I wanted to do something this month that would stretch me, help me learn. I’ve always wanted to try needle turn appliqué, and I thought, hey, why not on May’s wreath block? Well, I will tell you why not. It takes forever, that’s why not. Despite that, it was fun to learn and practice something new. I now have something to practice, a lot. :)

By way of explanation, I used three different kinds of appliqué on this block, but you don’t have to. I used needle turn on the leaves and stem, machine appliqué on the blossoms, and raw edge appliqué on the centers. I think it adds some fun and variety to the block, but if you are loving one kind of appliqué over another, by all means, use that method.

My friend Kathy swears that she won’t be making this block, which is sad, because it’s super cute. But I know, I know, some of you are still scared of applique. Don’t be! And if you really still are, check out the tutorial I did a while back, it will help. You can learn something new, I promise.

Many a genius has been slow of growth. Oaks that flourish for a thousand years do not spring up into beauty like a reed.

George Henry Lewes

Instructions:

Materials:

(1) 14″ background square

(1) 12″ square for the wreath circle

(32) 2½” squares for leaves

(7) 2½” squares for blossoms

(7) 1½” squares for flower centers

Embroidery Floss

Making the block:

Using a water soluble marking pen, mark a line 2¼” in from each side of the background square. Be sure to keep all pieces inside this line.

Cut out all pieces using the templates provided. The pieces DO NOT include seam allowance, so if you are using needle turn applique, you will need to remember to cut seam allowance.

Place your wreath circle in the center of your background block and applique. Next, place your leaves around the wreath. Applique in place.

Place blossoms around the wreath, applique. Finally, stitch the centers of the blossoms down.

Using a light table or bright window, trace the word pattern onto the center of the block.

Embroider the letters and blossom using a backstitch.

Press your block from the back. Square up to 12½”.

Download the pieces here.

Let me tell you about my friend Amy. She blogs over at Amy’s Creative Side, and was my roommate at QuiltCon.

She writes books. Three books so far, and many more to come, I’m sure of it. This is her new book, Modern Neutrals. It’s amazing. Also, if you’re looking for a quilt book that isn’t all flowers and girl stuff–you’re welcome. This is that book.

I was the lucky duck who got to piece this quilt here, called Circuit Board, and though I almost gave Amy a heart attack by finishing it at the last minute, she’s nice enough to still be my friend.

She’s got about a million great ideas, and a whole lot of awesome ahead of her.

You should probably follow her blog, and keep track of what she does, and get a hold of her books, because well, if she’s designing mind-blowing quilts like this?

You definitely want to know what’s she’s got up her sleeve next.

xoxo

April

PS Congrats on the new book, my friend, it’s gorgeous.

A couple days late on this one. I swear, every month flies by faster than the last. But here it is, my April 2013 free block of the month pattern, April Inspire. (FYI, I’m backdating it to April 30th, so it’s easier to find for people who are looking. :)

This month has been full of soccer games, and daffodils peeking their heads out of the ground, only to see snow falling on their petals. I’ve been dealing with some personal health (thyroid-related) issues too, so I’ve been all over the place emotionally.

I started my garden seeds inside, and they sprouted beautifully. Just last Saturday, I planted them outside. And then the wind and snow and freezing temperatures came.

Needless to say, this month needed some sunshine.

The month of April? Well, I have a particular affinity for it, for some strange reason. But aside from it being my namesake–I love it because it is so full. Full to bursting. Everything is on the precipice of greatness. I mean, what is more inspiring than watching spring unfold?

April inspires me. Makes me feel like I’m on the cusp of something really awesome. What a lucky month, April, she gets to carry inspiration with her everywhere she goes.

Was your month full to bursting?

xoxo

April

PS Need to catch up? Here are links to the other blocks in this series: January Sparkle, February Adore, and March Believe.

Instructions:

Cut:

(16) 2½” squares from various yellow scrap fabrics

(16) 2½” squares from various orange scrap fabrics

(2) 12½” x 1½” orange strips

(2) 4½” x 1½” orange strips

Make 32 half square triangles from your yellow and orange 2½” squares by marking a diagonal line on the wrong side of all yellow squares. Place one orange square and one yellow square right sides together, and sew ¼” away from each side of the marked line. Cut on the line. Press.

Arrange triangles as shown, and sew together in rows.

Sew two rows together to make a chevron pattern, press seam open. Repeat for second chevron, set aside.

Using yellow scraps and a linen background, and following the paper piecing template provided, paper piece the center of the block, sewing all units first, and then putting letters together to make the word. Square up to 10½” x 4½”.

Sew your two 4½” x 1½” orange strips to each side of your word block. Press toward the strip. Repeat on the top and bottom of the word block with the 12½” x 1½” orange strips.

Sew one chevron unit to the top, and one to the bottom of the word block. Press toward solid orange strips.

Square up to 12½” square.

Download Paper Piecing Template here.

Check out the pretty fabrics I got on sale at Pink Castle Fabrics a week or two ago! Brenda was clearing out a bunch of my favorite line EVER, Hope Valley, so I had to scoop up some of that of course.  I’m proud of myself for showing restraint. I really wanted to buy it ALL. Don’t they look pretty stacked in color order like that? Seriously, I could just stare all day.

I snagged a couple oldies, but goodies, from Violet Craft, Joel Dewberry, and Anna Maria Horner.

Also this cute strawberry print that is just begging to be made into a darling little blouse for Lily.

I may have purchased a little of one Hope Valley print to back my Farmer’s Wife quilt, when it gets done, someday. Or a lot. Maybe like ten yards-ish.

What was that about restraint?

Heh.

In other news, I have been off refined/processed sugars for 9 days now, and I can honestly say I don’t miss them. Hoping it will help with my weight loss goals. (Can’t hurt, right?) Plus, overall health is a great bonus, too.

What’s new in your stash?? Purchased any fabric lately? Are you a recovering sugar addict like me? Anything else you want to chat about?

I’ve been talking to five-year-olds all day, and as fun as that is, I wouldn’t say no to some good old grownup talk. Plus, my legs are SO SORE from the workout my friend had us do yesterday at the gym, that I might just be in this chair all afternoon–or at least until a kiddie soccer game comes-a-callin’. Deep Blue, here I come.
xoxo

April

PS I’m updating my blog look soon, so don’t be startled if it looks different the next time you visit. I’m working on making some things easier to find :)

Last week, I finished this pretty little quilt for Kortney, my super awesome sister-in-law. She’s a big fan of purple, in case you couldn’t tell.

When I saw “Good Fortune” by the one and only Kate Spain, well, obviously I had to use it for Kortney’s quilt.

I mean, her wedding colors were purple and yellow, for pete’s sake.

Also obviously, I’m loving that there’s some orange in there too.

I backed it with Moda Bella Solid in aqua. The binding is some old purple Kona I had in my stash. No idea what color.

I let Kort choose how she wanted it quilted, and she was loving on the bubbles, so that’s what I did–along with a few wishbones, just for fun. Bubbles and Wishbones. Sounds like a band name.

This is a remake of a quilt I did last year for Nyah, remember? Only a little bigger and without borders.

Just a single layer cake, 1/4 yardish of white solid, some backing, binding, and batting, and BAM.

It has a little bit of machine applique on it, which I know you are all experts at now.

If you happen to only be only super-proficient at machine applique and want to become expert, of course go to my machine applique tutorial.

What did you work on last week? Or if you didn’t get a chance last week, what are you up to this week? I’ve got a bunch of longarming to do–ruler work and such. It’s going to be FUN!

xoxo

April

PS Thanks, little brother (little? hah!) for being my quilt holder. You rock. Also, nice shoes.

I’m happy you’re here at my blog! If you’re visiting for the Virtual Quilt Bee, hello! Let me introduce myself really quick: My name is April Rosenthal, I’m a quilt pattern designer and blogger, a mom to 5 year old twins, and a wife to my high school sweetheart (awwwww). I have a sweet little pattern company called Prairie Grass Patterns, which I absolutely adore. I also adore fabric, herbal tea, the color orange, helping my family be healthy, and above all, I’m an obsessive learner. I would love it if you’d stick around and introduce yourself so I can get to know you, too! I’m naturally pretty introverted, but I truly love my friends {<–that’s you}–and I love helping others learn.

I’ve known Amy for a couple years now, and darnit, she’s one of the coolest people I know–and hey, when one of the coolest people you know asks you to be a part of their virtual quilting bee, well, the answer is quick and obvious. So here I am, with my block pattern!

Let’s get to it, shall we?

First, cut the following, being careful not to stretch your triangles:

Orange polka dot: (4) 2½” squares

White and red floral: (4) 2 7/8″ squares, subcut once on the diagonal to make (8) small triangles.

Aqua check: (2) 4 7/8″ squares, subcut once on the diagonal to make (4) large triangles.

Sew the short side of a small triangle to one side of each orange square. Press seam toward the square. Repeat with another triangle on adjacent side. Press toward square.

Right sides together, sew one pieced unit to each large triangle, along the long edge. Press toward large triangle.

Lay out the block. Sew top two blocks together, and bottom two blocks together. Press toward large triangle.

Sew rows together. Press to one side.

There you have it! This one is quick and easy, you’ll have it put together in a flash. When I finished putting mine together, I was shocked at how different they look. There is so much less contrast in the solid orange block, but the darkest fabric stands out so much more. The Happy Go Lucky block is fun and balanced, and has a more traditional feel. They look like totally different blocks! Which do you like better?

I seriously can’t wait for the rest of this quilt to come together, the finished quilt is going to be so fun!

Thanks again for stopping by, let’s talk really soon!

xoxo

April

PS Stay tuned this weekend for some pretty pictures of some works in progress…

PPS, If you missed the first two blocks, click on the “Virtual Quilting Bee” button in my sidebar. Amy is listing them all there, just for you.

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m a little bit into embroidery lately. Or, more specifically, I’m into incorporating embroidery and hand stitching into my quilty projects. The Twelve Words sampler has embroidery in each block, I just submitted a quilt to a magazine (out in July-ish?) that has some darling embroidery on it (if I do say so myself). I’ve done two Sweetie Pie quilts with hand stitching around the leaves…I might be a little obsessed.

So, as I was looking into doing this block-of-the-month thing, I wanted to find an embroidery floss that wouldn’t tangle, that had vibrant, on-trend colors, and that wouldn’t bleed or pill when it gets wet. I mean, I’m using this floss in quilts, and around here we use our quilts.

The cool people over at Sublime Stitching sent me this sweet package, and you should have seen me when I opened it. I was over the moon!

The colors are gorgeous.

The branding is fun, cool, and snarky. Just what I like in my embroidery floss.

Also, I’ve used it for all my blocks for the Twelve Words sampler, and for the magazine quilt, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I’ve sprayed it down, ironed it, washed it in the washing machine–it looks just as lovely as the day it came in the package. Absolutely no bleeding or pilling.

I’m a fan.

If you want to get a hold of your own Sublime Floss, head on over to their website and grab some. And when you get your awesome floss in the mail, make sure you read the text on wrappers and stuff. There’s some funny stuff there. That, or it was two in the morning when I was doing some embroidery. I’ll let you decide.

xoxo

April

PS Nobody paid me for this post. Sublime Stitching was gracious enough to provide me with some floss to sample, but didn’t ask that I review it. I just did because hey, it’s a great product and I thought you should know.

PPS Have you all been following Amy’s Virtual Quilting Bee? It’s super fun, and you totally should. I get to post my block on Friday! Be sure and come back to see.

The month of March was a doozy for me. You know the times where you have plans, and then things just come out of left field all over the place to mess with you? Yeah, that kind of month. Some of the stuff was super cool, like my brother coming home after being away for two years in Russia and Kazakhstan. That was awesome. Other things, not so cool, like hey, strep.

So of course, I thought it pretty darn ironic that the word for this month’s block (which I planned back in September) is “believe”…because hey. This month? It was all I could do to believe that I could handle even one more minute of the insanity. (Turns out I could, no matter how it felt.)

And then, of course, when I went to actually make the block, I ended up having to do it twice. Apparently my math was all over the place the first time, and I didn’t notice until I got to the part where I’m sewing all the rows together. Hooray for do-overs.

So. Believe.

If I were trying to be inspirational, I would say “Believe in yourself! Believe in your dreams! Believe in the goodness of humanity! Believe in love, and grace, and kindness! Believe in creativity, and passion, and luck! Believe in beauty! Believe in your own worth, and in a loving Heavenly Father who’s looking out for you!”

But that’s not the month I had, so I’m going to say this instead:

Believe, that no matter how crazy today is, and no matter how crazy tomorrow is, that you’ll get through it. You will. Even if there are a couple do-overs.

And all that inspirational stuff? Believe that too. :)

How was your March?

xoxo

April

PS Check out Amy’s Virtual Quilting Bee!  She’s having quilty bloggers post a block tutorial every other Friday. I get to post my block this Friday! Come follow along!

Instructions:

Cut:

(12) 2 5/8″ dark green squares.

(24) 2 3/8″ squares from various green fabrics. Subcut diagonally once to make (48) triangles.

(1) 7″ linen square.

Make the green diamond square-in-a-square blocks by sewing a triangle to opposite sides of each green square. Align centers for correct seam allowance. Usually, I fold pieces in half and finger press as I sew to align the middles. Be sure your seam is hitting right where the two pieces intersect.

Press toward the green square.

Using the same method as described above, sew two more triangles to the remaining sides of your green square. Press toward the triangles. Trim little triangles off.

Trace the embroidery onto the linen, and stitch the word and stem using 3 strands of Sublime Thread #778 in Leaf.

Trace the shamrock for the applique using your desired method (please note, the template does NOT include seam allowance). I chose to pin my piece to some minky and cut it out without fuseable web. I pinned the shape to the linen and adhered it using a zig zag stitch.

Trim the linen down to 6½” square.

Lay out the block as shown, piece together by rows, pressing seams between square-in-a-square blocks open, and blocks surrounding the linen, toward the linen.

Finished block is 12½” square.

Block Templates Download

Here’s the thing about machine applique: with the right tools and techniques, it can be really, really easy. And if you’re one of those people that just cringe at the word applique, well, you’re not alone. I have a couple friends and family members that are right there with you. But I promise–it doesn’t have to be traumatizing. Lets do it. Here are 10 steps to perfect machine applique.

1.  Start with a template

Unless you’re really, really good at freehanding it, it’s easier to trace a shape. Also, with this technique, if you want to applique letters, you’ll want the letter to go backwards on the template.

Trace the template on to the paper side of some fuseable webbing. Usually, I use Heat ‘n Bond lite, but I also really like featherweight–it doesn’t make the finished product stiff at all.

2. Cut around your shape, leaving some space around the line. Iron to fabric.

Place the paper shape shiny side down on the wrong side of your fabric.

Adhere the paper shape to the fabric according to manufacturer’s instructions. In my case, I used the “silk” setting on my iron for 2 seconds.

3.  Cut out the shape on the line.

Peel the paper off the back of the fabric.

4. Iron the shape to background fabric, according to manufacturer’s instructions.

In my case, I used the silk, no steam setting for 10 seconds. Be sure not to keep your iron there too long, you run the risk of scorching the fabric or making the webbing not adhere as well. The shape should be stuck to the background well enough that it doesn’t lift or shift if gently manipulated.

5. Choose your thread.

You have lots of choices when it comes to thread. I have used metallic, iridescent, matching, contrasting, even invisible thread. If you’re just beginning, I suggest using a thread that matches your shape. As you gain skill and confidence, you can move on to other threads–which can add a LOT of fun and visual interest to your project.

6. Start with a tacking stitch.

Using a clear presser foot, align your shape right in the middle of your presser foot, so that your needle will sink right at the edge. Take a few very small straight stitches along the edge of the shape. This will help your zig zag (or other decorative stitch) be secure and not unravel. On my machine, I set my stitch length to .5 and took about 5 stitches. I usually start on an inside corner or a straight part if there is one. On circles, you can start wherever you want.

7. Stitch around the shape, using a decorative stitch.

I use a zig zag stitch, because my sewing machine doesn’t have other stitches that work well with applique. If you have a blanket stitch, that’s a fun one too. Align your stitch so that it is all on the shape, just barely coming off the edge of the shape and hitting the background.

8. Drop your needle and pivot at corners.

When you reach a corner, manually place your needle right at the corner, in the background.

Lift your presser foot, pivot the fabric until it is aligned, then begin stitching again.

9. On circular shapes, pivot continually or use the “clock method”.

When I am stitching around a circular shape, I use one of two methods. On larger, more gradual curves, I put one finger parallel to the presser foot on the shape and allow that finger to serve as a pivot point. This allows the fabric to move freely and easily around the curve. The keys to this method are practice and allowing the fabric to move freely.

If I am stitching around a smaller or tighter curve, I sink the needle and pivot just like with corners, only moving less with each pivot. The “clock” means to pivot at each place where an hour would be located on the clock. This helps so that your stitching still looks circular like your shape.

10. Finish with a tacking stitch.

Just like when you started, finish by switching to a very small straight stitch and taking 5-6 stitches. This will secure your applique so it doesn’t unravel.

There you have it! 10 steps to perfect machine applique. I hope you’ll try it and see it’s not so scary after all. I’ve included a template you can download and practice with, including marked pivot points on both the star and the circle. Click the link below to open the PDF in a new window.

Machine Applique Template

As I am typing this, I’m wondering if it would be helpful for me to post a video of the circular stitching. What do you think? Do you have other questions? Machine applique tips or suggestions?

xoxo

April

PS Have you made January’s block? Or February’s? (You’re speedy!) I’m going to post a giveaway this month, and one way to get an entry will be to add your block to the flickr group. So far, my block is all alone. :( I’d love to see yours!