Hi there! It’s been a while, I had the best intentions to do a lot more blogging in 2016. Oops. If you have a poke around you’ll see I’m not very good at the writing and documenting part of my creative life. Thanks for visiting me over here in the middle of a warm and sunny Sydney summer. Hope you are having a splendid day!
I assume some of you are here for tips on making Block 90 on The Splendid Sampler adventure. What a wonderful project Pat and Jane have put together, and can you believe we’re just 10 blocks shy of completing? I’ve been making some of the blocks along the way and now that I have a plan for sashing I’m more excited than ever to get cracking with it. I’ve made lots of sampler quilts, I really love them because there’s always something new and those little blocks are fun to make.
I’m setting my Splendid Sampler blocks with a jaunty & spiky sashing.
So, back to my little block… I’ve used some of my favourite techniques – applique circles, bias tape applique and wonky crosses. I love layering different techniques in a little block. But it can be a little daunting if you’ve never done something like this before. Working at a small scale also means I need to pay extra attention to extra bulk and staying inside the seam allowance.
As you read the pattern instructions you’ll see there are a few stages. I recommend you chunk it down to manageable parts if its the first time you try one of the techniques. Actually, even if you’re confident, take time to enjoy the process with a couple of cups of tea or a walk around the block…
Firstly, choose all your fabrics and gather your supplies. My suggested fabric quantities are generous so you can trim back your block. You’ll also see I use a metal 1/8″ bias tape maker. It came in a set which I bought online from California, I so wish I could get these easily locally. You may be lucky enough to have them at your local quilt store. But if not, you can carefully cut a strip of Mylar plastic. The metal bias bars get very hot and help form a nice crease, please be careful if you are using one.
I prefer using a metal bias bar and having a closed loop rather than an open bias tape because it is sturdier and I can manipulate it without worrying it will fray and lose the creases. It also stores nicely around a spool or wooden dowelling even in the most humid Sydney weather.
So grab your supplies and lets get started!
Prepare your 3 bias tape loops first. Cut your strips from an 8″ square of fabric. 3/4″ wide strips cut on the diagonal from the square.
Press strips in half. Wrong sides together, be gentle not to stretch them.
Place bias bar inside the fold and mark where your seam should go. Don’t make it too snug or you won’t be able to slide the bar in and out. I use a generous 1/8″ seam.
Once you have stitched the strip and you are sure you can move the bias bar in and out, trim back the seam allowance to reduce bulk.
We’re nearly there… twist seam to the back and press it down. Remove the bias bar. Repeat for the two other bias tape strips.
Wind them around your finger or a pencil to get them to curl a little. This will help you get nice tight loops to applique.
Make sure you’ve got all your fabric pieces ready to proceed. Background, squares for circles and strips to insert.
Trace the pattern lightly on to your background square. Trace the outside of the circles and one side of each loop. You will use this as a guide to place your applique. Make sure you leave plenty of room around the outside to centre your block. I also mark the corner points to help with trimming the block later.
Using little dots of applique glue, place your loops down on your background fabric. You can also use tiny applique pins or baste them down with thread.
Using a colour that camouflages with your applique loop, stitch it down firmly. See the tails of the loops? They will be hidden behind the appliquéd circles. Trim them on the diagonal to make them less bulky.
Now it’s time to prepare your juggling balls. This is a two step process. First we make the wonky crosses, then we trim them back to a circle to applique down.
Start with one of the square pieces of fabric and cut it randomly in half. Select which fabric strip you will be inserting.
Sew the strip to one half. Then stitch the other half of the square to it. Always using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Cut this randomly across the strip you just set in. Choose your next fabric strip.
Stitch one side on first. Sewing the second side is a little trickier. You need to try to align the two sides, which is difficult with that pesky angled seam allowance in the way. I visually line it up as much as possible then fold over the seam allowance to check it. Sliding it up and down till its as good as I can get it.
Because I’m extra cautious I still don’t stitch the whole seam, I just sew the crucial middle of the seam bit first, flip it over and check it before stitching the whole lot. This may seam tedious but it’s not as tedious as having to unpick the whole thing!
Flipping over to the back of your wonky cross, trim or grade that top seam allowance. Usually we can press seams open to reduce bulky seams but the open seams stretch too much for these small circles.
Grab your circle template and trace around it with a pencil. Check out those graded seams…
Trim back your circle to a generous 1/4″ – 1/2″ seam allowance and stitch a running stitch around. Pull on the end of the threads to gather the circle around your template. Don’t cut your threads yet!
To get a nice smooth circle ready to applique down I run some starch around the outside edge of the circle with a brush. Or you can put a little pressing liquid in a dish and roll the edge around quickly. Press the circle with a warm iron, be careful not to melt your plastic template!
You can wrap a piece of foil around it if you like, that helps protect the plastic and holds the heat for longer to get a crisp edge.
Repeat that for the two remaining circles and applique them down into place. Choose fine thread that disappears when you place it over your applique shape.
When you are finished with all the applique, give it a light press and trim your block down to 6.5″.
And that’s another block done and ready to join the others! I hope you’ve learnt something new. We all have our favourite techniques and I know fiddly work isn’t for every one. You may want to skip making the bias tape loops and just applique ribbon or use embroidery to create the loops. And instead of those wonky juggling balls you can fussy cut some fun fabric circles…
Whatever you do, thank you for joining me for The Splendid Sampler. I look forward to seeing all your lovely blocks. And I’m eagerly awaiting The Splendid Sampler book that Pat and Jane are publishing with all the patterns so I can continue making more of these great blocks. It’ll be a lovely record of this fun project.
Here’s a photo of my original block that will appear in the book. In fact, I think it’s even on the cover. I can’t wait to see my block together with all the other Designer blocks!
I’m more of an Instagram girl these days, feel free to tag me if you have any questions. You can find me over there as lorena_in_syd. I know, sew original!
Happy stitching!
Lorena x
Thank you Lorena for being part of our project!!!
I love your Splendid sampler block.
Lorena
I actually just started my Splendid Sampler quilt. I got a late start due to health issues last year. However I started with your block. I was very intiminated when i saw block and some of the pics of finished blocks. However You made this block easy for me and even informative and fun. So I thank you for all your time and effort in your contributions it is most appreciated
Thank you
Lauren Ihnow
I enjoyed doing this block. It’s not something I normally do and was fun to make. I have the Mylar bias bars and will look for the metal ones too!! Thank you!
Thanks so much for the tutorial. Easy to read instructions are great.
Thank you for the beautiful block. I haven’t started it yet but am looking forward to doing it.
Thanks again!!
Teresa
thank you for your great tutorial – really helped – love your block.
Your block and tutorial are so impressive! Thank you so much for sharing your talent!
Very cool! ☺ Thanks for the challenge!
Thank you Lorena, for this beautiful block. O love it. Can not with to play with it.
Lorena, Your tutorial was very helpful. I love this block and hope that I can do it justice. The Splendid Experience has been very rewarding and educational for me. I have enjoyed this quilting experience immensely. Probably the best part has been reading all the stories behind all the blocks. The designers have been so kind to open their lives to the quilt world. Thank you for sharing.
Love your block. Thanks
Love love love this! ❤️ And a big thank you for this tutorial and reminder on making a small amount of bias binding or bias to use as stems, design elements etc.
Thank you so much for posting the tips for the Splendid Sampler you created. It is a very fun one. I hope I do it justice.
Thanks for the explicit directions, great block.
Thank you so much for your beautiful design, I was “juggling ” everything nicely until the end of October, I need to find my rythem and starting with your block may just be what I need! Thank you for sharing your creativity and being a part of splendid:)
Thank you for such a lovely and very different block Lorena
Brilliant! Thanks for the tips… Confident to be ankle it now.
Beautiful block Lorena. Thank you very much
I love appliqué. The pattern is wonderful with those added twist. Thought it would be difficult but not after reading your tut. Thank you.
Thankyou so much for the tutorial with using the bias tape maker, I had not seen how this style of bias tape maker was used and you’ve been very clear 🙂
Thank you for your beautiful block and your time.
Thankyou so much for so generously sharing your design and expertise. Brilliant design and great tips
J’adore vos modèles de blocs qui sorte de l’ordinaire parfois les blocs spéciales Je n’arrive pas a les télécharger encore merci pour touts les jolis bocstous différents. Brigitte Malmedy Belgique
Thank you. This block is so interesting.
Thank you for your tutorial. I probably would have skipped over this one as it looks so challenging, but your photos and directions have excited me about giving it a try! Thank you again!
Haven’t done this one yet but it looks very interesting to do. . Looking forward to getting started. Thank you for sharing it and the tutorial. Without the tutorial, I think I would have a difficult time putting it together.
Thanks again
Thank you so much for your Splendid Tutorial
Great instructions-thank you for a wonderful block
Thank you Lorena for your adorable and fun block. I enjoyed the challenge thanks to your great tutorial. You are an awesome designer and glad you were part of the journey.
Thank you for adding a new skill to our blocks! I have never made my own bias tape…can’t wait to give it a try and add a this new skill to my learning!! What a fun block,
Stunning block. Thank you for your beautiful contribution to the Splendid Sampler.
I am a big fan of this kind of appliqué. Love the small bias strips and your way of doing circles. Great block! I love it and will be picking my colors soon. Thanks so much. Appreciate your design!
Thank you so much for sharing all your talent and your excellent teaching skills.
Thanks for the really cute block!!
What is pressing liquid? Do we have this in the states?
Thank you, I use both Best Press (which contains starch) and Flatter (which is starch free). I like both because they don’t flake and don’t come in an aerosol can. I think you have more options the States?
Thank you Lorena Uriarte !! You have made such a fun block! Although I procrastinated in getting started at first with my Splendid Sampler, I eventually dove in… I’m not always in order, but am having fun. Because of the Designers like you that have made this possible, I find it is probably one of the most fun things for me right now. Blessings to you, and thanks for the great tutorial! Now there is a block, and a book that immoralizes you!! That’s awesome!! Hugs & love!❤️
Thanks or the adorale lick and the ecellent instructions. I have yet to do this block, but am not so intimidated nw. Thank you!!
What an awesome block and tutorial! Thank you!
Great block, great tutorial… thank you!!
Thank you for this terrific tutorial Lorena. I guess I should have read it before making the block, but I’m very happy with how mine came out!
Love this block! Thank you
Thanks for your block, done and going in my quilt…adorable!