There are two new Stonefields blocks on my design wall, and one of them even looks like it's supposed to! Behold, Blocks 16 & 17, "Square Peg In a Round Hole," one of which has the square peg on point the way it belongs, and the other of which does not:
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| 17 Stonefields Blocks + 21 Hexie Rosettes for Border |
Aaaargh!!! I only accept partial responsibility for this error. The appliqué patterns for the Stonefields quilt are printed RIDICULOUSLY faintly, nearly impossible to see through the background fabric with even the brightest LED light box. I did not realize that my background fabric was oriented incorrectly until after I'd glue basted the delicate purple square with the circle cutout onto my block, and I used a bit more glue than normal because of how skinny those bits are on the side. I wanted to secure that shape to my background fabric while it was flat on my work surface to preclude any stretching or distortion that might occur. In hindsight, I would have been better off skipping the darned light box altogether and just positioning the shapes on this blocks using the horizontal, vertical and diagonal fold lines. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I noticed the mistake as soon as I finished glue basting the purple block and heat setting the glue with the iron.
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| Edges Turned Smoothly, Glue Basted to the Background, Not Yet Stitched |
I considered peeling the shapes off to reposition them correctly before stitching, but when I tried to lift one purple corner I realized how securely it was glued down and didn't want to risk damaging the applique. The prep work on these blocks took a LONG time and I didn't want to have any unnecessary do-overs!
I decided to try a new product and method with these blocks, Floriani Stitch N Wash leave-in machine embroidery stabilizer as recommended by Esther Aliu. A kind quilting blogger named Dianne was sweet enough to mail me a few pieces of this product years ago and I rediscovered it in an envelope when unpacking from our recent move.
I used one of my AccuQuilt dies to cut perfect squares out of my Stitch N Wash stabilizer, then traced around a correctly sized circle template (one of my long arm quilting "rulers") positioned over a lightbox to mark the cutaway circle in the center. I cut out the circle slowly and carefully with my Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Circles, then clipped the seam allowance with a small embroidery scissors.
The method is similar to the reverse appliqué I did using freezer paper and starch preparation in this post, except that I used Sewline glue stick (still not a fan) instead of liquid starch and an iron to turn the edges over the Floriani templates, and I left the stabilizer in place during stitching. The reddish floral and the purple chambray were both very lightweight, flimsy fabrics and I felt the slight bulk of the stabilizer would help ensure dimension to the finished applique.
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| Seam Allowance Clipped and Turned with Sewline Glue Pen |
I turned and glued the circle seam allowance first, then the straight outer edges of the square.
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| Glueing Outer Seam Allowances |
I still dislike the Sewline Glue Pen because it comes off too thick and almost stringy. I even tried opening a new pen to see if the last one was a dud, and I like my other glue stick better. Alas, I had packed up my other glue stick with my hexie EPP supplies and didn't have it nearby, so I used what was at hand.
I decided to stitch these two blocks by machine using my magical, identical-to-my-personal-hand-stitching machine appliqué stitch that I customized and saved to my Bernina B990 sewing machine. The primary reason for machine stitching was that the block would remain completely flat under the machine rather than getting scrunched and manipulated during hand stitching -- I really wanted to keep my square and circle cutout as geometrically precise as possible with no chance of anything shifting during stitching.
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| Sewing Machine Sorcery: Identical to My Hand Stitching Without Microscope |
What did I think of the Floriani Stitch N Wash? Interesting product that I would definitely use again, especially with a less annoying glue stick. I do think that the double layer of freezer paper method may have given me a stiffer edge to smooth the fabric over. The Stitch N Wash stabilizer is softer and I had to be more careful not to curl the edge and overturn my fabric allowance, if that makes sense. This product would also help in situations where a lighter fabric is appliquéd to a darker one, to reduce or eliminate the shadowing of the darker fabric through the lighter patch.
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| Correctly Oriented "Square Peg In a Round Hole" After Stitching |
I am very pleased with how that block turned out. Notice how the background print flows continuously beneath the appliqué? I could have simplified the block by appliquéing a background print circle on top of an appliqué solid square, but that would be less challenging and therefore less fun (for me, anyway). I also like how the reverse appliquéd circle cutout recedes and the two square elements come forward dimensionally.
And now for the Problem Child:
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| Oopsie Block After Stitching |
I love the fabrics I picked for both blocks. Keeping in mind that all of my applique backgrounds are oversized and will be trimmed down before the blocks are set, I'm thinking this "oopsie" might be just fine in the quilt the way it is. After all, this is a sampler quilt and while some blocks are repeated, others are not. I can always remake this one later if I change my mind, or replace it with one of the alternate blocks included in the pattern.
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| One of These Blocks Is Not Like the Other |
It felt good to fire up my sewing machine today, by the way! I don't think I've turned it on since we moved into the new house; I've just been hand sewing, long arm quilting, and slogging through the drudgery of unpacking and organizing everything. I am now officially finished with all of that, by the way. I have a little bookcase coming from Staples for my sewing and quilting books that should be here in a few days. March is looking very productive so far!
Linking up today's post with some of my favorite Linky parties:
MONDAY
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Musings at Songbird Designs
TUESDAY
To-Do Tuesday at Quilt Schmilt
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
THURSDAY
Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
FRIDAY
Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
Off the Wall Friday at Nina Marie Sayre
Beauty Pageant at From Bolt to Beauty
TGIFF Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday, rotates, schedule found here: TGIF Friday
SUNDAY
Frédérique at Quilting Patchwork Appliqué
Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts
Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework
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