Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Orange Peel for Real

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This is my For Real Orange Peel project.  After making 900 test block units I am now ready to embark upon the Real Deal.  

Good gravy, thank you for all the brilliant suggestions.  Sew four 4 1/2 inch scrappy background squares together into your large block first, before appliquing?  Chris, can you hear me slapping my forehead and saying "Duh!"  Be sure to read Kath's wonderful suggestion on using a sticky label run through the printer for your template.  And if you are wanting to make your own orange peel template pieces, read Renate's comment on using the Pythagorean Theorem to figure it out.  I am serious.  Europeans are so much better at math than we Americans are.  Except for Thelma.

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This is the fabric collection I plan to use.  Kona Snow is my background and the collection is Fancy by Lily Ashbury.  You know what?  Best.Day.Ever. by April Rosenthal coordinates perfectly if I want to add in a little something extra.

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Here are my prepped pieces for nine blocks.  I haven't cut out all the fabric yet, but then I am not sure how big I am going to make my version.  The blocks finish at only 8 inches, so I may be making a few.  Notice how I have pressed the background blocks?  That is to aid me in placing the applique units just right.

I am doing needle turn applique, because I have discovered I hate all the prep of starch and glue and want to get right to the sewing.  The stitching on these guys goes very quickly.  Friday morning I had fun picking out a slew of pretty matching threads to do the hand sewing.

Hope you all had a splendid weekend!

30 responses to “Orange Peel for Real”

  4. Thanks for sharing all this info. I have been wanting to do one of these and was worried about all the things you ran into! Great solutions!

  5. Thanks for sharing all this info. I have been wanting to do one of these and was worried about all the things you ran into! Great solutions!

  6. Thanks for sharing all this info. I have been wanting to do one of these and was worried about all the things you ran into! Great solutions!

  7. I learned a long time ago that needle turn is the easiest, quickest, and the most “serene” way to do applique. I took a four-day workshop with Robyn Pandolph many years ago and she asked me, “Would you rather be prepping or would you rather be stitching?” That did it for me! One suggestion: I saw you had pinned some leaves in your last post. I have a spool of bright neon pink thread that I use to baste the piece in place. Just take big stitches (takes about 30 seconds) and your leaf won’t shift while you’re stitching. Can’t wait to see your finished quilt. It’s going to be beautiful!

  8. I learned a long time ago that needle turn is the easiest, quickest, and the most “serene” way to do applique. I took a four-day workshop with Robyn Pandolph many years ago and she asked me, “Would you rather be prepping or would you rather be stitching?” That did it for me! One suggestion: I saw you had pinned some leaves in your last post. I have a spool of bright neon pink thread that I use to baste the piece in place. Just take big stitches (takes about 30 seconds) and your leaf won’t shift while you’re stitching. Can’t wait to see your finished quilt. It’s going to be beautiful!

  9. I learned a long time ago that needle turn is the easiest, quickest, and the most “serene” way to do applique. I took a four-day workshop with Robyn Pandolph many years ago and she asked me, “Would you rather be prepping or would you rather be stitching?” That did it for me! One suggestion: I saw you had pinned some leaves in your last post. I have a spool of bright neon pink thread that I use to baste the piece in place. Just take big stitches (takes about 30 seconds) and your leaf won’t shift while you’re stitching. Can’t wait to see your finished quilt. It’s going to be beautiful!

  10. What a stellar beginning and I applaud your diligence in getting things figured out before plunging forward. Love your fabrics, too!
    The various suggestion, including Vicky’s today, have been contained a wealth of knowledge that I’ve appreciated so much. Thanks to all!
    Hugs!

  11. What a stellar beginning and I applaud your diligence in getting things figured out before plunging forward. Love your fabrics, too!
    The various suggestion, including Vicky’s today, have been contained a wealth of knowledge that I’ve appreciated so much. Thanks to all!
    Hugs!

  12. What a stellar beginning and I applaud your diligence in getting things figured out before plunging forward. Love your fabrics, too!
    The various suggestion, including Vicky’s today, have been contained a wealth of knowledge that I’ve appreciated so much. Thanks to all!
    Hugs!

  16. Went back and reread comments on prior post. A simpler way to find the diagonal when the block size ( or side of a right triangle) is known is to multiply size by 1.414. So 4 x 1.414 = 5.656. Conversely to find the block size when the diagonal ( side oppositite the right angle) is known, divide by .707.
    It really helps for calculating setting triangles.
    Georgia Bonesteel used these numbers way back in the ’80s.

  17. Went back and reread comments on prior post. A simpler way to find the diagonal when the block size ( or side of a right triangle) is known is to multiply size by 1.414. So 4 x 1.414 = 5.656. Conversely to find the block size when the diagonal ( side oppositite the right angle) is known, divide by .707.
    It really helps for calculating setting triangles.
    Georgia Bonesteel used these numbers way back in the ’80s.

  18. Went back and reread comments on prior post. A simpler way to find the diagonal when the block size ( or side of a right triangle) is known is to multiply size by 1.414. So 4 x 1.414 = 5.656. Conversely to find the block size when the diagonal ( side oppositite the right angle) is known, divide by .707.
    It really helps for calculating setting triangles.
    Georgia Bonesteel used these numbers way back in the ’80s.

  22. I love your first block above and those two collections will go great together. I can’t wait to see your mix of fabrics on the blocks and the results.

  23. I love your first block above and those two collections will go great together. I can’t wait to see your mix of fabrics on the blocks and the results.

  24. I love your first block above and those two collections will go great together. I can’t wait to see your mix of fabrics on the blocks and the results.

  25. I love Lily Ashbury fabrics and the look of your orange peel block! I can’t wait to watch the progress of your quilt top!

  26. I love Lily Ashbury fabrics and the look of your orange peel block! I can’t wait to watch the progress of your quilt top!

  27. I love Lily Ashbury fabrics and the look of your orange peel block! I can’t wait to watch the progress of your quilt top!

  28. I’ve been following your orange peel journey with interest. Love the fabrics your choose for this. Are jelly roll strips wide enough to use for the orange peels? Thanks for sharing.

  29. I’ve been following your orange peel journey with interest. Love the fabrics your choose for this. Are jelly roll strips wide enough to use for the orange peels? Thanks for sharing.

  30. I’ve been following your orange peel journey with interest. Love the fabrics your choose for this. Are jelly roll strips wide enough to use for the orange peels? Thanks for sharing.