A Bouquet of Flowers Sent with Love - Mystery Quilt Week #4

Fun, Funner and Funnest! In an attempt to rate the funness of each step of this quilt - the following is an explanation of my rating scale. The idea of a Mystery Quilt is FUN (meaning quite enjoyable), following the new mysterious guidelines each week is FUNNER (better than fun) and this week's instructions are the absolute FUNNEST (achieving the highest rating on the funness scale). However, according to dictionary.com, FUN is a word but FUNNER is not a word nor is FUNNEST. I'm pretty sure they don't acknowledge that there is a funness scale either. But it is my belief that if the folks who contribute to dictionary.com, had decided to make our Mystery Quilt they would agree that funnest is indeed a word. The instructions for this week have been the most fun of all - and Week #4 has reached the highest rating that can be achieved on the funness scale.

Now, if you got through the first paragraph of the blog, you will be semi-adequately prepared for this week's set of instructions. They're a little challenging - but LOTS of FUN! Keep reading!

It’s time to take out the 18 Snowball blocks that you made and add some creativity and fun to the blocks! If you’re new to fusible appliqué – this will be a challenge for you. But don't be discouraged. Approach this step with our "half full" mantra and you will be successful. I encourage you to take the challenge and dive right in. That’s the only way to learn and you’ll be so happy with the results. So – here goes!

STEP #1

The following images (flower, flower center and heart) are your appliqué templates for the Snowball Blocks. Click on the picture. It will take you to an enlarged copy that is “printable”. Click on the printer in your tool bar and print a copy of these images. You will need to trace around the flower, flower center and heart templates several times, so it’s best if you print them on card stock paper. If not, print it out on regular paper and then trace them to template plastic or a stiff paper. The heart and flower will each need to fit on the white portion of a snowball block. If it's too big or too small, make sure that your print preferences (in the print menu of the tool bar) are set to “Actual Size”.

STEP #2

Cut out each image (heart, flower and flower center) to create your appliqué templates.

STEP #3

This is the step where you will use your fusible webbing. The Lite Steam a Seam -2 has three layers – a paper layer on each side of the fusible webbing. Other products have two layers – a paper layer on top of the webbing. Place the templates that you cut out, wrong side up, on the paper side of the fusible webbing and trace around each image with a pencil. You will need 8 hearts, 9 flowers and 9 flower centers.

STEP #4

Roughly cut out the images from the fusible webbing. Do NOT cut on the lines but leave a bit of a margin around the pencil line. Once you fuse the webbing to your fabric, you will cut on the pencil line.
STEP #5

If you are using a 3 layer product, remove the unmarked paper layer from the fusible webbing image. If the webbing appears to be sticking to the unmarked paper side, simply use a pin to peel the webbing off the unmarked paper and make sure it stays attached to the marked side as you remove the unmarked paper. Using a hot DRY iron, press the fusible webbing (paper side up) onto the WRONG side of your chosen fabrics. (Check instructions on your fusible webbing product to make sure you have the correct temperature and fusing time.) Remember that you will be using the red or pink fabric scraps for your hearts and your pastel fabrics for the flowers. You will use a yellow fabric for the centers of your flowers.

STEP #6

Using scissors, cut out the shape exactly on the drawn pencil line. Take care when handling the fabric to avoid fraying the edges.

STEP #7
Carefully, peel the paper backing from the pattern piece. A fine layer of adhesive will remain on the fabric. For easy paper removal, I like to take a straight pin and strike it lightly across the paper - tearing the paper but not damaging the webbing or the fabric.

STEP #8
Begin with the hearts since they are the easiest – and center a heart in the center of a snowball block. Make sure the snowball block is “right side up” - there should be a green triangle in the top left corner of the block. Fuse the heart to the block as directed on the fusible webbing instructions. Do the same for 8 hearts and 9 flowers. You can fuse the flower and flower center to the snowball block at the same time. Don't they look beautiful!

STEP #9

Now it’s time to appliqué. It doesn't get any funner than this step - which means this is the funnest step! The machine blanket stitch works best, but if your sewing machine doesn’t have a blanket stitch, you can also use a very tight zig-zag or satin stitch. Don’t be afraid to try something new! You'll be SO HAPPY you did when you see the finished product. You can use any color of thread that you like for your blanket stitch. You can use thread that matches the heart and flower fabrics or you can use a black applique stitch for all the hearts and flowers - it's up to you. In my quilt I switched threads to match the fabrics, but either way looks great! Here's a picture of what the blanket stitch looks like (it's stitch #35 on my sewing machine).

STEP #10

Here's the finished product when you use the blanket stitch on your sewing machine. If you’ve never tried a machine blanket stitch I would encourage you to do so. It makes such a nice finish to your appliqué and it goes VERY quickly.

This is the longest and most involved week of the mystery quilt. Next week we will put it all together! When you’re in the process of appliquéing your blocks on your sewing machine, go slowly and you will be very pleased with your finished product! In fact, it's so easy that you will become a blanket stitch applique expert with your first heart! It's smooth sailing from that point on.

Since it's Easter Week and Tax Day is almost here, I'm reminded that 20 years ago today, I was VERY pregnant and anxiously awaiting the birth of our 4th child who was due on April 13th. We already had two daughters (Cari, almost 10, and Rachel, 7 1/2) and one son (Jonathan, 4 1/2). The ultrasound said this baby was a girl but Terry & Jonathan INSISTED that it was a boy. We decided to name the baby Alexander if it was a boy and Alexandra if it was a girl. In the wee hours of the morning on April 15th,1989 our baby was born. April 15th has always been a special day for our family. Yes, it's "tax day" and we LOVE tax day because that's the day we were blessed with our beautiful baby boy Alexander William. Alex is serving a 2 year mission for our church right now and this is the first birthday that he has not been home. We miss him each day, but know that he is where he wants to be, doing what he loves. As we celebrate Easter this weekend, we are reminded of our Savior and His gift to us of eternal life. I'm so grateful to have Alex spreading this glorious message and wish each of you a very Happy Easter.

As you work on your mystery quilt this week, remember that the hearts and flowers that you create and applique will let a child know that this quilt is truly a bouquet of flowers sent with love. That in itself takes this quilt over the top on the funness scale!

Happy Blanketmaking!
Mary