How I work...

As I told you in my previous post,  I am now working on Yoko Saito's Mystery Quilt Block 2. I thought it would be nice to share with you how I work.

When I began quilting, I went to a beginner's class to learn the basics. Then, I tried different techniques to find what worked best for me.

As you know  I love Yoko Saito's work, and  in many of her books there are photo lessons on "how-to" make the quilts. I have studied these lessons thoroughly and the one-day class with Yoko Saito made everything crystal clear!

So, this is how I do. First, I trace the pattern on thick tracing paper.



Then, using a lightbox, I trace it on my background fabric.




I cut out the pattern directly from the thick tracing paper to get templates.  And using these templates I trace on the back of the fabric for pieces that need to be pieced before being appliquéed. I also trace on the back of the fabric for tree leaves.  For other appliqué pieces, I trace on the front of the fabric.
 


 

Let's take for example the first house of block 2.  I first, piece together the three parts composing the unit.

Before appliquéing the unit, I mark the line of the turned-under margin with a clover spatula. There are two kinds of spatulas : one for straight lines (Finger Presser) and one for curved lines (Hera Marker for Applique and Sewing). I use the latter for  tree leaves.

Then,  I stitch down this unit onto the background, stitching only the top and left of the house. The right and bottom will be covered up later. To maintain it in place though I stitch it down with a long running stitch.


   Here are all the tools I use. Notice that needles for piecing are longer than those for appliquéing. But both types are very thin (thickness : 0.4mm) which is thinner than what we usually find. It does make a difference!



Hope you have liked to see how I work ;-)

Until later,

Comments

  1. Thank you for the tutorial David, it doesn't look too daunting!

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  2. Thanks for the tutorial and tips. Some of it is new to me, amazing how many different methods for applique there are!

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  3. Thanks for the tutorial, it's always fun to see how other people work. Your work is beautiful, and Yoko's work is very inspirational.

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  4. Can you tell me where you purchased the 'spatulas' mentioned above?
    As I live in the US I wonder if it's a world wide quilting/sewing item.
    Thanks David for your help and your wonderful blog. Mary Ann

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    1. Hello Mary Ann,

      Go to this site (Clover US) to know what it is.

      http://www.clover-usa.com/products/69424?n=1

      One is called "Finger Presser", the other one "Hera Marker for Appliqué and Sewing".

      It's available in the US so Google the names to find the shops selling them.

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  5. Thank you, thank you, thank you, David!!!

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  6. Hello David, thanks for my first quilting lesson..I don't think I will be very good in it..But I love the way you work..
    Kind regards
    Erna

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  7. C'est super sympa de nous montrer tes petites recettes maison... ça parait tellement simple...

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  8. I was a bit lazy and traced from the pattern using the chalk pencil that comes from the same company as the glue pens. Do you do back basting for your leaves as you mark the back of the fabric? I draw on the front.

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  9. On en a révé et David l'a fait celles qui comme moi admirent sa dextérité doivent se dire et oui pourquoi reporter X fois le modèle , entraînant ainsi des différences de gabarits... C est si simple en fait ... Ah merci David je constate que les cours pris avec Yoko Saito à Nantes sont une richesse.. Douce journée et je vais ressortir mes petites maisons..les premiers blocs sont réalisés mais j ai eu peur en découvrant la complexité des 4, 5.... Pourtant moi l amoureuse des maisons j avais craque sur l opportunité de travailler un des ̀projets d'une dame dont j admire le travail...à bientôt pour de nouvelles astuces...et douce journée
    Nadine

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  10. Je te l'avais dit! Nous travaillons quasi de la même manière!
    J'ai aimé ce billet tout en confidences entre passionnés, merci David, j'ai vraiment passé un excellent moment chez toi
    A bientôt

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  11. I love to see your projects David. You are so talented.

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  12. j'adore mais en sais pas faire, alors j'admire
    amicalement

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  13. Merci pour ces éclaircissements. Cela me rassure, je fais à peu près la même chose mais pour la première fois !! A bientôt.

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  14. C'est toujours sympa de découvrir comment travaillent les autres. Merci de partager avec nous un peu de tes secrets, David ! :-)

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  15. Merci David pour nous avoir fait partager ta façon de travailler :)

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  16. C'est sympa de nous livrer tes petites techniques et de voir que nous travaillons plus ou moins de la même manière...C'est toujours très instructif. J'aime aussi ces échanges là...Par contre je ne vois pas du tout quel papier tu utilises pour copier-transférer et découper le patron??????Est ce du freezer paper....
    Encore merci pour ce partage et j'espère que tu nous dévoileras d'autres petites façon de travailler....
    Bon & doux week-end David.

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