May Block

[Denise L.]

Denise! Thanks for your idea - I was just about to print the pattern (at work too - I won't tell either!). Now I won't have to rack my brain so hard trying to figure out how to trace it!
Cathy
KY

Hey it only took me 4 months to figure it out!

denise

[Lynn K.]

I printed out one in January, but the printing ink was visible thru my star fabric which is pale yellow!

Has anyone else had this problem with printing?

Lynn

[Margo C.]

If you are using fusible web and need to reverse the pattern but have already printed out your pattern, just go over the lines with an ultra-fine Sharpie marker. The ink will show through on the back of the pattern and you can just trace it from that side onto the fusible web!

[Margo C.]

Hi everyone! I'm new here to the forum, but I have chatted with several of the ladies privately already. I am doing my blocks by machine but I haven't decided if I am going to do raw edge or turned edge. I might do a combo of each since I'm a rookie and some of the pieces are small and intimidate the heck out of me! Margo, you are a whiz at organizing us on the site, but I have a question for you regarding the people who are doing their blocks by machine. Is there any way we can have a separate place for MA's instead of scanning all the other messages? Sorry, I'm having a senior moment and I can't seem to find the right words to describe what I am thinking! That happens a lot it seems. Anyway, to me, I have tried to find info on the individuals who are doing MA and it ends up I spent lots of valuable time on the computer instead of in the sewing room. Thanks again to all for your helpful advice and what a great group of ladies to work with! The inspiration is wonderful, especially to someone like me flying by the seat of my pants! Woohoo!!!!! Janice

[Margo C.]

Hi Janice! Glad you're joining us! I'm doing machine applique as well -- freezer paper on the back, glue stick the edges, invisible thread machine stitch. I'd be happy to put up a photo "tutorial" like Margo does if anyone would be interested. Let me know and I could probably have something posted by the end of the weekend. So far I've only printed up the pattern!

[Damaris E.]

YES!! BRIDGET!! YYAAHHOO!! Details, details!! Thank YOU!!

[Damaris E.]

Bridget,
I would love for you to post the MA method. Now that scares me - hand stitch I love but I have a lot of hand stitching to do. I have a book by Karla Menaugh & Cheri Ralston "Quiltmaker's Guide to Fine Machine Applique". The girls that use this method say you cannot tell the difference between this an handstitch.
Do you use a the variable overlock stitch?

I noticed that Maggie took a class in Paducah on MA - would love to hear what type and how it went for her.

Thanks so much Bridget,
Bonny

[Damaris E.]

Do you use a the variable overlock stitch?

Yes. That's the one! I used to use the blindstitch, but I like the variable overlock much better -- there are fewer "between" stitches. I do have to mirror it on my machine though. I'll see what I can get done and I'll post it over the weekend.

[Denise L.]

Writing from work – shhhh. Computer still sick at home. More sewing time. J

Anyway, if you look at my sweet treats quilt in my profile all but one block was done by machine applique and let me tell you by the time I was done, I was an expert.

I used a buttonhole stitch or overcast and adjusted my stitch length and bite in proportion to the size of the piece I was sewing. Some of the writing I used a straight stitch. I always tested to make sure I had the right stitch length etc before I worked on the actual piece. Then made myself a cheat sheet on the pieces so I would know what the stitch looked like. Also, I did the donut method so that the center of the applique would not be stiff. I would cut out the middle section of the wonder/under and only fuse the edges on the wrong side. That way I would cut away the background once stitched in place being careful not to cut the underside of something I shouldn’t (ya I did it 2x on the April block) but managed to fix it.

Basically, fuse, start stitching. It’s your option to use matching thread to hide any mistakes or a thread that is high contrast to make it sing!


Having said that, this BOM is fused and hand stitched so I can do it at work during lunch hour.

Good Luck.

denise

[Denise L.]

Bridget, that would be great of you! I traced my master pattern on fp, but I also tried it for the first time on transparencies. Boy, is that the way to go!!!! Front AND back on one piece-wow! Can you tell it doesn't take much to entertain me? Really though, that's quite a break through for me with applique and the dreaded reverse image-lol! Now all I have to do is the work- I look forward to hearing from all of ya'll. I am also gonna work on getting pictures up on the site- Janice

[Annette R.]

Would love it, Bridget. Sure don't know how you get everything in and done. You must be one of those superwomen that the rest of loved to hate, but sure am glad you are here and ding blast you are too nice to hate, LOL

Ann

[Lynn K.]

Well I am also a newbie on MA - this quilt is my first project after doing almost all handwork, pieicing AND quilting.

I'm doing the Sharon Schamber method which uses her (or Ricky's) foundation paper which dissolves when you get it wet so it isn't stiff anymore. I use the paper under the fabric on wrong side, then use an Elmer's glue stick to turn the edges. Then glue to the background and applicque with a buttonhole stitch as narrow and close as I like the looks of. I don't think I would go as far as saying it is as invisible as HA but maybe I'm just too fussy! But, on the green leaves that I thought were too pale, I jazzed them up with darker thread in a creative stitch on the edges.

She always says you have to HEAT SET the Elmer's glue before you applique.

[Lynn K.]

Bridget,
Do you have a Bernina? That is what I have and I have heard this IMA method works beautifully. If I don't get this going I am not getting full use of my machine or so I feel. I still love hand stitched applique as it is relaxing but there are projects I have that the machine method would be great. I think I have the "wanta get it finished" thing nagging at me.

Appreciate your taking the time to give us the instructions.

Thanks bunches,
Bonny

[Lynn K.]

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement everyone! I'm about half way there!

Bridget,
Do you have a Bernina?

Yes. I have the 440. It really does work well on this technique.

[Lynn K.]

The class I took in Paducah was basically a rehash of Sharon Schambler's technique. Trace the pattern onto dissolvable stabilizer, use a washable glue stick to turn the edges under, then stitch down. Either use a matching thread (Superior's Bottom Line is great for this) or a monofilament. You can do a blanket stitch or other decorative stitch, even the blind hem stitch reversed, or a small zigzag. In class I used a small sample of Ricky Tims' dissolvable stabilizer (which may not be available at present as they were having some problems with the product as it came from the factory) and I really loved it. For this project, I used paper Solvay, which I would not recommend. Much too flimsy.

Any hoo, my May block is done and posted on my profile. I ended up raw edge appliquing those circles. I left my vase very plain, as I thought the fabric was too pretty cover up.

Maggie