Mini Masterpieces: Applique

Happy new year, lovely quilters! We made it through 2020… Let’s kick 2021’s booty, hey?! This month also marks the start of the final section of Mini Masterpieces – Piecing. We’ll be conquering applique, English paper piecing, and foundation paper piecing. We got this!

BUY THE BOOK

I have currently sold out of signed copies of Mini Masterpieces, but you can still find it in many stores.

And if you’re planning on joining in on the English paper piecing next month, then heads up – order your Carpenter’s Diamond paper piecing kit from me ASAP to get it shipped out in time. There are templates included in the book, but if you’d love to have the handy dandy all-precut pieces, then I’ve got you sorted!

JANUARY – APPLIQUE

What’s so wonderful about applique is that you can create complex shapes without any piecing. I know, ironic considering it’s in the piecing section, right? But it’s true! It’s one way of creating complex designs in quilting because applique doesn’t just have to be teddy bears and flowers 😉

The Applique sampler block is great for practising:

• Using fusible interfacing
• Faux needle turn applique

ERRATA: Please note – the template for the sampler block is incorrect. In step 1, you will need to draw the 1/4″ line inside the template line, instead of outside like it should be. When I am back from holidays in mid-January, I will upload the correct template to the Mini Masterpieces Errata page.

Image by Page + Pixel for Lucky Spool

The Rising Sun mini quilt is also good for trying out:

• Cutting circles
• Raw edge applique

JANUARY PRIZES

To enter, you can either post a photo of your month’s project in the Blossom Heart Quilts group on Facebook in this album here (not sure how to do that? Click here to find out how), or post it on Instagram using the QAL hashtag #MiniMasterpiecesQAL. Either method is acceptable, just be sure to do it by January 31st, 2020 (in your timezone). Monthly winners will be selected at random, and announced by updating this post + in the Facebook group on February 3rd, 2020.

For all the QAL details including prize eligibility, read this post here.

Block Prize
If you’re sewing along making the sampler blocks this year, that’s awesome! Each month, there’ll be a mix of patterns, notions, and other little goodies on offer. This month, the prize is a bundle of your choice of PDF patterns from Molly & Mama (left) and Down Grapevine Lane (right).

Quilt Prize
If you’re making mini quilts or some other type of fully finished product with the mini quilt pattern or turning the sampler block into a finished product (pillow, bag, zippered pouch, etc), then you qualify for the quilt prize. Now, because this method lends itself to making the mini as long as you like, then your mini must have at least as many strips as directed in the book to qualify for this prize.

This month’s prize is a 10″ stacker of Fleur by Sedef Imer from Down Grapevine Lane.

WINNERS

Well done to Amy Miller Rizzo who tried out hand appliqué for her block.

And @littlebu25 also takes a prize for this lovely and fresh mini.

What you need

• A copy of Mini Masterpieces – you can buy a copy from these various stockists, and signed copies from me here
  
• A sewing machine (or hand sewing supplies!) and basic quilting supplies
• Your favourite fabrics – all the fabric requirements are listed on pages 77-80 for the block and mini quilt
• Double sided fusible interfacing

TIPS FOR APPLIQUE

When it comes to cutting out shapes for applique, you will want to make sure you have a sharp pair of scissors that can easily maneuver around curves and points. I prefer a smaller pair like my pair of super sharp and pointy Karen Kay Buckley scissors, but I know other quilters prefer a longer pair of scissors! So it’s definitely a personal preference that you need to experiment with to see what you like.

Applique sampler quilt block by @downgrapevinelane

When it comes to cutting out the circles for the Rising Sun mini quilt, I actually used my friend’s AccuQuilt circle die! Quick, easy, and perfectly accurate. To use a die cutting machine, you will need to interface the fabric first, and then cut out your circles.

Another option for more accurately cutting out circles is to use a cutter like the Olfa circle cutter. It’s a rotary cutter compass! And will help you to accurately cut out circles.

And if none of these are options – don’t stress! Just do the best you can, that’s all I ever want you to do.

Applique sampler quilt block by @mollyandmama

When it comes to stitching the applique shapes down, choose a thread colour that matches the shapes as closely as possible for a neat, nearly-invisible finish. Or go for something contrasting for a super pow punch of colour!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments and I’ll respond to you there.

 

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