Vintage Crosses Sew Along Week Three

April 18, 2020 2 Comments

I can't believe it's week three already, as I write this we are having intermittent power cuts, and this is the second time I have started to write. So fingers crossed I get it finished and off to you all today.

Week Three is all about the twelve small applique blocks, there is so much to tell you about these blocks and little tips to share. I have made a couple of small videos showing how to turn the points on the leaves, turn the edges on the tulips and stitching them all in place. I will be sharing these with you throughout the sew-along, and I still have more to share with the pressing of the cross blocks and hope to post that video soon. (To be truthful I had it all ready to go and then.....remembered I had left something out, so I had to do it over.) 

Firstly with the applique I wanted to talk about invisible machine applique as this is how I am stitching my blocks.

Thread: I use either polyester monopoly by Superior Threads in smoke and clear. BUT my favorite at the moment is 100 weight polyester threads, these come in a wide range of colors and I match the thread color with the color of the applique piece. These are Wonderfil threads invisible or Superior Thread micro quilter. Keep watching as I have done a little video explaining how I use these threads to give me an invisible look when stitching the applique in place.

Needles: I use a Schmetz microtex sharp 60/8 needle which is very fine, and you do need to get used to it and be very careful with them. 

Stitch: my stitch of choice is a zigzag, but there are many you can use, play around and find the one that you like. I change the width and length, very narrow width and length, the settings for this is different for all machines. You can read more about this in my book Autumn Bouquet or my e-book Applique! Creating and stitching perfect applique

I have a few already sewn, here they are....

This block is waiting for the butterfly....

This block is waiting to be stitched.

As I am working on these blocks I am taking short tutorials of some of the things that I think maybe of help to you. I will share with you how I sometimes remove the freezer paper from the background as I am stitching the applique shapes onto the background fabric.

With this flower, it is in two parts, so I stitched the bottom layer of the flower in place first. 

Then removed the freezer paper from underneath with a pair of tweezers. The paper can be reused if needed.

I used a light mauve thread color and it worked a treat. The thread is truely invisible.

Then I stitched the top layer of the flower, with a red thread.

Then I removed the freezer paper from underneath.

Then I stitched the gold circle on top with gold thread, as I stitched the circle a little bit before I finished I lifted the freezer paper out. Sorry I have no pictures of this.

Here is the back.

I hope this helps you, I have so much more to share, so keep tuned as I will be posting more tutorials next week.

Happy Stitching

Sharon

Please share this post with your quilting friends, the more the merrier as they say.

Keep up with all the posts via the Sharon Keightley Facebook page and group page. Instagram #vintagecrossesquilt and the Newsletter will give updates of all blog posts.

There is a lot of information to cover, I will be re-making the entire quilt. I will be doing tutorial based blog posts for each part of the quilt top.

You will need to purchase a copy of the Vintage Crosses pattern, there are already many of you with this pattern, but if you do not here are a couple of places you can find it. 

Le Patchwork d'Emma in France has printed patterns and on my website, you can purchase downloadable PDF patterns

All Vintage Crosses blog posts for the Sew Along are here

 

  

You can find more of my Quilty Ramblings blog posts on all things quilting here

Browse through my downloadable PDF patterns available here

See more of my video tutorials here

To keep up with my blog posts on the Quilty Ramblings blog, sign up to the newsletter below to have my blog post drop straight into your email.

 

 

 

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