And so it begins ... First Finished House Block Photo and a Question

The first photo of a finished house block for the Quilt Along has been posted! 

Click on "Quilt Along Photos" page heading at the top of my blog page to see the photos and to learn where to submit your photos for posting. I can't wait to see what everyone has done!

Thank you, Joyce! Super fabric choices!

The Big Question of the day

Once again, I'm asking for your input in creating Block 2 for our quilt along. This conversation has already begun on my Facebook page and responses have been coming in.

I've made two preliminary sketches of possible arrangements for this block, and I'd like to have your opinions. You can comment here, on my facebook page ( www.facebook.com/KLee2Strings ), or in an email ( klee2strings@gmail.com ).

The basic arrangement will be revised, I'm sure, and the details will definitely be altered.

I'd like you to look at these elements:

• Positioning of the watering can. Sitting on the ground vs. tipped.
• Adding a butterfly. Yes or no.
• Balance and artistic merit. 
• Anything else you'd like to say.

Sketch 1

Sketch 2

As I said, many changes will have to be made. I need to create a block that is interesting, balanced, artistic, and fairly easy to put together and sew. 

Please chime in!

A few hints for making the "Home" quilt along house block

Yes, the pattern is finished! I am so excited to have it done.

You've seen this before, but here it is one more time, just for fun. :)

I promised you a few tips for putting this together, and here they are.

1. To Limit Bulk

If you are wanting this for a lap quilt you may want to limit the bulk and stiffness of the fusible web as much as you can. If you are planning on using this as a wall hanging it probably makes no difference. You can reduce the bulk of larger pieces by cutting out the center of your piece of fusible web before ironing it on to the back of the applique fabric. You will need to leave a piece of web at least 3/4" wide around the outside edge to give you a secure fuse.

2. Embroidering Flowers

It's difficult enough to embroider through even one layer of fusible web, but near the bottom of the house you will have two or three layers of web. I wouldn't even try to stitch through that. Instead, I drew the shape of the flower bed onto a larger piece of my green fabric with white chalk, then placed it in my tiny embroidery hoop and embroidered the flowers onto it. The fusible web was ironed to the back after the embroidery was finished.

3. Applique Stitch Choices
The stitches you choose for securing the appliques can add life and depth to your block. Thread colors that contrast will highlight the pieces, especially when made with a standard 50 weight thread or heavier. Stitching in matching colors with lightweight, 60 weight thread will recede into the fabric and almost disappear.

Dark thread and zigzag stitching add contrasting trim to the door and the window.

.

Contrast thread made with a straight triple stitch (jeans top stitch) separates the panes on the windows and creates the ropes for the swing. A similar effect could be achieved with embroidered lines.

A blanket stitch in thread slightly darker than the applique pieces adds definition without standing out too much. The machine blanket stitch also makes very clean edge to the applique. Again, a similar effect can be achieved with a blanket stitch made by hand. I simply don't have the skill to produce lovely, even blanket stitches by hand.









A blanket stitch in matching thread, especially if the thread is a fine 60 weight, will blend into the applique and practically disappear.

Now, on to the block #2.

I'll choose from one of the ideas I've been given so far. Please keep adding to our list! This is what we have so far.

Thank you all so much for these wonderful ideas!

needle, thread and scissors

yarn and knitting needles 

a kitty cat

rocking chair

fireplace

plate and silverware 

teapot or coffee pot 

cookie jar and cookies  

clothesline

mixer

birdhouse

bird

potted plant

sewing machine

white picket fence

coffee mug

watering can

flowers

butterfly

Happy Stitching, everyone!

Sewing is finished on my house block!

Wow! I love this feeling of accomplishment!

The pattern isn't ready yet, but the applique stitching is finished. Yesterday was a long day at the sewing machine, but once something nears completion I seem unable to stop until it's done.

I've made the templates for the applique pieces, and that's a big step. I still need to draw the layout plan and write the pattern, so there is quite a bit of work remaining. Even so, I'm hoping to have the pattern ready by Friday or Saturday. Fingers crossed!

I really like the way this block has turned out! It has enough detail for my tastes, but it looks like it would be much more work than it was. Since it's a large block, the pieces aren't terribly tiny and there really aren't too many of them. The only hand stitching was the embroidery used in the flower bed.

It's amazing how much life is added by stitching. The before and after photos really highlight the differences.  I've decided that, at least for now, I won't make one in different colors. I have so many other projects waiting for attention.

Astounding isn't it?

I thought you might like to see a list of the ideas that I used from all of you.

• a 16" block
• just the house and one big tree
• bigger blobs for leaves
• a swing
• flowers under the window
• a sidewalk to the front door

I'll end with a few closeup photos so you can see the details more clearly. When the pattern is ready I'll add a blog post with more information and a few helpful hints for putting it all together. 

The doorknob button won't be sewn on until quilting is finished.

Oops. A stray piece of thread invaded the photo. 

Happy Wednesday, everyone!!

Quilt Along House Block Progress

This center house block is finally coming together! I'm ready to start work on templates tomorrow. Then I'll do the applique stitching and add any details that are needed. I should have the pattern totally finished and up on Craftsy by February 10th at the very latest. Then the new blocks could come out on the 10th of every month.

It remains 16" x 16", and it basically contains the house and just one tree.

I'm so much happier with the leaves on the tree! I moved the house up a bit and added another layer of grass so the empty area on top is much smaller. Now it all seems balanced. What else? Oh, I changed the colors on several pieces. The yellow was just one color too many on this one block. The blocks will contain many colors in my scrappy quilt, but I prefer to have the colors in each individual block harmonious. 

I need to thank all of you for your ideas. 

Thank you!

The swing is an just an idea. It hasn't been ironed in place. If I keep it I'll need to drop it a bit lower. The house looked so deserted and lifeless!

To keep or not to keep? What do you think? 

I'm also considering adding some bushes or a pot of flowers to the front of the house. That would involve some tiny pieces, but it can be made quite manageable. 

Again, what would you like to see? Leave it alone? Add some color?

Ideas for other blocks are coming in. 

Please join in with your ideas. 

This is what I've been given so far:  

needle, thread and scissors

yarn and knitting needles 

a kitty cat

rocking chair

fireplace

plate and silverware 

teapot or coffee pot 

cookie jar and cookies  

clothesline

mixer

birdhouse

potted plant

sewing machine

Quilt Along: first steps on the house block - seeking your opinions

Here it is, then - the first experiment with placing of applique pieces on the 16" square that will make the block. The paper backing is still attached to appliques. I'm not nearly ready to iron anything on permanently!

I will be making two blocks from this pattern. These fabrics are for the brightly colored, scrappy quilt.

Hmm....

First off,  there's a lot of empty space here. I'll could add to the grass and move everything up on the background or I could fill something in at the top of the block. If I put something at the top, what might it be? Pieces can't be too tiny or stitching becomes tricky, so that pretty much eliminates little appliqued birds. Embroidered birds? Flying in a group? Just little, black, curved "v" shapes?

I'm not sure that I like the green blobs on the tree either, but haven't thought of another way to deal with that yet. Maybe if I had more variation in sizes and shapes the tree would look better. Only one blob stands out as being different. The rest are all quite alike.

Of course, the easiest solution would be to cut the block down to 14" x 14" and  add a pieced border all around it. Here are three possible layout ideas for a smaller block.

Just house and grass

House with small tree

House with large tree snug against it (Still need to work on those leaf blobs.)

I see other little problems, too, but those are minor adjustments in proportion and possibly fabric choice.

Help!

I would sincerely welcome your thoughts! This is, after all, a group project and you need to be given a block pattern that you like. Every idea you share will be seriously considered.

What do you think? How shall I deal with the empty space at the top of the block?
What about the green blobs on the tree?
What else do you see that could be changed to improve the plan?

Waiting for your comments ...

Coming Soon - A Quilt Along Quilt Project

The silhouette series is finished, so I'm off and flying with something very different. It will be a mystery, block of the month,  cooperative design, quilt along quilt. That's right, a bit of everything all rolled up into one!

Here's the breakdown of all those quilt elements.

• A mystery quilt: It will be a mystery to me as well as those who join me in making it. A design-as-we-go project.

• A block of the month: There will be at least one block every month, but I don't expect it to last a whole twelve months. The first block will be ready by March 1st, others will follow on the first of every month after that. I hope the last will be finished by November or December. Fingers crossed!

• A cooperative design: I don't know what kinds of images or pieced patterns will go into every block. I will rely heavily on input from folks who joining in on making the project. Ideas are more than welcome, they are seriously needed!

The theme is "home".

We'll start off with a house in the middle for our first block. Other blocks related to house and home will surround the large house block. Perhaps a line of laundry and a pot of flowers, maybe a birdhouse or a sewing machine or both. What will we put in all of those blocks? You will have to help me with that. I really hope you share lots of comments and ideas in the comment section of this page. Makes me smile just to think about it.

This is the starting point.

The basic layout. Subject to changes as we go. :)

Patterns: Blocks made from patterns that don't require templates will be free, and instructions will be posted on this blog. I'll post the patterns containing templates on Craftsy and they will be reasonably priced. I may group some of the smaller blocks into one pattern.

I'll sew up two versions of each block and prepare the patterns. One block will be made with warm, traditional fabrics, the other with fabrics that are brightly colored and modern. I have two very different kinds of fabrics in mind for making my pairs of quilt blocks. I hope these will give you some ideas - and I'll wind up with two quilts! (Smiling again!)

For the quilt made in traditional fabrics, I'll likely combine some pieces from Moda's French General fabrics with bits of 19th century reproductions. I love the new line of the French General that comes out in March. Until it's available I can use coordinating fabrics from my stash to get started.

I love these colors! I"ll definitely add some greens and browns.

The other quilt will be bright and modern. I may go with scrappy from many different fabric lines and my stash, or I may use some of these new fabrics from Moda. I won't be sure about this line until I see it up close. It's called "Daydreams", and I've ordered a 10-inch layer cake. If I don't think it will work for this quilt I'll use it for something else later.

This needs the addition of darker greens and smaller print blues and pinks  for sure.

Wow! How different these two quilts will be!

I've been working on the first block for the last several days. This will be the large, center block. The templates are almost all made and I'll be ready to begin stitching on the first pair of blocks next week. 

This is the preliminary sketch for the house block. Many minor changes have been made,
but it  remains basically the same.

This block could also be used in a wall hanging or placed into another quilt. My hubby thinks I should make four of these houses, change them up to show the four seasons, and turn them into a wall hanging. Something for the future, maybe?

And that's it! 

I hope you'll join me in this adventure!

 Now, I'm headed downstairs to clean and oil my sewing machine.