Forget Me Not: Part 14 is launched

It's an exciting and busy BOM month this month in Part 14. I was torn over extending the BOM to 15 months to pace the work between adding the contrast trim and frames and then (next month) adding the sashing. The contrast trims and frames are a lot of work and it probably makes sense to split it from the sashing ...but we've reached the point in this mystery where I know so many of us just want to finish it, that it felt unfair to make those of us who wanted to press ahead wait another month.

So, although I think this final installment Part 14 is probably 2 months work BOM wise, I also know that as I near the end of a quilt, I like to keep going and see it finished. So whatever you do, set your own pace and don't be daunted. Forget Me Not is a quilt all about details and pleasure so finish it in your own time.



I definitely recommend making transparent templates from your pattern this month. I always do this anyway, but this month it's doubly important for you to see the block beneath you as you draw in your guidelines and mark your position for the contrast trim and block cutting line too

As you can see here, I've gone a tiny bit over the design space (I got distracted and didn't follow the original pattern as tightly as I should have) and will nip a bit of my forgetmenot flower with my contrast trim over on this side. Over on the other side I would have lost a whole flower head, so I fiddled the positioning guide to get my block looking its best.

My contrast trim is off white so it isn't showing up as clearly as I'd like in this pic, however you can see that I have ironed down Floriani Stitch n Wash Fusible on the wrong side of my fabric

and cut away the contrast trim with a seam allowance

 and clipped the seam allowance all the way around the curve line

and this is where you can needle turn your edge if you are needle turning.

I am turning my edges with Elmers disappearing purple washable glue

and an Orange stick for neat, tight curves all the way around and the time

and effort you take here is really rewarding when you see how important a clean neat

contrast line is in showing off your applique block

curved lines are so satisfying!

and when I've finished my curve contrast trim

I keep it in position until I slip stitch later on

with tiny dots of Roxanne's Basting Glue all around

and put the trim into position over my block

It's not a difficult technique but it is time consuming; because the contrast trim frames

your applique block, any mistakes you make here will distract from the applique.

Take your time and get it right.

Now I measure everything against my Template again to make sure I'm happy with the positioning. I always say, measure twice and cut once. You can see here that I appliqued my block (actually all my blocks) slightly over size, knowing I would be trimming them down at this stage

and after a final measure, I cut my block (with the contrast trim correctly in place) down to size.

Now repeat with all blocks in both sizes B & C.

Do make sure that your pattern template is correct when you print it out too, check it against the 1inch square box. I know how much time and effort you've put into your applique blocks, so these details really matter at this final stage!

Here I am work, working patiently and watching the Quilt Show for company!

With your contrast trim in place, it's time to add your borders. The borders have an optional applique motif embellishment which you can see on my Forget Me Not Block here. Whether you opt for the extra applique embellishment will depend on the style and colours and fabric choices of your quilt top. On some quilts, the extra frame applique will be too much and too fussy, whereas on other styles of quilt top it will add a decorative touch or unify an otherwise understated style. It's optional and something for you to decide.

I've made 2 x Forget Me Not Quilts and have decided on adding the embellishment on one and not the other. My yellow quilt is already quite busy but I think the brown frames offers enough contrast to break from the sashing print. I like the 'picture frame' applique throughout. Whereas on my dark quilt with the red polka dot sashing, it just doesn't work.

Forget Me Not has been such a pleasure to make. I've really enjoyed the floral applique blocks and it's been a real treat to see you make them as well. Thank you to everyone who is taking the time to post their blocks and progress over in my Yahoo BOM Group, we all love seeing pics in progress!

The real excitement of course, is that each quilt of 12x blocks had an option of 24x blocks to choose from; so no two Forget Me Not quilt will be alike. Each is a unique applique quilt with it's own options and flourishes.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the different quilt tops. The next time you see my quilt tops will be as I am quilting them in the next few months, so stay tuned and don't forget to head over to my Yahoo Group where you can share ideas, pics and questions.

 This is the final part of my free 2012 -2013 Mystery BOM Forget Me Not

You can download this month's block via my website or my Yahoo Bom Group

WOW: The Best Spot for Your Flower Blocks

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

This week I've been looking forward to ending the Forget Me Not mystery BOM. We're nearly there and whilst I've enjoyed every stitch, I'm so eager to see everyone's finished quilt top and get a good look at the flower blocks you've selected each month and also how you will be arranging them?!

I can't wait to see what the best spot for your flower blocks will be...

I spent hours positioning and re-positioning my own blocks. I couldn't stop changing them around. They're all set now. I can't show you my quilt tops because that would reveal too much before the 15th, however here are my two Forget Me Not Quilts and here are the flower positionings I have opted for in each one.

this is my yellow print Forget Me Not top with yellow background

and here's the fabric I selected at the very beginning of the mystery to make up the top

I still love the cheery yellow flower print and expect the brown to anchor the blocks enough

so that it isn't too busy

This is my red polka dot Forget Me Not top with a dark background

How could I resist red polka dots on beige? I love them!

What a week it's been! Just as I was getting somewhere with my new sewing space, I suffered a fall and have spent the last few days with my leg up, doing very little. It's been so hot this last week, not a day under 30c and with no rain in sight, so I decided to water some of my languishing pot plants one evening and tripped over and slipped in the wet! It's been really painful and especially frustrating...how could I have been so careless?!

The next installment of Forget Me Not is March 15th

What's Your WOW?

WOW: Easter 2013 Project Started

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I'm posting my WOW a little early this week

because I'm going to be offline tomorrow for most of the day.

Luckily, this week I have got back into gear and taken charge of my TO DO LIST which has been looming ever large since Christmas. I finally found and sketched out my

  Easter 2013 Project: 'Easter Blessings'  

It's a little applique block that I'm going to make into a miniature wall quilt to grace a small space of wall above our dining table for Easter. Of course, I quite like the idea of turning it into a cushion too...or maybe even a quick table runner. Or maybe all three! It depends on my final choice of fabric and if there's enough to stretch - today I'm thinking of applique in wool and I have a small wool stash that could work. Of course, it could also make a lovely red work. But I will have to narrow down my ideas and just get one finished by tomorrow. I don't remember if there were enough brights in the stash so I'll have a better look and get on with finishing this newly designed WIP pronto!

Of course, like so many of my patterns there are birds included and this design features a couple, the female bird is the chirping one!

What's your WOW?





This mini pattern was released for free to my online BOM Quilt Group back in 2013. It is no longer available for free. You can purchase it for $2.00 USD as an instant PDF download.

WOW: Too Much Cake!

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Happy Birthday to my DH. What a lovely day.

But two DDs means two cakes = what could I do with it all??

Luckily I had a judging workshop this past week and was able to share it out.

It was too good to go to waste...but I definitely couldn't have it hanging around the house where it would be too tempting to snack on all the time.

'where's the Easter box?' my DD asked me over our birthday lunch

'The Easter box? Why do you need that?' I replied

'Well', she told me, 'it's Easter now'

Yes it is.

Where does the time fly?

and where is the Easter box ???

'mum, this wouldn't happen if you weren't so disorganised!'

Hmm. No comment.

'do you know where the Easter box is?'

'of course, it's somewhere safe'

 And it is...somewhere. Wish me luck.

What's your WOW this week?

WOW: Now Where Did I Put You...?

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

these 4 blocks are patiently sitting somewhere

Somewhere, someplace, in a special box, I have tucked away my BOM Quilt. My Forget Me Not Mystery BOM Quilt. You know, for safe keeping during all my downsizing / re-organising / prioritising activity. Problem is, I'm not sure which box it is. And short of unpacking everything - and losing my unpacking 'system', I'm simply going to have to finish my sewing room in order to find it!

Re-organising my sewing and fabrics and 'stuff' felt so liberating, it felt like such a good idea before I started it. Now it feels like I'll never finish. Today, I'll keep unpacking.

What's your WOW ?

Lemon Squeezy Stash Busting

I'm always being asked about free quilt patterns for beginners so I'm happy to pass on this link for McCall's Quilting Magazine. I received an email from them today, they have released several short ebooks for free download which you may like to know about. Their free quilt patterns are bright and vibrant - perfect if you have some printed fabric you'd like to show off.

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/free-modern-quilt-patterns

Going through my quilts, I haven't made as many modern quilts as I thought I would (I think I must love traditional applique too much), but I do like simple quilts and the Lemon Squeezy quilt in this ebook caught my eye. It's one of those quilts I always have in the back of my mind to get around to making one rainy day, but never have. Well, now I have the pattern so I might just go ahead and make it. I love the idea of quilting as I go and it looks like a perfect stash buster for turning out a fun modern quilt in a day (and I need a few of those around the house). What I really like about this pattern is that the strips are wider than usual, making it fast and easy. And I definitely have plenty of fabric to choose from.

This might just be the perfect project to get me motivated again - using up some fabric and warming up my machine - I haven't sewn anything for weeks! (months?). I've been too busy organising my sewing room to get any actual sewing done.

To receive your free ebook, simply click on the above image which takes you to the McCall's site.

I don't have any affiliation with McCall's so if you have any queries about the patterns or ebooks please contact them directly through their website.

FMN: Part 13 is launched

Forget Me Not is coming to it's sweet end. It's been a charming applique quilt, I've really enjoyed every block. But I shouldnt be talking about it like it's all finished now. Oh no, this might be the last applique block option, but next month is the quilt top reveal. Ready?

 

These are blocks from Part 13

of my free 2012 -2013 Mystery BOM Forget Me Not

 

Yes, anyone can join in:

You can download this month's block via my website or my Yahoo Bom Group

WOW: Fabric Distractions

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Yes, it's all mine and this is only 2x boxes unpacked. I'm beginning to realise that I might have to re-consider my 'essential' stack  again and have some kind of sale. There's just too much. And I have to accept now that each time I make up one of my quilts, I do like buying new fabric for the project specifically. Of course, every quilter needs something of a stash - it's vital. I just have too much. Still too much...and I really thought I'd cut back enough already. Seems not.

And then there's the fabric dilemmas, like this one: I love this medieval rose design. I purchased it for my DD for a quilt I was going to make her (which she doesn't want!). Now what should I do with this beautiful fabric? Get rid of it? I might have the perfect project for it one day...... or I might not. Who knows?

 Oh look! I can't get rid of this fabric, I was going to make a shirt from it. I love the print. The colours on monitor aren't coming up true - it's really a lovely warm orange with nice detail at the bottom of the fabric, it could be such a nice shirt.... what do you think?

 I bought all these fabrics because I loved them, parting with them is going to be hard!

What's your WOW?