Sister's Choice Quilts

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Viola Stems

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These funny looking things are my Viola Stems.  The idea is, you cut them in half diagonally and have sections for two vase units.  

The appliqué part went pretty well.  I used regular neutral Aurofil thread in the bobbin and invisible poly thread on the top.  It is like sewing with a transparent hair, so yes, it is invisible.  

The part that didn't go so well is that those curvy bias stems, they, well….they want to curve.  I had a heck of a time getting that long center strip to lay flat and straight diagonal to diagonal.  I have some that are very wobbly, and I am thinking I may re-do them.  Corner to corner, the strips line up where they are supposed to (at the ends).  However, along the way to the corner there is some serpentine wiggling going on.  That is the nature of a bias strip I suppose, but in this case, I am pretty sure the intent is for them to lay arrow straight.

Bummer.  I wanted this step to be over with quickly, but it looks like I may have some fiddling to do.

Just a note, if any of you are following along and making this pattern with us:  There is an error where the pattern says the half flower units should measure 5 1/2 inches.  They do not.  The half flower units measure 8 inches square.  

21 responses to “Viola Stems”

  1. Veddy interesting and it does sound veddy fiddly, too.
    Good note on the correct size for the half flower units.
    I got my Christmas Santa quilt back from the quilter yesterday, so I’ll be squaring it up, and then wrestling the quilt to sew the binding on. It’s 65″x 65″.
    Hugs!

  2. Veddy interesting and it does sound veddy fiddly, too.
    Good note on the correct size for the half flower units.
    I got my Christmas Santa quilt back from the quilter yesterday, so I’ll be squaring it up, and then wrestling the quilt to sew the binding on. It’s 65″x 65″.
    Hugs!

  3. Veddy interesting and it does sound veddy fiddly, too.
    Good note on the correct size for the half flower units.
    I got my Christmas Santa quilt back from the quilter yesterday, so I’ll be squaring it up, and then wrestling the quilt to sew the binding on. It’s 65″x 65″.
    Hugs!

  4. Nicole,
    In real life flower stems are not perfect. I would just leave them and think of nature. Now if someone was going to inspect it with a ruler and get real close to it, that would be their problem. You do such good work as it is.
    Dee

  5. Nicole,
    In real life flower stems are not perfect. I would just leave them and think of nature. Now if someone was going to inspect it with a ruler and get real close to it, that would be their problem. You do such good work as it is.
    Dee

  6. Nicole,
    In real life flower stems are not perfect. I would just leave them and think of nature. Now if someone was going to inspect it with a ruler and get real close to it, that would be their problem. You do such good work as it is.
    Dee

  7. Why don’t you make stems cut from the straight of grain for the diagonal stems. Then they would be more stable. (If you are going to redo them anyway)

  8. Why don’t you make stems cut from the straight of grain for the diagonal stems. Then they would be more stable. (If you are going to redo them anyway)

  9. Why don’t you make stems cut from the straight of grain for the diagonal stems. Then they would be more stable. (If you are going to redo them anyway)

  13. I think they look just fine. But I think Thelma paper-pieced them and I’m sure she doesn’t mind to tell you the measurements.

  14. I think they look just fine. But I think Thelma paper-pieced them and I’m sure she doesn’t mind to tell you the measurements.

  15. I think they look just fine. But I think Thelma paper-pieced them and I’m sure she doesn’t mind to tell you the measurements.

  16. This is why I paper pieced my stems!! But I agree with Dee, once the flower blocks are all assembled, I think your stems will look fine!

  17. This is why I paper pieced my stems!! But I agree with Dee, once the flower blocks are all assembled, I think your stems will look fine!

  18. This is why I paper pieced my stems!! But I agree with Dee, once the flower blocks are all assembled, I think your stems will look fine!

  19. Perhaps the stems would behave better if cut on the true bias. Most fabric is off-kilter when it comes off the bolt. For narrow bias strips, this matters!
    Pull a crosswise thread, cut on that line, fold fabric in half with selvedges together. If the cut edge is off-kilter, pull on the diagonal to straighten. When this is perfectly squared, your diagonal cut will be on the true bias.
    The reason the 7/8″ rule doesn’t work for your half square triangles is because the math is for a two-dimensional plane. Fabric has thickness–it’s three-dimensional! The only way to make the 7/8 rule “work” is to sew a seam narrower than 1/4″. I just cut them at 1″–it’s easier than adding 7/8″ anyway, and square them up after stitching. [email protected]

  20. Perhaps the stems would behave better if cut on the true bias. Most fabric is off-kilter when it comes off the bolt. For narrow bias strips, this matters!
    Pull a crosswise thread, cut on that line, fold fabric in half with selvedges together. If the cut edge is off-kilter, pull on the diagonal to straighten. When this is perfectly squared, your diagonal cut will be on the true bias.
    The reason the 7/8″ rule doesn’t work for your half square triangles is because the math is for a two-dimensional plane. Fabric has thickness–it’s three-dimensional! The only way to make the 7/8 rule “work” is to sew a seam narrower than 1/4″. I just cut them at 1″–it’s easier than adding 7/8″ anyway, and square them up after stitching. [email protected]

  21. Perhaps the stems would behave better if cut on the true bias. Most fabric is off-kilter when it comes off the bolt. For narrow bias strips, this matters!
    Pull a crosswise thread, cut on that line, fold fabric in half with selvedges together. If the cut edge is off-kilter, pull on the diagonal to straighten. When this is perfectly squared, your diagonal cut will be on the true bias.
    The reason the 7/8″ rule doesn’t work for your half square triangles is because the math is for a two-dimensional plane. Fabric has thickness–it’s three-dimensional! The only way to make the 7/8 rule “work” is to sew a seam narrower than 1/4″. I just cut them at 1″–it’s easier than adding 7/8″ anyway, and square them up after stitching. [email protected]