Making an orange peel quilt has been on my "I want to make" list for a long time. A few weeks ago when Julie @ A Crafty Quilter released a couple of blog posts detailing the different ways to applique. It was the push and encouragement that I needed to get started. 

Here are the links to Julie's posts that detail the different ways to applique:

A Roundup of Raw Edge Applique

A Roundup of Turned Edge Applique

The method I have chosen to use is the turned edge technique demonstrated by Sharon Schamber's daughter, Cristy @ Sew Much Like Mom. Cristy made several videos that take you step by step on how to do the turned edge applique that really helped me to gain confidence that I could do this and have it turn out well. 

The next decision was what fabric to use. I have plenty in my stash, but none was really what I was looking for and I had in the back of my mind on making this one a big one for our queen sized bed. I figured if I was going to go all out, I wanted special fabric and one fabric I have been wanting to try out was cotton lawn. Sue Daley's Linen and Lawn by Penny Rose was perfect! The colors are so bright and cheerful! After playing with the lawn, I want more in my stash! It is wonderful fabric. So soft and light and yet strong! It feels so good and it is easy to work with. 

For my quilt, I am using the Fat Quarter Shop Orange Peel 5" template and tracing them on Quilters Select Print and Piece. If you haven't heard of Quilters Select Print and Piece/Print and Piece Fuse Lite, it's a paper like product that is partially water soluble. When you wash the quilt, half the fibers will go away and the others that are left will create a bit of loft under the applique. That's the look I am going for. Next time I will use the Quilters Select Print and Piece Fuse-Lite. It would have eliminated me having to use a glue stick to get the fabric to stick on the orange peels I cut out.   

According to my math, I need 324 petals! Lots of tracing and cutting! 

I love my applique pressing sheet. It keeps the glue off my pressing table and then washes off the sheet easily. 

Here is a picture of the backside of one of my finished orange peels. 

Eventually, the orange peels will be appliqued on a four patch of Essex linen in natural and Kona snow. The four patch will finish at 10". I will be making 81 to make a 90"x90" quilt. At that time I will decide if I want to add borders to make it a bit bigger. 

This is not a quick project to be sure, but it's one I am excited about. =) 

Have a happy Thursday! 

Making an orange peel quilt has been on my "I want to make" list for a long time. A few weeks ago when Julie @ A Crafty Quilter released a couple of blog posts detailing the different ways to applique. It was the push and encouragement that I needed to get started. 

Here are the links to Julie's posts that detail the different ways to applique:

A Roundup of Raw Edge Applique

A Roundup of Turned Edge Applique

The method I have chosen to use is the turned edge technique demonstrated by Sharon Schamber's daughter, Cristy @ Sew Much Like Mom. Cristy made several videos that take you step by step on how to do the turned edge applique that really helped me to gain confidence that I could do this and have it turn out well. 

The next decision was what fabric to use. I have plenty in my stash, but none was really what I was looking for and I had in the back of my mind on making this one a big one for our queen sized bed. I figured if I was going to go all out, I wanted special fabric and one fabric I have been wanting to try out was cotton lawn. Sue Daley's Linen and Lawn by Penny Rose was perfect! The colors are so bright and cheerful! After playing with the lawn, I want more in my stash! It is wonderful fabric. So soft and light and yet strong! It feels so good and it is easy to work with. 

For my quilt, I am using the Fat Quarter Shop Orange Peel 5" template and tracing them on Quilters Select Print and Piece. If you haven't heard of Quilters Select Print and Piece/Print and Piece Fuse Lite, it's a paper like product that is partially water soluble. When you wash the quilt, half the fibers will go away and the others that are left will create a bit of loft under the applique. That's the look I am going for. Next time I will use the Quilters Select Print and Piece Fuse-Lite. It would have eliminated me having to use a glue stick to get the fabric to stick on the orange peels I cut out.   

According to my math, I need 324 petals! Lots of tracing and cutting! 

I love my applique pressing sheet. It keeps the glue off my pressing table and then washes off the sheet easily. 

Here is a picture of the backside of one of my finished orange peels. 

Eventually, the orange peels will be appliqued on a four patch of Essex linen in natural and Kona snow. The four patch will finish at 10". I will be making 81 to make a 90"x90" quilt. At that time I will decide if I want to add borders to make it a bit bigger. 

This is not a quick project to be sure, but it's one I am excited about. =) 

Have a happy Thursday! 

Good Morning! Autumn is most definitely in the air in Iowa these days. Very cool mornings...I'm always sad to see summer go, although fall is a very beautiful season here in the midwest. I have been in the fall cleaning mood, so most of my time has been spent getting some of that done, although I did get some fun play time in and I managed to get a couple of tops off my to-do list. 

This baby quilt is made with the left over half square triangles from this quilt. 

I used Moda Grunge Peony for the back. 

The binding is Moda Luxe Brushstrokes in black. I am trying to convince myself I don't need to buy more of this fabric, but I am not fully convinced. 

I also finished another string quilt. I still have more blocks in a box that need to be made into a top! 

In other news, Labor Day weekend we took a trip to Effigy Mounds near Marquette, Iowa. We have been doing a lot of hiking this summer and we are always looking for a new trail to explore. This is one we will come back to again. The trail is beautiful! 

These mounds you can see, but the rest need a high vantage point to get a clear picture of the bears and other animals depicted by the ancient peoples. Still very beautiful! 

There was a tornado earlier this year in the area and you can see some of the damage that occurred during that storm. 

As I was looking out at one of the overlooks, I saw a bit of movement out of the corner of my eye on the fence. When I looked down I saw a walking stick bug! I could have watched him all day! 

Right now I am stalking my postman waiting for a fabric delivery for a project I am excited about. I am still working it out all in my mind. =) When I get it all settled, I'll share more about it!

Until next time!! 

Good Morning! Autumn is most definitely in the air in Iowa these days. Very cool mornings...I'm always sad to see summer go, although fall is a very beautiful season here in the midwest. I have been in the fall cleaning mood, so most of my time has been spent getting some of that done, although I did get some fun play time in and I managed to get a couple of tops off my to-do list. 

This baby quilt is made with the left over half square triangles from this quilt. 

I used Moda Grunge Peony for the back. 

The binding is Moda Luxe Brushstrokes in black. I am trying to convince myself I don't need to buy more of this fabric, but I am not fully convinced. 

I also finished another string quilt. I still have more blocks in a box that need to be made into a top! 

In other news, Labor Day weekend we took a trip to Effigy Mounds near Marquette, Iowa. We have been doing a lot of hiking this summer and we are always looking for a new trail to explore. This is one we will come back to again. The trail is beautiful! 

These mounds you can see, but the rest need a high vantage point to get a clear picture of the bears and other animals depicted by the ancient peoples. Still very beautiful! 

There was a tornado earlier this year in the area and you can see some of the damage that occurred during that storm. 

As I was looking out at one of the overlooks, I saw a bit of movement out of the corner of my eye on the fence. When I looked down I saw a walking stick bug! I could have watched him all day! 

Right now I am stalking my postman waiting for a fabric delivery for a project I am excited about. I am still working it out all in my mind. =) When I get it all settled, I'll share more about it!

Until next time!!