MY FLOWER GARDEN—Ask Questions Here

[Barbara B.]

Use this Topic for questions about Dee’s latest class.

[Laurie R.]

Alex showed the batik fabric squares on you tube two days ago. Any chance of finding out the manufacturer/names of the fabric? They were beautiful and I'd like to find them (outside of the kit).

[Georgia B.]

This is a test post by the admins.

[Georgia B.]

This is a test comment by the admins.

[Jean N.]

I wondering with all these reds should I prewash them? How should I treat them so they do not bleed later on when I wash the quilt? Thanks for your assistance.

[Peggy P.]

I washed my reds with synthrapol & they didn't bleed at all - also used color catchers that came out white. Some of the fabrics did ravel a lot though. I'm debating as to whether to wash the rest of them . . .

[Dee C.]

It is a good idea to wash the fabric before we start. The red doesn't bleed a lot but it does bleed. Use synthrapol while washing to keep the bleeding from happening. A couple of the darker batiks also bleed so be sure to wash everything first.

[Deborah Switzer.]

I am a Star Member. I have already purchased and received the 'My Flower Garden' kit. Now where do I go to print out the free PDF pattern? TY & God bless all.

[Dee C.]

It should have been in an email sent to you. I will find out for sure and let you know

[Dee C.]

Look for the pattern download link in the receipt you got when you ordered the kit. If you can't find it there let us know and we will send you a copy.

[Suzanne G.]

What method do you use with a front loading machine and synthrupol? Can you just do small batches in a sink? Dee what method of pressing do you use?

[Dee C.]

I usually do small batches in the sink but I would put the synthrupol in the liquid soap container of your machine.

[Brenda R.]

I washed the red fabrics used color catchers. the catchers were still pink after the second wash, do I keep washing as long as they turn red/pink?

[MissingOxygen]

I have the same problem and question.

[Helen W.]

What method do you use with a front loading machine and synthrupol? Can you just do small batches in a sink? Dee what method of pressing do you use?

Suzanne, I have read that sunthrapol does not work well with front loading machine due to the lack of water it soaks in. I have a laundry sink beside my front loader and I soak it in sunthapol and very hot water for 20 minutes. When I do a bunch of batik colors
for a project I often use 2 gallon zip lock bags. Put the fabric in add hot water and sunthapol zip it closed and do about 5 different colors in different bags, just laid in the laundry sink. I save the bags when I am done to use again with fabric. I rinse in the sink with cool water and put in the front loader to spin with a color catcher in case there is any color left in them that is brought out in the spinning. This has worked well for me. HelenW

[Suzanne G.]

Thank you Helen. What ratio do you use for the 2 gal bags?

[Dee C.]

On today's show (6-26) I failed to mention that I would be sharing placement of appliqué next week. Each time I work on appliqué I will share different tips and techniques and how I use them.

[Kathryn B.]

Thank you Dee. I had just logged on to see if anyone else was having difficulties with this. I am using needleturn and since the pieces include the seam allowance the placement of each piece is giving me fits. It would have been nice if the pattern included a full size diagram of each of the applique sections.

[Helen W.]

Thank you Helen. What ratio do you use for the 2 gal bags?

Suzanne G, Just saw your comment this morning. Sorry it took so long for me to respond. I just put a tablespoon in each bag.
That was just from trial and error and it seems to work. HelenW

[Suzanne G.]

Just curious is anyone else noticed the 2 different sizes for the red backgrounds. It general info shows to cut all at 10 1/2 while in the section it shows some cut 20 1/2

[Helen W.]

Looks like it would just be a few less seams to sew. HelenW

[Peggy P.]

It does seem the cutting instructions for the background are different that what appears in Section 1, as there is no 20.5 x 40.5 strip to cut. You would just have to sew 2 10.5 x 40.5 strips together. Looks like there's plenty of fabric no matter how you do it.

[Dee C.]

You are correct. You can do it either way. I am choosing to cut the pieces as individual for less seams and speed.

[Susanne M.]

The sunflowers are kicking my backside! I came up with a couple work arounds. For the small flowers, I arranged the petals then used tiny spots of glue to secure them to the center. I hand appliqued the whole flower, starting with the petals then around the center. (left side of the pic)

For the large flower, I put all 10 petals on one long thread, then gathered each petal separately. I spaced them out and arranged them in a circle so the gathering would show behind the center. I’ll use tiny glue spots to hold the petals on the background to appliqué them before adding the center. If you zoom the petals, you can see the yellow threads. The dark fabric was for contrast, my background is light.

[Dee C.]

I very much like the way you solved your petal issue. I learned something from your struggle, so thank you for that.

[Jo Anne]

The pattern I have for my flower garden quilt was downloaded from the site when I purchased the quilt kit. After today’s video with Dee, on August 21, I searched through my printed pages to find the blocks 12 and 13. The block patterns I have for these 2 blocks are different from the ones Dee talked about using today. She showed a picture of the blocks but where is the actual pattern page for these two blocks? Also, I have 2 different whole quilt pictures of this quilt and one of them shows the picture of the blocks Dee said to use, but there is no pattern page for those blocks. Help!

[Landa R.]

After looking at the front page and instructions, I am confused too. I am finishing up another quilt and am behind on this one. Can we please have the WRITTEN instructions for the block we should be making. It looks like what is provided for block 12 is used as block 13. HELP!!

[Susanne M.]

For Section 4, my vase and stems were too small as printed from the downloaded pattern. I reprinted that page at 125% and cut the stems a bit longer just to be safe. The leaves and flowers seem OK. Is it me or ???

[Peggy P.]

I thought the stems looked too short so I cut mine a little longer - it worked out ok, but I didn't have enough room to put all the leaves on. I only used 2 on the long stem.