Adding a Scalloped Border to an Existing Border

My last post was about my picnic and my picnic quilt. I thought you might enjoy knowing a little trick about a way to "salvage" a border you don't like. In the quilt above, I just didn't like the finished look! I was really in a pickle trying to get this made between spending time with my dad, who was in the hospital, and trips to Kerrville. I decided I should have added scallops to the borders for an extra pop of color and interest. So.....being into applique more than piecing and not wanting to rip out seams, I decided to applique a scalloped border on top.

First, I cut a strip of freezer paper the width of the scallops I wanted. Since it can be ironed and and peeled off to reuse, I just cut a strip half the length of each side. I accordian-folded it and cut my scallops, then ironed it onto the RIGHT side of the fabric. Remember, shiny side DOWN. You don't want the iron to touch that side.) I cut along the edge leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.

I ran a glue stick along the wrong side of the seam allowance at both scalloped edge and straight edge and pinched it back, where the glue held it in place. At this point, I peeled off the paper and repositioned it at the other half of the strip. (Remember, my freezer paper strip was only half the length of my fabric strip, not because it has to be but because it would take a LOT of paper). I then pressed it with an iron.

I pinned it in position and appliqued it on by hand. You could choose to sew it on by machine, if you wish. 

I've actually changed my mind on several quilts and used the applique method to change something that I decided I didn't like. You can applique squares over squares, for example, if you decide you either made a mistake or don't like the placement.

Just have fun with it! No quilt is beyond repair!

Using Those Scraps!

Back in the summer, I won these trimmings from Kate Spain and the line she had coming out at the time. I put them aside, ready to use them in my applique and piecing. They are strips between an inch wide all the way to about 6inches wide, and not enough of any one color to do standard blocks. I decided to start some scrappy blocks using the same method I use for piecing the backs of my quilts, only small enough for blocks.

 I started out by cutting a wide piece about 9" long (you can use any size you want) and evened up the sides. I also cut a couple of pieces from the narrow strips.

I cut one strip down the center and sewed it to each side of the other strip. Then I cut the larger block in half lengthwise, making the cut at the side and not the center.

I sewed the strip between the two sections of the block.

You can either stop here, or cut the block into two more sections by cutting widthwise and inserting another strip like the first. There is no reason your blocks all have to be the same, but try to carry one color over into each block to tie them all together.

Here are a few of the blocks I've made from my little treasure pile of scraps. Notice that some are very simple and others have more piecing. If a block is not quite large enough, simply add more strips either on the edge of in the middle of the block. It couldn't be more simple. Trim all the blocks the same size or have some large and some small. Mine are all 6" x 9". You can see by the arrangement that I will be able to add little "pops" of color in the areas where the blocks don't come together. 
This seems to be a year that many of us have chosen to use up as many of our scraps as we can. What a wonderful challenge! I'm going to see if I can turn these into something useful as well as beautiful!
                                                                          

Applique Tutorial

 A great big THANK YOU to everyone who is visiting here for the first time and an even bigger THANK YOU if you are returning!
Some of you have seen this tutorial on my website, but if not, here it is on my blog. This is not the most common freezer paper applique method. You would be surprised how many people tell me they already know how to do this only to be surprised when they see it actually done. In this method, the freezer paper is ironed to the FRONT or RIGHT SIDE of the fabric. The edges are turned to the wrong side. The freezer paper makes it easy to turn the loose edges under. The glue stick makes them stay in place. When finished, you have a figure with all edges turned under. You can see exactly what it will look like on different backgrounds. This is not a good method for tiny pieces although it works well for pieces as small as leaves, etc. I've used it for letters, too. It makes large applique pieces extremely easy. So......take a look and see if this is something you might want to try!

1. Trace the pattern piece off onto the DULL side of the freezer paper.

2. Cut out the freezer paper pattern on the lines. Do not add seam allowances.

3. Press the freezer paper onto the RIGHT side of the fabric. NOTE: Place the shiny side against the fabric and press the dull side. The shiny side will stick to your iron if you do this backwards!!!! This will not hurt your fabric and can be easily peeled off (unless your iron gets hotter than a normal cotton setting.)

4. Leave the pattern on and cut out the fabric leaving a turn-under allowance of about 1/4". Clip inside curves, inside points, etc.

5. Run a line of glue stick along the seam allowance. Be careful to not press hard enough to pull the fabric off the paper. (The new fabric glue pens make this really easy, but regular washable school glue works fine. I do not recommend the blue or purple kind, although it may be fine. Test first.) If you are not using 100% cotton, it might be harder to get the glue to adhere your seam allowance. It sticks really well with cotton.

6. Turn the seam allowance to the WRONG side of the fabric, using the edge of the freezer paper as your guide.  (It is a little hard to tell in this photo because the wrong side of this black fabric is almost white like the paper! What you are seeing is the wrong side of the fabric. The seam allowances are turned under and ready to be pressed.)

7. Press the seam allowances in place.

8. Peel the paper off the right side of the fabric. (Save it to reuse if you want. You can reuse it several times before it stops adhering.)

9. Pin in place on your quilt to see if you like your fabric choices. If so, you can stick them in place with more glue stick to help keep them in place.

10. Either hand applique or machine applique  your pieces to your background. 

That's all there is to it! Give it a try. It is really easy. 
The figures in most of my patterns are appliqued using this method. It is fast, easy, and you can see before you sew exactly what you are going to end up with.