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2019 BOM Block of the Month and Some Stitching Tips

We’re at the halfway point with the release of this block! Here is block 6 in my 2019 BOM series:

This is one of my favorites because I love summer! This is a celebration of the summer sun and the flowers it brings. Get the pattern instructions here: 2019 BOM Block 6.

If you are new to the BOM this year, you can still get in on the fun! Go to the Block of the Month page here on my website to see the first five blocks and links to the instructions for each.

Now, for some wool applique tips and hacks.

  • I like to reinforce my wool applique pieces for stitching. I do this by tracing my templates onto Heat n’ Bond light fusible web, taking care to reverse templates that are not symmetrical. I cut these out and fuse the pieces to the designated wool. I feel like the fusible web gives the wool pieces more stability for stitching.
  • My next tip is on the threads used for stitching. It all depends on whether you want your stitches to show for a “folk art” look or whether you want them to blend in. Sometimes I will use a contrasting thread so the stitches show like here:

You can use a thread like the one above, light brown, or you could go even darker if you like.

On other projects I have used thread colors that match as closely as possible to the color of the wool piece I am stitching like below:

Notice how here the stitches do not show as much, they blend in more. My favorite threads to use are Valdani perle cotton:

I use size 8 perle cotton. Some people prefer a thicker strand which would be size 5. If you prefer a thinner strand, you can use size 12. You can also use embroidery floss. If you do use that,  2 to 3 strands are best for the the right thickness.

I also use the perle cotton for embellishments like you see here:

I used the thread to embroider pins and needles in the pincushion, some thread on the spool and the lines on the tape measure.

  • Final tip: I keep a bottle of Roxanne’s Glue close by to tack down pieces that I have fused earlier that may lift up a bit while stitching.

This happens during stitching sometimes because of all the handling of the project. I also use this glue to secure thin applique pieces like stems and the basket handle above. I do not use fusible for these thin pieces. It’s easier to shape stems and things like the handle by just using glue. You need the wool more pliable for these to make the curves and bends you want.

Hope you are making great progress on this block of the month for 2019! Share some of your wool applique tips with me in the comments below.

Happy Stitching!
Deanne

2019 BOM Block 4!

Hi! I hope you are enjoying the block of the month so far. This next installment is the bottom of the wall hanging and contains one of my favorite sentiments: “home sweet home”.

I chose a brilliant red wool for the lettering because I want it to stand out in the finished piece. Feel free to use your favorite colors for the lettering and the flowers. Here is the link to the pattern: 2019 BOM Block 4

There will be a limited amount of kits available for this block. Those kits will only contain the wool needed to make the block, you will provide your own backing fabric. I am on the road so the kits will be made available later this week in my shop and I will announce it via e-mail.

So now’s the time to sign up for my newsletter alerts! (see sidebar for signup). Some kits for blocks 2 and 3 are still available while supplies last. When I get some more wool in, the previous months may become available again. Keep watch for my e-mails!

Happy Stitching!
Deanne

My Favorite Applique Tools & Tips

If you follow me regularly, you know I love to add applique to my quilts. Either needle-turn hand applique or wool applique. I love what it adds to my traditional designs! I thought I’d share some of my favorite tools I use for applique and some tips for today’s blog installment.

Needle-turn Hand Applique:

First up is the Sewline Fabric Pencil.

I use this pencil to trace around templates for needle-turn hand applique with fabric. It’s a mechanical pencil, except the “lead” is chalk. It comes in white, pink, yellow and green so the lines will show on any color fabric. I mainly use white on darker fabrics and green on lighter fabrics. It’s erasable and the lines are very fine so the shape you trace from the template is true to size.

Next, To anchor the applique shapes to the background, I use one of my favorite things to ever come into the quilting world…. Roxanne’s Glue Baste-it!

For years before this glue was available, I would always stick myself with the pins used to hold my applique shapes in place. Not anymore! All that’s needed are small dots of glue to hold the piece in place. And it’s water soluble!

Next up is the needle. I like to use John James Golden Glide applique needles in size 9. You can experiment and choose the size that fits you.

This needle glides nicely through fabric, including batiks! Make sure to change your needle after completing a project. Needles bend and get dull after a lot of use.

On to the thread. I like to use 50 wt silk-finish 100% cotton threads by Mettler.

These threads come in a great variety of colors. I like to match the color of thread to the color of the applique piece I am stitching. If you don’t want to buy a lot of different color threads, you can use an array of neutrals from light tan to dark brown or black. Use the shade that blends the best with the applique color.

Wool Applique:

First up is my favorite fusible web: Heat n’ Bond Lite.

I trace my shapes onto the paper side of the fusible and then fuse it to the wool I’ve chosen for each shape. Then I follow the manufacturer’s instructions to fuse the shapes to the background of the project. I will keep my bottle of Roxanne’s glue handy while I’m stitching in case an applique piece lifts off the background a bit.

Next up are the threads I use for the stitching. I like Valdani Perle Cotton size 8.

You can use colors that match your wool applique shapes so it blends in, or you can use a neutral thread for the whole project. If you are new to wool applique, I have two stitching tutorials here and here.

My favorite needles are John James Chenille needles size 22 or 24.

I use chenille needles because the eye is wider to easily thread the perle cotton. Size 24 needles are a little shorter than the size 22, so you can choose the needle that works best for you.

Things I use for Both Types of Applique:

I have a little trick I use to prevent my background from fraying while I stitch… I treat the edges of my project with Fray Check!

Since you will handle the project you are working on quite a bit while stitching, doing this will keep it from fraying which causes you to lose fabric from the seam allowance.

Finally, a very important tool…. a good light, preferably with a magnifier! Here’s my light:

So there you go…. some of my favorite stitching tools with a few tips thrown in.

Happy Stitching!
Deanne

2019 BOM Block 2!

Have you finished block 1 of the 2019 BOM? Yes, you say? Well, here is block 2 for you to work on this weekend!

For a link to the pattern, go to my Block of the Month page. And when you have finished downloading the pattern (or patterns if you have not started the 2019 project yet) you can refresh your wool applique skills with my Wool Applique Tips and Techniques blog post and also my stitching tutorials on YouTube: Stitching Points and Interior Angles and Wool Applique Stitching.

Happy Stitching!
Deanne

Wool Applique Stitching Tutorial

As promised in my blog post from Monday, here is the stitching tutorial for wool applique. This is how I teach the blanket stitch and the whip stitch, two of the stitched I use the most when working on a wool project.

Tools for stitching!

Wool Applique Stitching

Enjoy the video and start stitching!
Deanne

Wool Applique Tips and Techniques

If you missed my announcement on January 15th, I released the first block in my 2019 BOM wool applique project!

For more information on this block and the free pattern, go to my Block of the Month page.

So, if you want to join in on the fun, but do not know anything about wool applique, I’m going to give you some tips and techniques here.

First of all, my wool applique projects are stitched on 100% cotton backgrounds. Sometimes they are pieced backgrounds like the block above or sometimes just a plain background will do. In my BOM project patterns, if there is a pieced background needed, the instructions are included in the pattern.

Step 1: Once I have my background block, I like to reinforce the edges with Fray Check to keep the block from fraying from all the handling while stitching.

Step 2: Templates. In my patterns, the templates are included. I like to reinforce them by gluing the page with the templates onto a piece of cardstock or thin cardboard. Then I cut out each template. Reinforcing them allows you to re-use the over several times. It also keeps your shapes from distorting as you trace around them.

Once you have your templates ready, it’s time to trace them onto fusible web. I use Heat’n Bond Featherlite, but you can use your preferred brand. Check with your local quilt shop on what they like to use. Using a pencil, trace the shapes needed onto the paper side of the fusible web.

Leave enough space between your tracings for cutting out the shapes. You’ll want to cut out the shapes outside the lines. My templates are ready to trace but all patterns may not be the same. If there is a motif that needs to face a particular way, you will have to trace the template reversed. For example, if you have a jug with a handle that faces to the right on the project, you need to trace the template for the jug with the handle facing to the left.

Step 3: Time to fuse the fusible web shape to the chosen wool. Since wool is expensive, you need to position your pieces on the wool to close together as shown, leaving room to cut out the pieces. Make sure to place the fusible shape with the paper side up. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the type of fusible you purchased for iron temperature, etc.

Now when you cut out the units, the top part of the wool can be saved for a future project.

Believe me… I keep all my scraps! You never know when you’ll need them.

Step 4: Now it’s time to fuse the wool shape to the background. Peel the paper backing off the shape and there will be a shiny surface left on the wool piece. Place the shiny side down on the background fabric.

I like to use a white towel dampened with water to cover the wool motif, then I press to fuse the piece to the background. The steam from the damp towel helps to fuse the wool to the background. Also, the towel protects the wool pieces from the iron.

Now you’re ready to stitch!

Come back later this week for a stitching mini tutorial. It will be a short video demonstrating how to do the blanket stitch which is the most common stitch used.

Until then, enjoy getting ready for the stitching!

Happy Quilting & Stitching!
Deanne

New Year… New BOM!

Happy 2019! I hope your holiday season was a good one and that you are ready for some fun stitching in 2019. But before we get to the starting instructions for the 2019 BOM, I want to remind you that when I post the first block for 2019, the free 2018 block patterns will no longer be available. You will have until January 14th to download those for free.

I also posted a few new quilting tutorials the last 2 weeks. I want to share them here in case you did not see them on Instagram or Facebook.

First up is my tips on matching points when stitching two units or blocks together. Often it’s necessary for the design of the quilt pattern to have your points matched. This short video shows you how I do it:

Next up is my tutorial on squaring up fabric to prepare it for rotary cutting strips. Strips, especially if they are width of fabric, need to be cut straight so they do not cause problems for you while piecing. If fabric is not squared up correctly, your strips my curve or bend. Here’s my short video for this:

2019 BOM
It’s time to start the 2019 BOM! You will find here, the starting instructions for the project. These will detail how much fabric you need and any block construction that needs to be completed before the first BOM block is released on January 15th. First, here is a look at all the blocks that we will be making during the year:

I chose a black background this time to make the colorful wool applique “pop”! If you look closely, you will see that the smaller blocks have a subtle pieced background design by using 2 different black prints. Those piecing instructions will be in the starting instructions found here:

2019 BOM Starter Instructions
So click on the link above to get started! Once you have gathered your supplies and prepared the blocks, come back for block number on on January 15th!

Happy Quilting and Stitching!
Deanne

2018 BOM – Time to Finish!

Today is the day that you receive the final instructions for my 2018 BOM. Block 12 is not necessarily a block, but is the wool applique border added to block 7. Here it is:

Once you complete this border, then you can put the entire 2018 BOM wall hanging together! Here’s is what it looks like:

For the instructions for the block border and for the wall hanging layout, go to my Block of the Month page.

I hope you enjoyed this journey with me. Make sure you collect all the block patterns if you need to catch up. Once I start posting information on the 2019 BOM, the 2018 BOM blocks will no longer be available for free. The patterns will be for sale as a .pdf download at the end of January in my Craftsy Store. I will keep you updated for when that happens.

So, for now, get your instructions and enjoy finishing up this year’s BOM! See you in 2019.

Happy Stitching!
Deanne

Fun with Stitches on Your Wool Applique!

I was teaching a wool applique class on Saturday and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how each student interpreted my project. From using a different background fabric to adding a bird to a flower pot, it was fun! I also showed students different stitches they could use to secure the appliques motifs. I instantly thought …. blog post! I wanted to share some of the fun stitches that can be done in addition to the usual blanket and whip stitches.

First, lets review the stitches that are normally used in wool applique. I like to use a whip stitch to secure thin stems. Here’s a whip stitched stem:

This is a diagram of the whip stitch I drew for my patterns:

The other stitch typically used is the blanket stitch. Here’s my diagram of that stitch and how it looks done:

Those are great stitches! But, now for some fun!

Here are a few fun options for stitching on stems.

This one is a criss-cross pattern:

Here’s a beautiful version of this with the criss-cross stitching in a bold, dark thread:

This next stitch is just a running stitch up the middle of the stem.

Circles on wool applique are usually stitched using the blanket stitch, but there are a few other ways to secure these. You can do a French knot in the middle of the circle with lines stitched in a way that creates a radiating pattern out from the center:

or, just do several French knots to secure them!

You can also embellish things like leaves with veins while using that to secure the leaf to the project:

Finally, here’s a fun way to stitch down a small square that is the top of a Christmas ornament:

So I hope this display of stitches inspired you for your next wool applique project. Have fun and experiment with new ways to stitch pieces on to background. If it doesn’t look good to you, it can always be changed. All it costs is a little time.

Happy Quilting and Stitching!
Deanne