Scrappy Harvest Applique Block Three

Our third and final applique block - yay!

Again, you're going to make your base block, up to log 9, in neutrals.  Add your house and tree, and stitch them down....

This time, you're going to add your last four logs in darks before stitching the leaves down.

Add as many leaves as you want - over the seams of the darks, just scatter them.  Stitch them down and you're done with the final applique block!

For some reason my middle trunk of the tree doesn't go all the way to the top like it's supposed to, so I added a leaf there.  You can just make the trunk a bit longer if you'd like.  There will be lots more leaves scattered across this quilt, I just haven't gotten that far yet.  How are you coming on yours?

Free pattern is available in my shop, click >>>HERE<<<

I'll leave you with this pic of mum enjoying the biggest chicken pot pie I've ever seen in my life -

Isn't that amazing!  She was saying something there, I'm not sure what....something like "holy cats", lol!

Scrappy Harvest at the Cabin SAL Applique Block 2

How are you going with your blocks?  I haven't been doing very well....after being so sick, and then putting my back out, my stitching has suffered greatly.  But today I got busy, and spent the day at my sewing machine, yay!  Well, part of the day.

Our second block is ready for you to download in my craftsy shop, click HERE.  This time a sweet red bird has flown in to partake of the harvest.

First, make your neutral block, but only up to log 9.  Start adding your applique, following the picture - branch, bird, and wing.

Stitch them down, then start adding leaves - the more the merrier!

You might need a little sustenance to stitch down all the leaves - *ahem*

After you get all the leaves stitched with a blanket stitch, you can switch to a straight stitch and add the legs.  Placement doesn't have to be exact.

You can add the eye either with a small button, a French knot, or a black bead - I haven't added mine yet.  Then add your final four logs, in darks, and you're done!

Here are all my blocks so far -

Not as many as I'd hoped, but as you can see I have my next neutral block ready for the house applique.  Here's hoping I stay relatively healthy for the next little while, lol, and can get more done.  I'm planning on adding more leaves to the applique blocks, going out into the darker border, but that will wait til I have a lot more blocks done.

I did also make some new curtains for my room - inner curtains, so I have light without neighbors seeing in.  I made them from a chenille bedspread.

Hermione hates them - she likes to be able to see out.  She gets quite comfy by the window, on my cutting table.

Her middle name is Spoiled Brat.

See ya soon!

Scrappy Harvest First Applique Block, The Apple

I finished the first applique block, and I'm having so much fun - I hope you are too!  Here's a short tutorial and link to the block.

The three [so far] applique blocks are going to be stitched on neutral log cabins, except for the last four logs.  So make your block with all lights, but don't add logs 10-13.  The last four logs will be added after you do your applique.

Make your block, with logs 1-9.  [I had to unstitch my last four logs - some teacher, eh?]



Trace your applique shapes, using the REVERSED pattern on your printout, onto fusible web.



Cut them out, leaving at least 1/8th inch all around, then following manufacturer's directions, fuse them to the wrong side [back] of your fabrics.



Once they've cooled, cut them out on the line, and lay them on your fabric following the picture as a guide - there is a layout diagram in the pattern, but you don't have to get it exactly.  I laid out my branch and apple, then stitched them down, then added the leaves wherever.  There's no layout diagram for the leaves.




I used a blanket stitch on my machine.  Don't look too close - it's been so long since I've done this, I had a mess!



I just scattered the leaves wherever.  There's no right or wrong.  And I know that one tree doesn't have multi-colored leaves, that's ok, we're going for the spirit of autumn here.

After you stitch down the leaves, you're going to add the last four logs - in darks.



And that's it!  Your applique block is done.  I'm not sure if I'm going to add this one to my quilt, it may become a table runner, I really want to do needle-turn applique on these.  I've never done it before, so rather than making you wait for the applique blocks for a year or two, I thought I'd go ahead, fuse them, and have them ready.

Here's my first three blocks:



I have no idea yet what kind of layout these will have, but I kind of like this!

The applique is a free download in my craftsy shop, click HERE - happy stitching!

First Block Made And A Short Tute

Yay!  I spent most of the day cutting and pressing.  Remember that tv tray I got to sit next to my machine, so I could conveniently stitch and press?  Well, my son found me something better....

The ironing board lifts up, it's on wheels [and has brakes], the baskets underneath hold my scraps that I'm using on this quilt.  I LOVE IT.  The ironing board on top is so firm and flat, it's just perfect.  And he found it at Aldi, of all places.

So.  Today I pressed and cut, cut and pressed, and after an hour long search to find my quarter-inch foot, I commenced to sewing.  I'm doing my blocks according to the old log cabin pattern - lights and darks, with a red hearth.  Here's how I did it.

Forgive the bad pics taken with my phone, in the dark.....

Logs 1 and 2 are the same size.  Mine are 2" square.  Stitch them together and press seam open [I always press mine open, you do what works best for you].

Block 3 uses the same fabric as block 2 - following the diagram*, stitch it to your first two blocks, trim and press.

And you just keep going around, trimming and pressing as you go.  I've numbered a pic of my block, so you can see in what order I stitched the logs.

I did a google image search for a log cabin template, and I believe I already posted a pic of it; I printed it out and put it on my design wall where I can reference it constantly.  It's really easy to get turned around with these blocks, but with that reference you won't go wrong.

My block finished at 10.5".  I think that's a good size.  As you can see from the pic, each block uses 3 darks and 3 lights, and you'll have two logs of each fabric, except for the center.  So - logs 2-3 are the same light, 4-5 are the same dark, 6-7 same light, 8-9 same dark, 10-11 same light, 12-13 same dark.  

I'm also working on the applique patterns.  The blocks for those will be strictly lights - pieced the same way, but with neutrals.  I wanted to see what size my blocks would be before finalizing the patterns.  Stay tuned for those!

I'm saving the trims off the logs - as long as they look big enough to make a leaf, they're going in the border.  My border is going to be tons of autumn leaves.  I really want to use up these scraps, lol!  I did say this wouldn't be a fast project, didn't I? *smile*  Happy scrappin'!!!

*Diagram that you found on google - or follow my finished block picture

Scrappy Harvest At The Cabin Stitch-Along

I'm so excited - I'm almost ready to begin stitching.  I've been getting all my ducks in a row for this project [because they have to be lined up just right] and have cut almost all my strips.  I just have this much left to cut....



And then I'll begin stitching.  That pile has some large pieces in it which I won't cut up completely.

So - I started getting my ducks in formation by setting up my design wall again.



Which meant rearranging the entire room, sigh.  This is a 4x8 foot piece of insulation board, very lightweight, and I covered it with a flannel sheet.  I like it because I can stick pins in it, but it also holds the blocks without pins.  For a project this big, I need it.

I also picked up a bargain at Walmart.  I've been seeing people using wooden tv trays for small ironing boards, to set next to your sewing machine so you can press your blocks as you go - and Walmart had one for a little over $8.  I got a $4 ironing board cover, and stretched it over the tray, folded it under and pinned it in place.  I could have made a custom cover but I'm lazy and I'd rather be quilting.



Oh my goodness I love it.

Then, I went to google images and printed off a picture of the order in which to sew my logs.  I'll do a quick tutorial when I make my first one, but this will help me keep those ducks in order.



Jean from All Points of the Compass is going to be joining me, her strips will be 2.5 inches, as they're leftovers from another quilt.  My strips are two inches, which means I'll need more of them.



How many?  I have no idea.  This project uses scraps, you can make it as big or as small as you want.  Make a potholder, or a bed quilt.  It just depends on how many scraps you have.

I'm not cutting my strips to length before I add them - I'll trim them as I stitch them.

As far as how big to make the blocks, I'm thinking 8" - I still have to draw up the house block and see if it will fit.  I don't want the house pieces too tiny.  I won't be doing sashing.  The applique will be done on backgrounds of log cabin blocks, that are done in all neutrals - not the normal red center, light side dark side style.   You can choose to leave it out if you wish.

This really is a stitch-along, I don't have a firm plan in place, I'm doing it just for fun and because I want to.  I'd love to have you join in - no rules but plenty of encouragement!

So - for now, get your scraps, start cutting, and print off a diagram of how the block goes together.  There are tons of them on google.  I'll do one myself very soon.  Ready, set, SCRAP!!!


Jocelyn from Canadian Needle Nana, could you please email me at allieoopsdesigns at gmail dot com?  I can't get in touch with you and I'd like to.