New CCCQ Quilt Start

It has been 3 weeks since I started my blog. I am still learning how to get around here. I was asked what this blog will be focusing on. The main interests in my life these days, besides family, are quilting, travel, ministry and education. I have lived on a dairy farm all my life and I never tire of this view from my desk.

It is not fair to backtrack through the 37 some quilts in progress, so I will begin where I am right now.

I am going to Poland in 2 weeks to meet some relatives for the very first time and in preparation, I am re-learning some basic Polish survival phrases. Doing the simple repetitive stiching on an applique block has kept my hands busy as my  mind is reviewing vocabulary  from my first language.

This month I joined in The Chester County Criswell  one year into the BOM (block of the month). The original  Criswell Quilt was made in 1852 for the marriage of Alice McClellan Criswell and Jesse Jackson Smith in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The present owner is a descendant and lives in Australia.
My first block is #13 Alice Criswell. This center block will finish at 24" square. This is the largest applique block I have ever attempted. I laid the 20" red print fabric right side up onto the right side of the background fabric then, basted it from corner to corner, top to bottom and side to side to hold it in place.

I traced 1/4 of the pattern onto freezer paper, folded it in half and cut out half the design. The freezer paper comes  on an 18" wide roll so I could  not do the entire pattern in one piece. Using the basting lines as a guide, I ironed it in place then traced around the design with a Frixion pen. This is supposed to disappear when heat is applied. We shall see. I then removed the paper and did the same on the other half of the fabric.

The original basting stitches are nicely holding the large piece in place as I cut away between the leaf designs. I have several tiny applique pins holding the individual leaves in place as I needle turn under the seam allowance around the markings using my favourite #10 straw or millners needle. So far, I am really happy with how it is working out.The fabric is an older Old Sturbridge Village Scarlett. I liked it so  much I bought the whole bolt. . .  enought to share.