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So I’m starting my first Block of the Month (BOM) quilt. I’m thinking I should have started with an easier one, but this caught my interest. It is called Flower Farm.
I have finished block one. The simplest block. As you can see, I’ve changed it a bit, adding a butterfly. I really thought it needed something in that corner. Also the quilt is done in pinks, which is by far not my favorite color. Also buying all the fabric with the pattern is expensive when I have a lot of my own. So I’ll be making this with blues from my stash.
I’m thinking of adding lace or a ribbon to the flower pot. I think that it needs something more. As you can tell from the top picture the concept is not intended to be at all realistic in color. I will do a slightly more realistic look in blues with greens. I am told to make this sort of pattern on pattern on pattern work, you need a small print, a medium print and a large print. I’m OK with that concept and will try to follow it.
The type of applique we are doing is a variety of freezer sheet where you trace the pattern piece on the shiny side of the paper, flip it over on top of a dull side of freezer paper and iron the two pieces together. You can still see the pattern through the freezer paper, but you now have a double piece of freezer paper to work with which is sturdier. Cut out the pattern piece on the line, iron the double freezer paper template, shiny side to the wrong side of the fabric (remember you flipped it putting it to the dull side of the freezer paper), and cut out the pattern piece (officially) a scant 1/4” inch . I do a full ¼ in. Clip curves where necessary and use a very strong starch. Best Press isn’t strong enough.
Fold over the fabric around the pattern piece and using a hot iron, set the folded over fabric to the freezer paper. Give it time to cool and then pull the fabric off the freezer sheet. Repress any places that need it, and using 100 wt thread, applique in place. It’s good if your sewing machine has an applique stitch, if not a very small buttonhole stitch (which is very similar), will work.
I’ve barely started the second block. I’m one month behind, but not terribly worried about it.
Oh, and another way I’m going to change this: this pattern has 6 snails, but no dragonflies. I’ll do 2 snails and 4 dragonflies.
I never seem to be able to absolutely follow a pattern, and I’m fine with that.