Well, right off the bat, I need to tell you Crop Circles is not a beginner pattern. Carrie Nelson's pattern instructions are terrific, and full of detail. if you like appliqué you will love it. The only problem for me is the directions say "use your favorite method of appliqué". That always throws me for a loop because I am such a dummy when it comes to appliqué and have to experiment for a few days to get in the groove.
The construction of the wedges for each block went fine, and I have to say, I love the results of starching the Dickens out of the fabric before I cut and sewed it. It is almost like working with paper, it is so stiff! And look at the photo above. Pressing those seams open was a complete cinch. It was like folding a piece of paper over and having it lie down nice and crisp right along that seam line. Not floppy and uncooperative like unstarched fabric can be. I loved that. So far, a big thumbs up for pre-starching.
Then, oh blah, things got tricky. You have to turn the raw edge of the top of your wedge shape over a nice even quarter inch. First I made a template out of template plastic. Which immediately melted and got all wobble edged from the heat of the iron. Ok, new plan. I cut out freezer paper (two layers) and used that as my template. You are supposed to spray some more starch on the edge, which I did, but which made the freezer paper wet and soft. I managed to get the edge turned over fairly neatly, but am not thrilled with this method. It worked, but I burned my fingers and felt like a complete klutz.
Making those little quarter circles that go in the corner of each block was a similar mess, perhaps worse, because the curve is tighter. I used freezer paper as a template for those circles, turned the seam allowance over and then cut the circle into four quarters. You see my glue stick in the photo? Next time I am going to use that to try and hold the seam allowance down better. I will also use a glue stick to stick my appliqué shapes on the background square.
I made my background squares a quarter inch too big, and will trim them down after the appliqué is on.
Two hours went by and I haven't even started appliquéing yet. I will get the hang of things. The first block is always the hardest. I got out my three machine appliqué books and have been studying them all afternoon. I am so envious of you ladies who have the whole appliqué thing down pat. I struggle with it every time I try it. I love the look of appliqué and will vow to master it! For those of you who are experienced in appliqué, you will see that it doesn't get much simpler than these easy shapes. I need to put on my Big Girl Panties and just do it.
I have not yet cut out all my fabric. I just wanted to make a test block to see what I was up against. Now I know. I should finish this project in about eight years. (Just kidding). I am sewing along with Sinta from Pink Pincushion, and anyone who would like to can join in with us. Heaven knows I could use some appliqué advice from other participants! Please weigh in if you have any suggestions.
If you would like to sew along with us (and I sure hope you will!), feel free to do either of the following:
Use any Jen Kingwell pattern or fabric to make a quilt top.
Use the Crop Circles pattern by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company with Jen Kingwell's new collection Gardenvale, or another fabric line of your choice.
Sinta and I are both making Crop Circles, I am using Jen Kingwell's Gardenvale and Sinta is using Pedal Pushers by Lauren and Jessi Jung. Let either of us know if you'd like to play along. No deadlines, just a fun project for summer.
42 responses to “I Should Finish This in About Eight Years”
I had a tough start on this one last night too. Check my Instagram feed (@textilehousequilts) to see the mess while making my templates. I have a suggestion for you…. Make the templates with Mylar plastic. It doesn’t melt. You can pick up some at Joann’s. When you work in your circle, run a basting stitch on the edge and pull the edges together. It will gather around the template so you can iron the edges down easily for a perfect circle. Good luck!
I had a tough start on this one last night too. Check my Instagram feed (@textilehousequilts) to see the mess while making my templates. I have a suggestion for you…. Make the templates with Mylar plastic. It doesn’t melt. You can pick up some at Joann’s. When you work in your circle, run a basting stitch on the edge and pull the edges together. It will gather around the template so you can iron the edges down easily for a perfect circle. Good luck!
I had a tough start on this one last night too. Check my Instagram feed (@textilehousequilts) to see the mess while making my templates. I have a suggestion for you…. Make the templates with Mylar plastic. It doesn’t melt. You can pick up some at Joann’s. When you work in your circle, run a basting stitch on the edge and pull the edges together. It will gather around the template so you can iron the edges down easily for a perfect circle. Good luck!
There is a product called Wash Away Applique Sheets. Cut it out to desired shape, gently iron it on the shaped fabric, and glue stick the edges around the curve. Then use tiny glue dots (not glue stick, but liquid) to secure in place on quilt. When you wash the quilt, it will dissolve, and just the fabric will be left. Hope this helps!
There is a product called Wash Away Applique Sheets. Cut it out to desired shape, gently iron it on the shaped fabric, and glue stick the edges around the curve. Then use tiny glue dots (not glue stick, but liquid) to secure in place on quilt. When you wash the quilt, it will dissolve, and just the fabric will be left. Hope this helps!
There is a product called Wash Away Applique Sheets. Cut it out to desired shape, gently iron it on the shaped fabric, and glue stick the edges around the curve. Then use tiny glue dots (not glue stick, but liquid) to secure in place on quilt. When you wash the quilt, it will dissolve, and just the fabric will be left. Hope this helps!
Another way to turn the edge on appliqué pieces is to spray some starch in a bowl and use a small paint brush or q-tip to paint the 1/4 inch (and not get the freezer paper wet. I also use a Clover mini iron and a stiletto so I won’t burn my fingers. Good luck with the next ones!
Another way to turn the edge on appliqué pieces is to spray some starch in a bowl and use a small paint brush or q-tip to paint the 1/4 inch (and not get the freezer paper wet. I also use a Clover mini iron and a stiletto so I won’t burn my fingers. Good luck with the next ones!
Another way to turn the edge on appliqué pieces is to spray some starch in a bowl and use a small paint brush or q-tip to paint the 1/4 inch (and not get the freezer paper wet. I also use a Clover mini iron and a stiletto so I won’t burn my fingers. Good luck with the next ones!
My sympathies! I admire your determination and creative thoughts about alternative construction methods and am glad see 3 stellar suggestions from others adept at applique.
Good luck as you push onward!
Hugs!
My sympathies! I admire your determination and creative thoughts about alternative construction methods and am glad see 3 stellar suggestions from others adept at applique.
Good luck as you push onward!
Hugs!
My sympathies! I admire your determination and creative thoughts about alternative construction methods and am glad see 3 stellar suggestions from others adept at applique.
Good luck as you push onward!
Hugs!
You have some good suggestions for the appliqué. I’ve also done the paint brush method, I used a Q-Tip. Have fun with your Crop Circles.
You have some good suggestions for the appliqué. I’ve also done the paint brush method, I used a Q-Tip. Have fun with your Crop Circles.
You have some good suggestions for the appliqué. I’ve also done the paint brush method, I used a Q-Tip. Have fun with your Crop Circles.
This pattern would be right up my alley because I love, love, love to do hand applique! If we lived closer to each other I would do your applique for you! There are lots of good suggestions here and I think you just have to find your applique “niche” and then you will enjoy your project more. When I do hand applique, I use the freezer paper/starch/brush method. I am currently working on “Sweet and Simple”, an applique quilt designed by Norma Whaley, and I found that my most valuable tool when doing this much applique is the heavy duty freezer paper (by C.Jenkins). It doesn’t get soggy as fast as regular freezer paper does. I fuse two pieces of the hd freezer paper together and I can use it over and over and over. I know some appliquer’s use mylar template plastic but I don’t use it because I don’t like how it can slip around while ironing the edges. When attaching your piece to your background have you considered using Roxanne’s Glue Baste It? That stuff holds really well and you need very few dots to keep your piece in place. Good Luck! I know you’ll enjoy making this quilt once you find the applique method that best suits you.
This pattern would be right up my alley because I love, love, love to do hand applique! If we lived closer to each other I would do your applique for you! There are lots of good suggestions here and I think you just have to find your applique “niche” and then you will enjoy your project more. When I do hand applique, I use the freezer paper/starch/brush method. I am currently working on “Sweet and Simple”, an applique quilt designed by Norma Whaley, and I found that my most valuable tool when doing this much applique is the heavy duty freezer paper (by C.Jenkins). It doesn’t get soggy as fast as regular freezer paper does. I fuse two pieces of the hd freezer paper together and I can use it over and over and over. I know some appliquer’s use mylar template plastic but I don’t use it because I don’t like how it can slip around while ironing the edges. When attaching your piece to your background have you considered using Roxanne’s Glue Baste It? That stuff holds really well and you need very few dots to keep your piece in place. Good Luck! I know you’ll enjoy making this quilt once you find the applique method that best suits you.
This pattern would be right up my alley because I love, love, love to do hand applique! If we lived closer to each other I would do your applique for you! There are lots of good suggestions here and I think you just have to find your applique “niche” and then you will enjoy your project more. When I do hand applique, I use the freezer paper/starch/brush method. I am currently working on “Sweet and Simple”, an applique quilt designed by Norma Whaley, and I found that my most valuable tool when doing this much applique is the heavy duty freezer paper (by C.Jenkins). It doesn’t get soggy as fast as regular freezer paper does. I fuse two pieces of the hd freezer paper together and I can use it over and over and over. I know some appliquer’s use mylar template plastic but I don’t use it because I don’t like how it can slip around while ironing the edges. When attaching your piece to your background have you considered using Roxanne’s Glue Baste It? That stuff holds really well and you need very few dots to keep your piece in place. Good Luck! I know you’ll enjoy making this quilt once you find the applique method that best suits you.
Sounds about how I feel about appliqué! Wool is a lot easier 🙂
I have seen a method where you sew your circle appliqués to a same size piece of interfacing and then cut a slit in the interfacing and turn the piece right side out. This eliminates that quarter inch business. However, if the circles are small….
Sounds about how I feel about appliqué! Wool is a lot easier 🙂
I have seen a method where you sew your circle appliqués to a same size piece of interfacing and then cut a slit in the interfacing and turn the piece right side out. This eliminates that quarter inch business. However, if the circles are small….
Sounds about how I feel about appliqué! Wool is a lot easier 🙂
I have seen a method where you sew your circle appliqués to a same size piece of interfacing and then cut a slit in the interfacing and turn the piece right side out. This eliminates that quarter inch business. However, if the circles are small….
You might want to find true Templar – not a knock-off if you want to use heat. Also Karen Buckley’s perfect large circles make the spray starch on a paint bush way really easy. I never hand applique. I would put those blocks on a piece of stabilizer (tear away type – even a piece of paper) and use invisible thread in both the top and bobbin and sew those suckers down with the machine. These hands don’t hold a needle well at all anymore.
You might want to find true Templar – not a knock-off if you want to use heat. Also Karen Buckley’s perfect large circles make the spray starch on a paint bush way really easy. I never hand applique. I would put those blocks on a piece of stabilizer (tear away type – even a piece of paper) and use invisible thread in both the top and bobbin and sew those suckers down with the machine. These hands don’t hold a needle well at all anymore.
You might want to find true Templar – not a knock-off if you want to use heat. Also Karen Buckley’s perfect large circles make the spray starch on a paint bush way really easy. I never hand applique. I would put those blocks on a piece of stabilizer (tear away type – even a piece of paper) and use invisible thread in both the top and bobbin and sew those suckers down with the machine. These hands don’t hold a needle well at all anymore.
No matter which methode you’ll use I think you’ll finish your quilt before I’ll finish mine Green Tea and Sweet Beans although it’s slowly growing. BTW there’s a great FQS/Jen Kingwell hand appliqué tutorial on youtube it helped me a lot with hand appliqué.
No matter which methode you’ll use I think you’ll finish your quilt before I’ll finish mine Green Tea and Sweet Beans although it’s slowly growing. BTW there’s a great FQS/Jen Kingwell hand appliqué tutorial on youtube it helped me a lot with hand appliqué.
No matter which methode you’ll use I think you’ll finish your quilt before I’ll finish mine Green Tea and Sweet Beans although it’s slowly growing. BTW there’s a great FQS/Jen Kingwell hand appliqué tutorial on youtube it helped me a lot with hand appliqué.
These will be beautiful.
A heavy disposable foil pan can be cut into great templates for ironing. I use the freezer paper method pretty often too.
These will be beautiful.
A heavy disposable foil pan can be cut into great templates for ironing. I use the freezer paper method pretty often too.
These will be beautiful.
A heavy disposable foil pan can be cut into great templates for ironing. I use the freezer paper method pretty often too.
What about needle-turn applique? Just mark your 1/4″ line on the right side and needle-turn that allowance under.
What about needle-turn applique? Just mark your 1/4″ line on the right side and needle-turn that allowance under.
What about needle-turn applique? Just mark your 1/4″ line on the right side and needle-turn that allowance under.
Got a chuckle out of your headline; that’s my thinking with regards to my current project. And OK, you’ve converted me to starch. I’ve been buying Niagara Spray Starch from Amazon.com in trigger spray (not aerosol) containers because it is more economical. You have to buy 6 at a time but with this method will go through it quick enough.
Got a chuckle out of your headline; that’s my thinking with regards to my current project. And OK, you’ve converted me to starch. I’ve been buying Niagara Spray Starch from Amazon.com in trigger spray (not aerosol) containers because it is more economical. You have to buy 6 at a time but with this method will go through it quick enough.
Got a chuckle out of your headline; that’s my thinking with regards to my current project. And OK, you’ve converted me to starch. I’ve been buying Niagara Spray Starch from Amazon.com in trigger spray (not aerosol) containers because it is more economical. You have to buy 6 at a time but with this method will go through it quick enough.
Have you thought about piecing as a drunkards path type rather than applique? It would require less prep work, I think. Just a thought. Whatever you do will be wonderful.
Have you thought about piecing as a drunkards path type rather than applique? It would require less prep work, I think. Just a thought. Whatever you do will be wonderful.
Have you thought about piecing as a drunkards path type rather than applique? It would require less prep work, I think. Just a thought. Whatever you do will be wonderful.
I’ve read that wrapping a posterboard template in foil works. Good luck!
I’ve read that wrapping a posterboard template in foil works. Good luck!
I’ve read that wrapping a posterboard template in foil works. Good luck!