibuBarbie]

Finished month 3 just in time for month 4!

[MalibuBarbie]

midnight33 I'm doing machine applique also [karen kay buckley for the circles and the freezer paper method for anything else]. I use a matching polyester thread on top and neutral cotton on the bottom with a small zig zag stitch [maybe 1.2 wide by 1.4 long] so it just catches the applique to background. I got a large set of embroidery thread from amazon, it has 260 colors, but even the 80 color sets offer enough variety and are inexpensive. I sort mine into bins by color and they are easier to handle and match when I need to pull them out. I love this method and by the time this is finished, quilted and washed those stitches will be invisible enough for me. Keep at it, yours looks great and finished is better than perfect!!!

[Sandie T]

I finished all the circles, and I used the Karen Kay Buckly perfect circles. I tried both methods. I rode the struggle bus trying to make the leaves. I tried several methods. I will add the other leaves next month after I do the big flowers. So, this is my progress.
Thankful for all the access we have with the quilt show to learn and try different processes.

[Shannon M.]

I am continuing to work with fabrics from West Africa. I have chosen to make my circle flowers out of yoyos. I like the dimension that this gives to the block. Ready to add some leaves!

Nearly chickened out and started again. Was going to do it in blanket stitch but persevered with needle turn applique and I'm quite happy with the results. Followed Sarah's technique for circles and leaves. Used fusible bias for stems. Love looking at everyone's choices of colors and techniques, it's a great way to learn other ways. :-)

[Renee M.]

[Sandie T]

I love the color of your cone flowers!