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.

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And Then This Happened.

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This is Jan Patek's block number 4 for the Moda BlockHeads Sew Along.  I had decided I didn't want to do it because it is appliqué, and made an alternate pieced block instead.

You all know I have been playing around with a new machine appliqué project on my Bernina 740.  After making some stars and basket handles using Heat and Bond fusible interfacing, I thought to myself:  "Nicole.  Stop being such a wuss and make the darn appliqué block".  I also heard somewhere that Jan is going to come out with six more appliqué blocks for this project, which could be a super cute addition to the quilt. 

One of my hesitations about making this block is that it looked wonky in just about every version of it I had seen.  It is supposed to be part of its primitive charm I suppose.  Only I can't do wonky very well.  My mother would straighten crooked pictures when she was a guest in someone's home, so I guess I come by it honestly.  It was pretty simple to make the pattern pieces symmetrical.  I traced them as they were, folded them exactly in half and cut with my scissors on the drawn line.  Kind of like cutting hearts when you make valentines.  Voila, each piece was symmetrical.  

I cut my gold strips 1 1/4" and sewed them with a  quarter inch seam.  I pressed those seams open.  I layered my three cut out appliqué pieces and fused them to the 6 1/2" background square.  I used invisible thread to do the appliqué, because Heaven help me, I could not match that gold to save my life.  I really like how forgiving the invisible thread is and will use it on the future appliqué blocks in this sew along.

I am super happy with how this little bee skep block turned out.  I am also thinking that maybe machine appliqué will become more a part of my projects, now that I have a machine that knows how to do it.

48 responses to “And Then This Happened.”

  4. It looks great! I’ve always hesitated with machine applique, although I used to do it all the time. Last weekend I made a quick baby quilt with a dinosaur on it and had to do it by machine and it turned out adorable…I may try this block that way too. I do love how you made everything even, I’m a symmetrical girl myself. Well done!

  5. It looks great! I’ve always hesitated with machine applique, although I used to do it all the time. Last weekend I made a quick baby quilt with a dinosaur on it and had to do it by machine and it turned out adorable…I may try this block that way too. I do love how you made everything even, I’m a symmetrical girl myself. Well done!

  6. It looks great! I’ve always hesitated with machine applique, although I used to do it all the time. Last weekend I made a quick baby quilt with a dinosaur on it and had to do it by machine and it turned out adorable…I may try this block that way too. I do love how you made everything even, I’m a symmetrical girl myself. Well done!

  7. Well done and applause for your bravery!
    I don’t do “wonky” either as it just rubs me the wrong way. My mother measured to put 3 dots in a row before using the ruler to draw a straight line. I come by it honestly, too!
    Hugs!

  8. Well done and applause for your bravery!
    I don’t do “wonky” either as it just rubs me the wrong way. My mother measured to put 3 dots in a row before using the ruler to draw a straight line. I come by it honestly, too!
    Hugs!

  9. Well done and applause for your bravery!
    I don’t do “wonky” either as it just rubs me the wrong way. My mother measured to put 3 dots in a row before using the ruler to draw a straight line. I come by it honestly, too!
    Hugs!

  10. Now aren’t you glad you made this block! It’s so cute. I haven’t used invisible thread yet, but I must try it because I often have a hard time finding the right thread color.
    I just wanted to let you know that I’m halfway through the book Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, that you recommended in your recent book review, and I’m really enjoying it!

  11. Now aren’t you glad you made this block! It’s so cute. I haven’t used invisible thread yet, but I must try it because I often have a hard time finding the right thread color.
    I just wanted to let you know that I’m halfway through the book Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, that you recommended in your recent book review, and I’m really enjoying it!

  12. Now aren’t you glad you made this block! It’s so cute. I haven’t used invisible thread yet, but I must try it because I often have a hard time finding the right thread color.
    I just wanted to let you know that I’m halfway through the book Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, that you recommended in your recent book review, and I’m really enjoying it!

  13. Great job! I totally agree with the wonky business. I blame my OCD. The block is adorable and it sits up straight!

  14. Great job! I totally agree with the wonky business. I blame my OCD. The block is adorable and it sits up straight!

  15. Great job! I totally agree with the wonky business. I blame my OCD. The block is adorable and it sits up straight!

  28. I like the symmetry of your work. Practice makes perfect & you’re learning your way around that new machine! Good job!

  29. I like the symmetry of your work. Practice makes perfect & you’re learning your way around that new machine! Good job!

  30. I like the symmetry of your work. Practice makes perfect & you’re learning your way around that new machine! Good job!

  31. That’s the neatest looking beehive block that I’ve seen online, I don’t do wonky either. Great job.

  32. That’s the neatest looking beehive block that I’ve seen online, I don’t do wonky either. Great job.

  33. That’s the neatest looking beehive block that I’ve seen online, I don’t do wonky either. Great job.

  46. Your bee hive looks great. I am anxious to see the other applique blocks as well. I usually just do needle turn hand applique, so machine applique is not necessarily my favorite thing. I actually turned under the edges on my and then machine blanket stitched it around. Guess some habits are just hard to break

  47. Your bee hive looks great. I am anxious to see the other applique blocks as well. I usually just do needle turn hand applique, so machine applique is not necessarily my favorite thing. I actually turned under the edges on my and then machine blanket stitched it around. Guess some habits are just hard to break

  48. Your bee hive looks great. I am anxious to see the other applique blocks as well. I usually just do needle turn hand applique, so machine applique is not necessarily my favorite thing. I actually turned under the edges on my and then machine blanket stitched it around. Guess some habits are just hard to break