MONTH 5 — Show Your Progress Here

[Barbara B.]

Please use this TOPIC to share your progress.

[Helen W.]

Month 5 is done for me. Time to start thinking about month 6. I love to use
the BOM's as a time to tweak my creativity by going off in a different direction.
HelenW

[Donna M.]

Amazing! I have managed to get the first set of 8 large triangles done...

[Suzanne F.]

Barbara, as always, I love how you "make it your own." What kind of stitch are you using? I assume I am seeing machine applique?

[Helen W.]

Suzanne, I am Helen. The stitch I used to cover the raw edge applique is what Ricky Tims called
the Twisted Chain stitch. It is couching by machine but as slow as hand stitching. You cross the
thread in front of the needle then take 2 stitches and cross it again. I use #8 pearl cotton threads
and DMC embroidery thread for the colors I did not have in pearl cotton. I am using flannel and
raw edge gets a little ugly if not cover, and is really bulky when I used glued turned edge. I got the idea of just appliquéing everything from the Australian designers that TQS has had for a few BOM's.
Wendy Williams and Irene Blanck both did applique in place of some of their piecing. I thought
it odd, but with flannel thickness it is really wonderfully better in my opinion.Making it my own, is
the most fun. I followed patterns exactly for decades, but after I learned to use EQ8 software
I feel I can adapt anything I want to. It is all so much fun. HelenW

[Frieda I.]

Is there a video on how to make the cabin, month 1? I couldn't understand the instructions.

[Donna M.]

Barbara Black answered your question in the Month 5 Ask Questions Forum. Are you all set?

[Renee M.]

Making sure all my ducks (geese) are all in a row. I have a definite light side.

[Helen W.]

Renee, You are right, the geese are all in a row. The ducks on our lake (Lake Coeur d Alene) are never in a row. The little ones scatter here there and every where. Your geese look great. HelenW

[Carol G.]

Just a start to see if I like it. I'm doing flying geese instead of 2 color hst's.

[Helen W.]

Carol, I like the one color geese. How about that beautiful purple you have for the star. A little
more contrast and it is nice to put the center of attention in a couple different places in the quilt. HelenW

[Holly M.]

Still working on month 4. Just a lot going on for me but I, too, am considering "full" flying geese vs HST flying geese. I think it will work to highlight the dense appliqué sections.

[Carol G.]

Helen I was going to try one of the blues. I see what the purple looks like with the yellow as well. Thank you

[Donna M.]

I have decided not to use the Unicorn Poop colors in the HST's. I think they disappear on the background fabric too much. So those will be the same colors. I didn't think about doing the full flying geese until I had already made my subcuts. I have the applique pieces cut and the stems in progress.

[Carol G.]

Donna - I agree with you about the light color triangles disappearing, I'm using my own stash so I'm auditioning different colors now

[Renee M.]

Month 5 plus 4 star blocks. I really love the light side/dark side HST's.

[Helen W.]

Renee, What a beautiful quilt you are creating. Never would have used green for the flowers but it looks great. The green sprigs after the geese tone down that area so your eye attention goes to stars
and geese. You have great talent for picking colors. Very, Very Pretty!!! HelenW

[Deb B.]

Renee, lovely work!
I’m curious - how did you know sizes to make the stars? Did I miss something?

[Elizabeth A.]

I decided to create a pattern for the leaves and stem when I realized I had not allowed enough room for the berry if the stem is only 3.5 “….. may make the stem longer to accommodate the berry

[Helen W.]

Elizabeth, You could just move the leaves down so you have the spacing you want. HelenW

[NinaMarie]

Officially love this idea of making a pattern. I will be doing this as well! Thank you!

[sewskeel]

Caught up for now

[Renee M.]

Beyond month five and working ahead, 20 star blocks and the rest of the geese. I LOVE this quilt.

[Marilyn M.]

Goodness! What a fast worker! Looking great.

[Pat D.]

wow you are doing great

[GypsyBobbin]

WoW!!! I love your work
You’re a PRO

[Carol G.]

I got my first petals & berry done. I did what I saw someone here did...I drew a pattern based on this one. Hope that makes them all consistent. I also made my stem 4". I took Helen W up on her suggestion to use purple in my triangles. I think it toned down the yellow, which I had done first. Thank you Helen!

[Helen W.]

Looking real good Carol!!!! What color sawtooth stars are you going to make?
I just started making my next applique border to go around this one. Will post it when
I get one set up and ready to stitch. HelenW

[Helen W.]

Next border on my version of Homeward Bound is coming from one of Lori Smith's applique patterns.
I was thinking my quilt has a bit of the folk art look to it. Lori's pattern Aunt Minnie's Best had a border
that works great. I am always open to combining any thing that gives me the look, I am looking for.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE THE BORDER ON THE RIGHT.
HelenW

[Linda M.]

Helen, your work is beautiful. I did some appliqué using flannel years ago. It was very challenging. Yours is turning out to be beautiful. I wonder if you would mind sharing where you got the pattern for your cat and dog? I would like to steal the idea from you if you don't mind. I am making this quilt for my daughter who has 2 black cats and a big black dog! Thank you and can't wait to see what you come up with next. I love love love Aunt Minnie's Best border you used. Really nice.

[midnight33]

[NinaMarie]

ohhhh I love your HST choices!! The stripes give it a lot of movement!

[Pat D.]

so pretty, looks great!

[Gayle L.]

[Pat D.]

very nice with rich colors

[Pat D.]

Hi - I've finished this month and I think I will quilt it at this point. I hope to be able to join the borders after they are quilted.
It's not easy for me to quilt a large piece on my small machine, so I think this will work - but it may turn out to be a baby quilt
I used many scraps and most of the applique is sewn by machine with blanket stitch variations.
I've enjoyed the process.

[Carol G.]

Beautiful! This design allows for a couple different stopping points.