Star,
I've sent off my round robin center so now I can dig for that UFO and start working toward our end of February goal. ;-)
aka Grandma Sunshine
I topped by my LQS and they suggested a light weight fusible interfacing or enlarge the pieces. LOL I'm not done experimenting so I will not resort to enlarging the piece yet. Someone out there has an answer to my fraying issue!
Maggie, I keep checking the replies to your fraying issue, I am having the same problem, really fighting the tiny pieces. I'm in between baby quilts right now so am trying to make some progress on this block.
I use Fray Check - just a drop. It doesn't show if you use it sparingly and it works for me.
Maggie aka Grandma Sunshine: I need some suggestions regarding fraying fabric. I am doing tiny pieces (27 pieces to equal a bird 2" X 2") and the fabrics are fraying terribly when I appliqué (by hand). I've tried starching and fusible web but the edges still fray. I've thought I might try iron on stabilizer. Any suggestions or ideas?
I need some suggestions regarding fraying fabric. I am doing tiny pieces (27 pieces to equal a bird 2" X 2") and the fabrics are fraying terribly when I appliqué (by hand). I've tried starching and fusible web but the edges still fray. I've thought I might try iron on stabilizer. Any suggestions or ideas?
You don't need stabiliser etc. Trace your small pieces onto a large piece of fabric and cut away as you sew. We used this technique on a couple blocks from the "Country Cousins" quilt.
Click here to see Gini's tutorial.
Thanks Kris for the link. I couldn't figure out the tutorial until I finally went to the beginning of the thread. There was Gini's illustration and instructions. I will try it but the block shown was about a 10 x 10 so the pieces are bigger than what I'm working with. I'm willing to try anything once. I'm going to try it tonight and I'll let you know if it worked for me. Thanks again!
Maggie,
I used this technique for tiny pieces in another block of the same project.
I'll await your response on how this works (or not) for you.
cut the stems on the bias to reduce fraying and make sure you are using a good quality fabric that is not loosely woven.
gini in north idaho
I promised myself NO new quilt projects till I finished a few of the many already in progress. Well then I saw the new block of the month at fatcatpatterns.com and before i knew it I was sewing this cute guy.
MelodyP MO/KS:In selecting fabrics, what would I concentrate on, solids, batiks, small prints?
Melody, for applique I mostly use tone on tone prints and batiks. You can use most anything, but solids look very "flat" to me.
Melody,
I think this depends on what you're making and also on what you like. Wether you want realistic representations of what you're making or if you want to be whimsical or somewhere in between.
I used all batiks on my last appliqué project.
Jacy:I promised myself NO new quilt projects till I finished a few of the many already in progress. Well then I saw the new block of the month at fatcatpatterns.com and before i knew it I was sewing this cute guy.
Jacy,
I see how it would be hard to resist that one. Very cute. It's been a while since I visited her site. Might have to get in on this one.