My Rin Blocks

Summer of 2017, I participated in a  QAL for Carolyn Friedlander's Rin pattern.  The QAL was the first time I had tried needle turned applique.  I enjoyed the process although some of the part of the shapes were difficult to get into a smooth curve.

By the end of the QAL, I had finished 3 blocks and considered various layouts to a quilt with just three blocks.

Since I enjoyed the whole process of making the block, including the fancy fabric folding technique required to get the pieces, I started on a 4th block.

Saturday, I finally finished that 4th and final block!   I had left it in a almost done state for almost a year - somewhat unusual for me!  Other handwork projects were more important or interesting to me.

I had an opportunity on Saturday to sit and sell tickets to our raffle quilt so I grabbed my applique bag and went to work!  I had only that bumpy inner ring to finish.  It didn't take too long.

The fabric I used was Desert Bloom line by Sherri from A Quilting Life.   I will assemble the blocks into a 2 x 2 grid.   I am planning on straight line quilting this one although I was also thinking about concentric circles.....

Next step to trim and assemble my quilt top!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Slow Circles

A lecture at my guild and an on-line class by Carolyn Friedlander introduced me to the wonderful world of needle turned applique.

I have always enjoyed sewing by hand - even attaching quilt bindings.  Until recently, the only applique I had done was by machine.

In my stash I found four charm packs of various Fig Tree fabric lines from several years ago.  I decided to sew some circles and consider this my learning project before I tackle something much larger and complicated.

This is a perfect project for tv watching as I work on making my stitches small and trying to make them less visible.

I've a perfect basket for the project.  Large for all my circles to collect as well as my sewing kit.  It also keeps everything in place when I put things down with the needle in the fabric.

When I first tried to applique by hand - before the guild meeting and the class - I ignored the basting part.  Seemed like a waste of time.  Instead I just pin basted and used regular pins as well!  All that happened was I get getting pricked by the pins and lost interest in the project.

Now I have the right pins and the right needles.  (Although the eye of the applique needle is sooooo small.)

I've not done any math to see how large this will be but I'm aiming for baby quilt sized.   I was also going to experiment with one circle on a four patch of charm squares to add some interest to the final quilt.

Do you have a slow stitch project that you are working on?

Have a wonderful day! Patty