MONTH 7 -- Ask Questions Here

[Pat D.]

thanks, this is helpful

[Barbara B.]

I think I've read all the instructions and viewed the videos -
However I'm struggling with the placement of the long vines.

What would help me would be if I could strike a line on the patterns that I could line up with the seam that will join this unit to the existing center unit.

I understand that I need the center circle to be 1/2" to 3/4" from that imaginary line.
What I need is the other end - the low dip of the arc.

How far up from the sewing line is the low dip of the arc????
could you measure that for me???

Thanks, I appreciate all of your advice.

My vine sits about 1" from the bottom seam of the completed border at the LOW dip. One of them is only 1/2", one is 1.125", most are about 1". I think it is more important they criss cross at about the middle. The photo with the red arrow is from the Month 9 blog and I will talk more about it then.

[Azenath W.]

I am feeling the same as you, but I don't want to be behind or I will never finish it....it will become a UFO. So fingers crossed it all works out. I just keep thinking to myself, Sarah says her applique is organic.

[Barbara B.]

Did you see the Month 7 blog with a photo of where I placed the end of the long vine? The rest of the vine follows the line on the pattern.

[Kati]

I have the same question. Additionally I wish there was a measure from the tip of the star block edge to the tip of the vine (and not the leaf since we do not have this measure) I struggle with the alignment of the vine. Thank you.

[Pat D.]

I think I've read all the instructions and viewed the videos -
However I'm struggling with the placement of the long vines.

What would help me would be if I could strike a line on the patterns that I could line up with the seam that will join this unit to the existing center unit.

I understand that I need the center circle to be 1/2" to 3/4" from that imaginary line.
What I need is the other end - the low dip of the arc.

How far up from the sewing line is the low dip of the arc????
could you measure that for me???

Thanks, I appreciate all of your advice.

[Barbara B.]

No, I didn’t cut anything away behind the appliqué.
Your idea could work. Try one to see what you think before prepping all those rings.

[Elizabeth A.]

Another day….another question. I’m using Print and fuse for my appliqué. I cut out the medium circle from the large….. I’m thinking about appliquéing a ring then adding the petals to the background. I am worried that’s a lot of fabric with the circle … did you cut any away. You didn’t mention it. Just wondered what you might think. Have a good weekend!

[Barbara B.]

Barbara -- I need to review your prior blogs specifically month 2 BOM 2023 -- I can get to your blog, but then how do I navigate to prior months? Thanks for all your help.

Go to the Archives, on the right side, select each month, and you will see all the posts for that month. Each is listed as HOMEWARD BOUND—Month xxx

You can also search — the box is in the upper left, type in Homeward Bound and they should all come up too.

[Jennifer C.]

Barbara -- I need to review your prior blogs specifically month 2 BOM 2023 -- I can get to your blog, but then how do I navigate to prior months? Thanks for all your help.

[Barbara B.]

Those tiny petals are challenging. Yours look good and from 6 feet away, I bet they look perfect.

[Barbara B.]

I do use spray starch or sizing. Let it soak in, then press firmly with a dry iron. The stems stay folded, no problem. Fast and easy.

I use a light neutral in the bobbin, whitish or light gray, Quilters select 80 weight. Green in the top to match stems, QS 60 or 80 wt, depending on color needed. Simply test tension to be sure bobbin thread is not visible on top.

[lehab375]

Is anyone else struggling with the petals onto the medium size background fabric circle or is it just me? I did the first one & ended up losing the nice points of the petals and also ending up with a no longer circle. I am doing machine applique. The needle went off the edge, which is my best guess as to why I lost the points. I decided since I am doing the machine applique, I am going to sew the background fabric circle to the large blue circle first, then add the petals and center small circle. I wish that I could do hand applique but I discovered recently that the reason I have so much trouble is that I have what the orthopedic dr called end stage arthritis in several of my finger joints. He said there are bone spurs & even though I am still several years from being 70, my hands look more like they see in someone in their 90's. I guess I will be seeing a hand surgeon in a couple years to get replacement joints when I can't do much of anything anymore. I'm just happy I can still sew by machine. I am behind still from last month getting my stars done. I have the center finished with those first 4 stars and I got the 4 oddball corner stars done, but the rest of the stars are taking much longer than I thought they would. I haven't gotten enough done to add my 4 stars to the borders for this month which is why I started working on the center circle and the tabs.

I have loved looking at everyone else's progress.

Linda H.

[Jennifer C.]

I am joining the bom at month 7 -- the posts are very helpful as I'm finding I'm having the same questions/concerns and getting them answered as I read the posts. It also helps be anticipate what issues I made have as I progress through this very challenging border. I worked on Garden Party Down Under and made my stems with the karen k buckley stem maker -- I thought I'd try your method -- its much faster & does not require sewing but do you have a tip for keeping the stems closed? Also do you use starch or any kind of sizing? Also for machine embroidery do you have the same color thread in the bobbin? I'd like to use my TQS prewound bobbins on my machine but wonder what color bobbin thread to use.

[Lorna R.]

Thanks, Barbara. The close up photos really helped. L