July Block

[Steven S.]

Steven, welcome to the BOM squad! You have some great looking quilts on your profile!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois, looks like a beautiful day coming, and I'm stuck working a 12 hour shift!

[Steven S.]

Maggie:
Thanks for the welcome....I'm just figuring out how this forum works! I've been quilting for about two years, and have really fallen in love with it. I started the BOM more as a skill builder than anything else, but have found that I really like applique. I live an hour north of NYC so I'm able to work on my applique on my commute. It really makes the time fly. I don't envy your 12 HOUR shift......hope you have/had a good day!
Steven

[Steven S.]

And Maggie: Your quilts look amazing too, and HOW can you already be done with AUGUST block? What technique are you using??? Very impressive, especially with a 12 hour shift.

[Linda N.]

As you might recall, I was away all of July and couldn't work on the block. Last night I got the pieces all ironed down and I'm ready to start the satin stitching. Cutting out all those pieces was quite tedious and aggravated the tendonitis that was healing so well. No matter how much work or discomfort, I'm enjoying this project.

[Damaris E.]

Steven!! Your BOM's are UNBELIEVABLE!!

[Damaris E.]

Steven, You didn't have your BOMs posted this morning when I checked the forum! WOW! :shock: I love April's basket!!!

One thing, you need to go back and change your captions for your personal photos. You have to change them after you upload the new pictures!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois.......wishing I were not at work!

[Linda N.]

Steven, you're doing a great job on your needleturning on your blocks. I like the background. I'm amazed that you've been able to catch up so quickly with all the handwork.

[Lynn K.]

Welcome Stephen! You've done a great job. Hasn't this been a great learning experience? Even tho I'm learning MACHINE applique - and boy! have I learned alot.

Do you commute on a train that you are able to sew during that time?

I too work 12 hour shifts - in fact Maggie and I both work in Convenience Care clinics, - I think I remember that. Some days are slow and I get to play on TQS website. (Shhhh)

[Lynn K.]

Lynn, you spilled my secret! Fortunately, we are not too terrifically busy at the location am at today. Although those sports physicals are getting to me!

[Lynn K.]

Steven ...Welcome to TQS. You really did a great job on your blocks. Love you color combinations. You will really enjoy the group on the forum they are all great people.

[Patti P.]

Steven, your quilting is pretty good for only bein a quilter for 2 years. Welco me to the BOM and you're much farther than I am on getting them done. ops:

[Steven S.]

Thanks for the very nice welcome everyone! Everyone's work is so impressive. Thanks Maggie, I will change my captions, oops forgot about that. Yes I do sew on the train, it really makes the time fly......
I've been using freezer paper for my BOM's I've not yet mastered needle-turn. I've heard needle turn is the 'preferred' method, can anyone weigh in on that? I took a class at the website Quilt University, which was informative and helpful for needleturn, but I'm still hoping to go to a 'live' class at my local quiltshop.....
Anyway thanks for the nice welcome ladies!

[Lynn K.]

You said you used freezer paper. I think there are several different methods for using it. On the right side to draw around, then remove and do needle turn. Or inside, on the wrong side, when you are finger-folding it under around the freezer paper. Some people then cut the back of their background and pull out the freezer paper while others just pull it out before closing around the last side of the piece. But I consider all of those needle turn...........what exactly does needle turn mean to you, Stephen. Maybe we need a semantics discussion first, here!

[Patti P.]

Steven I want to learn the machine applique because I think it looks sharper and you can interpret a more complicated picture. I've been using many different techniques for my needle turn. On most of them I have sewn a lightweight interfacing and cut a little hole in the center back of the interfacing to turn the applique piece right side out and pressed flat. On the very long branches that have leaves attached that aren't separate, this is too hard. So I'm just now starting March's block and am going to use Margo's and Bridget's methods.

[Steven S.]

Lynn: I didn't realize they are all needle turn....I use the freezer paper on the BACK and then fold it over, then slice the background and take paper out. It's alot of prep, but it makes for really nice edges.....I'm hoping to get my tradittional needle turn to a level that makes nice edges.....because I know there's less prep time......anyway, for now that's my method.