Instructions are Up

You can see the instructions HERE or by clicking the picture of the quilt in my original post HERE.  Remember, I only have instructions posted for the four quilts for which I pulled fabric recently.  More as I can get them uploaded.  I've already received a few questions about these quilts.  I'm happy to answer any questions you have to the best of my ability.  If you spot an error in my instructions please oh please let me know!  I try really hard to keep it simple and accurate, and appreciate any constructive criticism.

In an unrelated note, I recently finished  Leftover Butterflies.   It was fun to quilt.  I made a whimsical butterfly in each block and tight loops in the sashing.

Freezer Paper Circles

Not everyone appliques, I know this.  Not all applique-ers make their own patterns, I realize this too.

But circles?  Come on!  Even some non-quilting seamstresses (seamsters?) have need for the ocassional circle template.

I've found a reliable way to make them.  We all know about freezer paper.  You can draw whatever shape you want on it, cut out the shape, iron it (shiny side TOWARDS the fabric, not towards the iron.  Don't ask me how I know this, it's too humiliating) onto the fabric, cut around the shape, adding a seam allowance, and press.  Voila!

The problem with circles is they really need to be just about perfect in order to keep your finished applique from looking sadly lopsided.

The problem with circles is they are really hard to freehand draw.

The problem with circles is they are really hard to even trace.

So enter the printer.  I have this really cool program called Graph Paper Printer (remember, my mild mannered alter-ego is that of a mathmatician) which you can find HERE or HERE if you don't already have it.  The user friendly menu driven software creates circles quite simply in any size you want.  It is SUPER accurate.  (it also makes hexagons, equilateral triangles, and the more traditional rectangles.  music tabs too!)

But alas, I got too clever for my own good.  YOU try running a piece of freezer paper through a printer.  Go on, I'll stand way over here (pointing) and I'll try not to laugh too loud.

There is a solution (or I wouldn't be blogging about it, duh!).  If you stack a piece of plain paper on top of the shiny side of a piece of freezer paper, load it into the printer, hit print, and as soon as the printer starts to take up the paper, PULL THE PLAIN PAPER OUT OF THE PRINTER, the printer will pull up your freezer paper smoothly and print your circle crisp and clean.

Not for the faint hearted, but it does work and you don't have to spend a fortune on fancy templates or cutters.

Now, go forth and applique circles!

Bias Tape Tutorial

Making your own Bias Tape isn't as hard as a lot of people might think.  I've set up a picture driven tutorial for you which you can find by clicking the link above or going to the sidebar where it says "Quilting Tutorials".

Random Box Follow-up

Beth and I have received several requests for the pattern for this quilt. I've worked it up as a web pattern for you HERE. Free. Have at it. If you make this quilt and it wins ribbons in your local show, please credit me for the design and Peg at IvyArts for the inspiration since it was her quilt that inspired mine. Thank you all for your lovely comments and emails on both quilts. To the most common question asked on all of them, no, we haven't chosen another pattern to work yet, but it never takes us long to choose another and yes we will happily consider any pattern you suggest!