SBS Blocks 19, 20 & 21

December was the month of applique.  WOW, lots of applique. This is my first time to do applique "for real"  I played around with it a little when I first got my new machine.  But I wasn't entirely sure what I was doing was "right" or even how to make my poor attempt better.  So, this really was a fun month of learning for me.

For these blocks, I decided to make the backgrounds cream, so the applique would stand out better.  But I still wanted my "main green" to be the focal feature of each block.  I'm not an expert yet, but I'm a lot better and I'm pretty pleased with how the blocks turned out.

Blocks 19, 20 & 21

Block 19: Orange Windows

this is my new FAVORITE block (yea, yea I know.  I say that a lot.)  I'm just really pleased with how my color placement worked out.  I love the green petals in the middle.  We used raw edge applique on this one with Heat N Bond.  This is my first time to ever use Heat N Bond.  And let me tell you, I'm hooked.  LOVE IT.  After I finished this block, I actually sat down with some graph paper and drew out a couple of patterns of how to turn this one block into an entire quilt.  fun times.

 Block 20: Circles

With this block the edges are finished or turned under.  Harder  than the  simple raw edge method.  I chose Cheater Needle Point Applique as my method to turn my edges under.  Mainly, because I thought it would be the easiest method for me to do.  And it was pretty easy.  I liked it.  But I definitely think that in the future, when the situation arises that I need/want to applique something, it's RAW EDGE with Heat N Bond all the way!

Block 21: Applique Pattern of Choice.  I chose Tulip Trees

With a list of blocks to choose from, I chose Tulip Trees.  It just so happened that the block that I thought was the prettiest, also looked the easiest.  Sheer coincidence on that one!  I really like the way it turned out, color choices and such.  BUT I used an orange washable crayola marker to mark my fabric ... and I'm less than thrilled at how it looks after my attempt to hand wash it.  yes, I know I could serge the edges and throw it in the washing machine.  But I decided not to mess with it anymore.  It'll have to wait until it's quilted and washed before it's orange free.  I did go to walmart later that night to get an invisible ink marker.  I'm finished with the orange mess.  

So, this month I not only learned how to applique, but I also learned the important of disappearing ink!