This Beyond the Cherry Trees quilt has approximately 300 cherries and 200 grapes. That's a lot of little circles. I cut out the 43 cherries for this block using one of the GO dies. In the end, I used a dot of basting glue to hold them in place after I adjusted a few. Before I stitched on the bias stems, I made small markings for placing the leaves and cherries. None of them actually line up with the pattern, but that's okay.
What I find is that when I make the stems using the 1/4" bias tape maker, they are a smidgen wider than 1/4". Also, when I start stitching on one end, the other end ends up a bit short of the mark. As a result, each of the cherries that sits on top of a stem is out of line with the pattern and the markings I made earlier.
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| BTCT #20 |
I took time to prepare some more applique to take along when I babysit. I moved a few of the cherries to balance a bit better before glue
basting. I did practice on a couple to see if I could needle turn a
smooth circle. They finish at 3/4".
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| BTCT # 20 |
This is how far I have progressed in the last 3 babysitting nights. The red cherry at the very top left is almost perfectly round. The rest are more naturally roundish. I know that I take very small stitches with my needle turn applique, but with these cherries, I find I am taking twice as many stitches in hopes of making them nice and round. Yet I still get peaks. More practice I suppose. The circles surrounding the LE center compass finish at 3/8th inch.
I am not totally sold on using the dot of glue in the centers. The Quilter's Choice Basting Glue I used spread out as it soaked into the cherries and some to the edges. I had to gently peel back a bit of the fabric before stitching through the hard glue and it did not turn under smoothly. However, to its defense, the cherries did lay smoothly in place instead of wrinkling with the tiny applique pins that I usually use. And it did not prick me.
Blessings,
Chris
So interesting to read about how to make these little circles... looks very challenging, but you are doing a great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up!
I have been gearing up for them for nearly a year since I bought the patterns and have been reading many different circle tutorials. I decided to go with the technique that had the least amount of prep work.
DeleteYou are braver than I am. Your block is so pretty. Those circles look great. I am sure they try your patience.
ReplyDeleteThey are not "trying" my patience . . . they are "strengthening" my patience. Actually, I am pretty relaxed about them because I know there are so many errors so far in other blocks and the original 1850s appliqued samplers have so many crooked and quirky blocks that I figure mine aren't half bad in comparison.
DeleteYour cherries look great. Very tricky to get them perfect, I prefer using perfect circles as little more prep work as you say but they make great circles.
ReplyDeleteLooking good Chris!!!
ReplyDeleteHoly Cow!!!! What a lot of small little circles!! Amazing! I have never tried applique on something that small. It will look amazing when you have it finished!
ReplyDeleteYour circles look great! I also find them challenging to appliqué, but when finished, I feel it's a major accomplishment.
ReplyDelete