I pray you're able to share this day with family and friends. It's a day I treasure in my heart. While growing up, the holiday was a bit of a lottery in our house. Who would be selected as the church where Daddy would sing on Easter Sunday? Thankfully most often it was our own church and the organist would accompany him during his solo instead of me at the piano. Ten Thousand Angels was his signature song at Easter. It's a beautiful hymn with a powerful message.
Enjoy this special day and when you're ready to get back to stitching, put needle and thread to this adorable little Easter bunny all decked out in her Easter bonnet. She's another cutie from the Embroider Me™ series.
If you've been following the Just Takes 2 quilt from the beginning of the year and have made your blocks every two weeks you're in for a real treat. The April 1st patterns also include instructions to put together the first section of the quilt. It's a stunner! I know you'll be as excited as we are to continue working on the quilt.
Brenda and I have been dazzled by the wonderful fabric combinations some of you are using. It's makes us think we could make these blocks over and over again in a myriad of fabrics and never tire of looking at them.
There are four blocks to make this time.
Block 25
Use this hand piecing tutorial to construct Block 25 and you'll be done in no time at all. Press the center seam allowances in a circular rotation and your center will lay nice and flat.
Block 26
Block 27
Block 28
Block 27 is our most challenging applique block so far. I thought it would be a good time for some extra information on back basting and needle turn applique techniques. I've become a big fan of a technique called Back Basting. If you've never tried it I encourage you to give it a whirl. There's a complete photo tutorial listed under Instructions in the sidebar.
I'll include some photos here of the block we're working on but the instructions in the tutorial are the ones to use. You can also watch the Skillbuilder video below on needleturn applique if you'd like to learn more about the tools I use and how I do some of my stitching.
The applique pattern comes printed on four pages of paper. You'll need to tape them together to create a master pattern.
Trace the design on wrong side of background fabric.
You can always use a light table if you can't see through your fabric.
Using the drawn stitching lines, baste applique fabric in position.
I still feel more comfortable with a line to follow when doing my applique so I mark on top of my basting.
Cut out around your basting adding a generous 1/8" seam allowance.
Clip the seam allowance on inner curves.
Stitch to where leaf and plume pieces need to be separated.
Using a pair of sharp embroidery scissors cut down between the basting to divide the pieces for applique.
A completed leaf and plume corner.
Reverse applique diamonds. If you don't like reverse applique you can cut diamond shapes and applique them on top. Your block will be beautiful either way!
I didn't have my large square ruler with me so I cut a square of freezer paper the size I needed to trim my block to. I marked the quarters on the paper and on my block, matched them up and ironed the freezer paper to the block. I used my rotary cutter and ruler to trim away the excess.
It's section assembly time!
There are instruction in this set of patterns to put together Section A of the quilt. We included lots of pictures instead of numbers so you shouldn't have any trouble arranging the blocks.
It's fun to see some of the sections sewn together.
We can't wait to see how your blocks look! Click on the link below to get your blocks and section assembly instructions.
It's our day! A day just for quilting! Do you have something special planned? This year there seems to be more events and activities planned than what I remember in years past. I'm going to make sure I find some time to take more than just a few stitches on something today. I'm working on the next blocks for Just Takes™
If you're already working on this quilt you have something special to look forward to with the next installment. If you're not making this quilt.......you're going to miss out on a really wonderful project. Click here catch up on past blocks and optional embroidery designs.
"In honor of International Quilt Day (March 17, 2012), The Quilt Show will unlock all of the shows from the first nine series. You'll be able to watch shows from 100 through 913 for the entire weekend (March 16 -18). Everyone will be able to see 117 shows for FREE. Be sure to share this information with all your friends. It's a fantastic opportunity to enjoy three days of wonderful teachers, beautiful quilts and great fun. While I'm sewing today I know I'm going to take advantage of the opportunity to watch some of the episodes I've missed.
It's been unseasonably warm in Michigan and today is no exception. It's had me thinking of springtime flowers and I've always loved the sentiment on my little Sue's Blossom quilt. I decided today was the perfect day to share it with you. For the rest of the weekend (until March 19) you can get a free copy of the pattern to celebrate quilting day!
If you didn't get the newsletter that went out this week (sign up is under the Facebook box in the right sidebar and at the end of this post) and love embroidery, please take a look at the new Embroider Me™ Pattern. It's the first in a series of vintage design collections for applique and embroidery. There are 108 designs in a variety of sizes from 3" to 11" including flowers, fruit, animals, household items, people, children's designs and more in Collection 1. If you use the coupon code QUILTDAY during checkout you can get the pattern at the introductory price of $18.26 so check it out. Click here to see Embroidery Me™ in the Online Store
More on this new series later - today is a day for quilting!
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