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,