04-24-2017

Needle Turn Applique…Part 2

Lets start stitching!

If you missed it…

Here is the Intro to Needle Turn Applique post to help you get ready to start stitching.

Here is where we left off….

Our block is pin basted and ready to start stitching the orange peel down.

You want to start by finger pressing along your drawn on line…

this helps your fabric go the way you want it to. Just give it a squeeze for a second and it will make the crease.

Once you thread your needle and knot the end, bring your needle up along the curved side of the orange peel… right on the line. The knot will be hidden in the fold.

Only use 18-20″ of thread… if its too long, it will just keep getting knotted up. These pieces are small so you should be able to get all the way around with out starting a new thread!

You also always want to start along the long edge of something you are appliqueing… it’s easier and it looks nicer. Never start at a point!

Fold your fabric under along the line…. I use my thumb to keep an inch or so ahead of me pressed under.

Then, insert your needle just under the fold through the background fabric.

Bring your needle up, about 1/8″ to 1/4″ at the most along the fold. You want to just barely catch the edge of the fold here… this will hide your stitches.

Work your way along the curve… it should look something like this.

When you approach the point… bring your needle up at the very tip.

Now take a stitch right in the point to secure it.

Using your needle tip and your thumb… fold on the line and tuck the seam allowance underneath the tip.

Insert your needle at the tip and continue your normal stitching along the side.

You will work your way around another point and then run into where you started. Here you will take a stitch or two in place and then knot it off on the back.

Here is the backside…

BAM!

Orange peel done.

These are a great starter project. Not too big or complicated.

So give it a try.

I have a whole pile of these done and can’t wait to show you guys what I come up with.

Keep it Sassy♥

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Filed Under: Applique, Uncategorized Tagged With: hand sewing, needle turn applique, orange peel

03-13-2017

Needle turn appliqué… Part 1 Getting Ready

A quilt on my quilty dream list is an Orange Peel Quilt… I came across this pattern on Fat Quarter Shop and just fell in love!

Round Robin Quilt Pattern

I’ve been itching to do some hand work…. so I am doing Needle Turn Applique for this quilt. And so far it has been fun!

I think I love it because it is small and portable and I get to hold all these beautiful fabrics we love so much in my hands while I am working on it. I am a dental hygienist so I can sometimes squeeze a few in between patients….shhhhhh, don’t tell!

I thought I would show you guys how I am going about this….I am by no means a master of needle turn, but here are the basics if you want to give it a try!

You are going to need some templates for the shape you will be appliquéing.

For this pattern you can find the templates for any size here….

Impressions Quilting Templates Orange Peel Set from It’s Sew Emma features the classic orange peel applique shape. Templates are designed to fit on 3″, 4″, 5″ and 6″ finished squares.

I am going with the 5″ template on a 5 1/2″ background square.

You will first trace your template using a marking pen that will wash out… so that the lines are not seen when you are done.

I am using a Sewline marking tool. I found mine on Amazon for about 15.00. This is a three way marking tool. You have a white, pink and black marking option.

Marks like a dream!

You can pick whichever color stands out best on your fabric… nice feature

You are going to also need some matching thread to coordinate with your applique pieces…. this helps your stitches blend in.

A few other handy tools are a small pair of scissors for snipping threads, a few thin pins for holding your applique in place, and of course your stitching needle.

Sharps are a great needle….they are long and thin. Milliners and Straw needles are also a good choice.

Now you are ready to get stitiching!

So get your tools ready and the next post will show you how to get your first stitches started.

Here is a great Craftsy class for learning Needle turn appliqué with Sarah Fielke.

Keep it Sassy♥

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Filed Under: Applique, Uncategorized

02-09-2017

Bella Skill Builder…Block2

Today is Block 2 in the Bella Skill Builder quilt along hosted by Fat Quarter Shop!

Bella Skill Builder

Don’t forget its not too late to get your supplies to join in! Below are the links to get you there.

Fat Quarter Shop has a Quilt Kit, Backing Set, and a Thread Set for this quilt.

Block 2

Orange Peel

I did a simple top stitch to secure these. A zig zag is also a good option.

These were fun and super easy!

Give it a try.

Keep it Sassy♥

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Filed Under: Applique, Bella Skill Builder, Fat Quarter Shop Tagged With: applique, bella skill builder, bella solids, orange peel, quilting

02-09-2017

Baby Whale Quilts!

Baby whales and cutie pies!

Gotta love ’em…. so adorable.

This is my recent finish on a baby quilt for my soon to be nephew, Oliver. This quilt was super easy to make and I just loved the color scheme. My youngest niece is loving it too….. I’m not sure she is ready to share this chair….even though she has her own quilt.

I just went through my stash and picked out an assortment of navy and gray fabrics.

Cut 36 squares 6.5″ x 6.5″ and sew them together, 6 across and 6 down.

Finishes 36.5″ x 36.5″… perfect crib size.

The appliques were super easy! I used some Steam a Seam 2 and ironed it to my whale fabric. Printed off some whale shapes from online and shrunk it down to the size I wanted. I traced it onto the fabric and cut it out. Then peel off the back and ironed it on.

I chose a simple topstitch to secure these whales. Not easy hitting all the curves, but just go slow and one stitch at a time in the tight spots. It also helped to only do 4…. not all over the place, and I like how it looks better too! Don’t want to overdo the whales.

Here is another whale project I did recently…

Whales on the brain, lol.

This one is for my local guild. We have an exhibit at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show at the end of this month. It is titled, Ombre… Your Way!

I made my own pattern for this one too… but, I spray basted the whale to hold it in place and then stitched it down. I used a zig zag stitch for this one and did a little more quilting.

The hexagons were also spray basted on and then top stitched.

Simple, but cute!

Keep it Sassy♥

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