Oh.. Lollipop!

The third and final FREE project for 2014 in this PIECED-STRING SERIES, is available now at my website. I am providing a few more details here; to add to the pattern instructions. You can also check out the other two projects previously posted, if desired.

"Sometimes life just needs candy!"

Sew up these delightful lollipops to sweeten the day... Or if you wish, they are easily adapted to become a bouquet of flowers.

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As you can see from the photo, the complete quilt top is make from 1-1/4" wide strings. The lollipops are made using blues and purples. The candy jar uses whites; the background uses two alternating browns; and the border uses the same colors as the candy.

So have fun with this one; and select your favorite colors to stitch up this cute mini quilt!!


FABRIC REQUIREMENTS:
  Front : 11 fabric strips (1-1/4” wide x 9-1/2” long)
  Border: 4 strips (1-1/4” wide x length of side)
  Backing: 11” x 11” piece
  Binding: approx. 58" long x 2-1/4" wide

Applique Design – (made with pieced fabric)
  Lollipop: 3 strings x 2-1/2” wide (each)
  Candy Jar: 6 strings x 4” wide
  Candy sticks: 1 string x 4” long

OTHER SUPPLIES:
  Fusible web – 7” x 8” piece
  Batting – 11” x 11” piece
  Sewing thread – colors of your choice

PIECED FABRIC STRIPS FOR APPLIQUES

SOME TIPS WHEN MAKING THIS QUILT

APPLIQUE PROCESS

1.
Sometimes when adding applique to a single layer of fabric, it can distort the shape. One way to prevent this is to add another layer of material behind it when stitching on the appliques. However, to avoid adding more bulk, why not use the batting layer to give this support. On a small project, this works well.

To keep both pieces in place, add some stitching that will secure both pieces and also give some added dimension behind the applique design. In this mini quilt, all I added was a diagonal line from corner to corner, creating an X. Certainly, more can be added, if desired.

2.
When adding multiple pieces; it is sometimes very time consuming to stitch around all those edges, especially if you wish to match the thread to the fabrics used. So one way to make the process easier is to add only certain pieces; stitch around them; and then continue adding more appliques.

So for this design......
A. Lay out your appliques on the background piece to figure out placement of all the parts; then remove those not needed; fuse on the lower portion of the candy sticks to hold them in place.
B. Then fold back sticks so they are out of the way of the stitching. This provides easy access to the top of the white piece which will get stitched first.
C. Once done, unfold the sticks and fuse in place to continue. Stitch.
D.* At this point, either add the border and finish with the candy and candy jar. Or add all the remaining appliques first; and finish with the border.
E. Photo shows finished mini quilt. An outline stitch was added around the applique design.

A.)  POSITION PIECES ON BLOCK

B.)  STITCH ON JAR PIECE (white thread)

C.)  STITCH ON CANDY STICKS (green thread)

*D.)  ADD BORDER TO QUILT BLOCK

E.) FINISHED MINI QUILT

Originally, I was going to make these into flowers. In quilting, you make the final choices in fabric selection and any adaptations to the design. So....you can decide!

Have a cheery day!

How-to Make Your Own 'Pieced Fabric'

Need a fabric that is unique,

to add extra dimension, 

or for when you just cannot find that perfect shade?

Why not make your own fabric pieces? It's easy and fun!!

Cut them into:
(1) squares to use as blocks; (2) into the shapes needed for applique designs; or (3) use them in the borders of your quilts, for added interest.

PIECED FABRIC SECTIONS

STANDARD GUIDELINES
In string quilts...
the narrow strips are generally sewn onto a lighter weight fabric or interfacing. The block is then trimmed to fit size requirements. This is also especially helpful when working with strips placed in a diagonal direction or pieces that are cut on the bias, keeping pieces from being stretched out of shape.

TRIMMED BLOCK (9" X 9")

However, if you are working with strips that are not placed diagonally, or the backing size is not an issue; you can skip the extra fabric layer. 

CONTINUE JOINING SECTIONS
FOR LONGER PIECES

You may just wish to sew strips together and store them for later projects. (Care should always be taken in every project, when pressing seams.)

THE HOW-TO METHOD for APPLIQUE

Scrappy designs come out beautiful no matter how the colors are put together. So have fun making some colorful appliques for your next project.

METHOD:

1. Start by selecting a particular color family or group of colors. 
2. Because each strip is cut from scrap fabrics, arrange the strips into stacks with similar lengths. (This makes the sewing process more efficient.) 
3. Lay out the strips next to your machine, whether in a particular order or at random, that you wish sew together. (This may be the whole stack and save some for later use, or a chosen few to match the size required for an applique project.)

STEPS:

1. Begin with two strips... with right sides facing each other, sew them together using a quarter-inch seam allowance. (You may use either a regular or scant quarter inch for applique templates.) 
2. Then lightly finger press the seams open. These seams will later be pressed flat with an iron. However, as you sew, you do not need to press each one, as you  assemble them. Work with the selected fabrics until all have been joined together. 
3. Carefully press all the seams open; and tidy up the seam allowances from dangling threads.
4. Now your piece is ready for the correct placement of the appliques. 

WAYS TO JOIN COLORS:

• Alternating two colors in the same color family.
• Selecting a set number of fabrics and repeating the pattern.
• Selecting a color family and using a variety of different fabrics.
• Using colors at random, making the section with a range of colors.

My Recommendations:

                                                                                                                                            

ADDING APPLIQUE

(1.)  
For pieced-fabric appliques: seams should always be pressed open.

This allows the fusible web to hold down all the seams neatly; and enables the backing paper to lift more easily when ready to separate from the fusible fabric.

RELEASING PAPER

(2.)
To release the paper from the back, I use the tip of the seam ripper to release an edge, (before cutting out the applique) as once it is fused to the fabric, it is really difficult to remove easily. Make a pencil mark at this location so it is easier to find the loosened edge.

(I do this when using Pellon 805 Wonder-Under transfer web.)



(3.)

Stitch lengths to use while you work on your project.

  <> Stitching seams:  I now use a (1.5) stitch length.

  <> Quilting the quilt layers:  A (2.5 or 3.0) stitch length works well for stitch-in-the ditch, outlining appliques, etc.

  <> Feel free to use free-motion quilting to quilt your project. (I still need to try this; however, it looks like that may still be in my bucket list in 2015.)

<.> <.> <.> <.> <.> <.> <.> <.> 

Butterfly Applique Picture Tutorial

(A.)  Sew five strips together to form the pieced-fabric section needed for this butterfly. (Hopefully you can see the fabrics in this photo, as black is difficult to photograph.)

(A.)  BLACKS SEWN TOGETHER

(B.)  The butterfly has been cut out of the pieced-fabric section, seams pressed open, fusible web applied, and paper released. (It is now ready to place on the quilt block.)

(B.)  WRONG SIDE OF APPLIQUE

(C.)  In this finished project, the appliques have been fused, stitched on with an applique stitch, and an outline stitch added around each applique; to join the three layers of the quilt.

RIGHT SIDE OF BUTTERFLY

If you wish to make this free mini quilt, you can check out the tutorial and download the free PDF pattern at the website. 


Enjoy a new experience down this creative path....