This quilt is partly on the design wall and partly on a craft table. So the view is somewhat foreshortened. It actually has as much beach as water.
I decide to baste the leaves in place because pins are not too much fun when sewing complex applique. I wanted to post this in case someone ever finds themselves in the same dilemma — trying to manage a huge project and keep it all square and straight. This has a few wrinkles, but nothing serious. Pressing and quilting will fix it.
There are more leaves to go on the left end (just out of sight) and palm trees and leaves up the sides. I will look good on the bed, but right now I'm tired just looking at the picture.
Since the last post, I've been making large leaves, at least 18-20" high. At first, I didn't know the best way to do these. Raw-edge is prone to get fuzzy when washed and these would be impossible to piece. Finally, I decided to applique them using the following steps:
- Trace the leaf shape on to the dull side of freezer paper, cut out on the lines.
- Press the shiny side of the pattern to the right side of selected fabric.
- Cut it out with a scan 1/4" seam allowance.
- Turn the leaf over to the back side and place it on a piece of colored paper (red works).
- Ciip inside curves and V-shapes almost to the edge of the leaf.
- Using a glue stick, put 3-4" of glue along the seam allowance.
- Using the smallest Apliquick rod, fold the seam allowance to the fabric (wrong side) and press it firmly in place.
- When the entire leaf is done, let it dry then peel off the freezer paper.
- Press from the right side with a dry iron.
- Pin in place on the quilt background and to the next leaf...
- Repeat.
- When done, applique around the edges and enhance with quilting.
This isn't as time-consuming as it sounds. The Apliquick Rods (See right side of the link for these) are amazingly helpful and even fun to use. It is going to take many hockey and soccer games to hand applique them in their final positions though. I just hope my son is not an old man before he gets this quilt!
PS... He told me he didn't want to see it until it was done, but then changed his mind. We invited him here for pizza Sunday night, but he had plans so invited us to his house. So I took the sketches (link here), and his reaction was a positive boost to my procrastination. For this I am thankful!
I've got this much sewn together (after lots of improvising). The bit of lower sky is just pinned, and the way I will quilt it will give it some distinction from those far-away islands. I also have the rest of the sky ready to piece and put on the upper half.
Next, a jungle of leaves go around the bottom and lower sides, with palm trees up to the top. This one is a king-size and taking lots of hours. Also the driftwood is just pinned on because I'm not sure where it will go, and I might resize it.
Here is my sketch for the leaves and trees, but as you can see, it is only a guide. I'm hoping the leaves will be a lot easier to make that that water and sand!
