Completed Top

Having a little celebration over here.  I finished my top.  I haven't decided what I am going to do about
the quilting but am happy to have the top completed and to be able to put all the fabrics away..

Top together

I am excited to say I finally got all my blocks sewn together.  I haven't started the borders but they are next on my list.  I apologize for the terrible picture - I just don't have a large enough room to get a better one.
Nancy

Squaring Up- Follow up!

When I wrote here about squaring up I shouldn't have.
Well, it was my fault for not reading more carefully.  The directions were right there for all to see.  You know what they say about people that assume.
Instead of 17" blocks I have 16 1/2" blocks so now my quilt is 2 1/2" smaller than it should be and I have to figure out what to do about the borders.
Any suggestions?

Squaring Up

I started squaring up my blocks yesterday.  I was told they are supposed to be 16 1/2 inches. 

I hope that is correct  because I have already cut them. 

I have ten blocks that are larger than 16 1/2 inches.  

I wonder if anyone else has run into this problem?

I guess I should have been checking as I did each block.

They can be fixed it just means I am not as far along as I thought.

Block 24

Only one block left.
I haven't started my borders....still can't decide how I want to do them.
Nancy

Block size

Does anyone know the size we are supposed to trim the blocks to?

I searched Sentimental Stitches and found no information.

I would like to put my center together so I can figure the length I need to cut the borders.

Nancy

Blocks 21, 22 and 23

I have blocks 21, 22 and 23 completed.  Only two more to do.  The bow on block 23 was a little difficult for me but it didn't pucker too much when I washed it and I didn't put the cherries on block 21.

Block 23

Has anyone attempted to make the bow in block 23?  If so how did you manage it.  I just can't seem to get my bias  stems to curve that much.
Nancy

My Quilt so far

This is really a terrible picture because I just don't have enough room.  Does anyone know what size these blocks are supposed to be squared up to?  I would like to start cutting mine but don't know the size.

You may notice  a couple of different blocks in my quilt.  I just couldn't make myself like the grapes and pineapples so I changed them.
They just didn't seem to fit in with all the red and green.  I think I would have liked my grapes in reds but I didn't want to do them again.

And I think those pineapples are just weird.

Blocks 12, 14 and 17

Three more blocks to add to the mix.

All I can say about block 12 is I am glad it's finished.

 Block 14 was a little easier and I enjoyed stitching it.

You gotta love block 17...doesn't get much easier than this and it's nice to get to relax once in a while.

Blocks 3, 8, 9, 10, 11

I know you all must think all I do is applique and for the most part you are  right.

This is my block three.  Those dreaded fingers.  I was really surprised when it didn't fall apart when I washed it.  

This is one I am not at all happy with putting it aside while I worked on others was not a good idea because now it doesn't seem to fit in. I changed my yellows and this one seems way too dark.  Heaven forbid I should have to do it over.

If anyone has any suggestions as to how I could make it fit better please speak up.  I would really appreciate it.

Block eight was a fun block and not too challenging just lots of  little leaves.

I didn't do the bird in block nine but I did add an extra leaf.  Most of these blocks don't look at all balanced to me.

 Block ten was another fairly simple block just more leaves.  I left off the embroidery again and just put one stem to each cherry. Thanks for all the information about joining a circle I had never done that in applique' .

 I like block eleven I  made the basket purple instead of green.  I think my quilt has enough green with all those green leaves and stems.

These are my blocks so far.....not a great picture but you can get the idea.  I think I have laid them out like the picture so I could see where I needed certain colors.  Don't want another block three fiasco.

I would really like to catch up so I can  concentrate on just one block a month but the blocks I have let are a little challenging.  I have finished the vines on the grape block but not all those bazillion circles and I see more fingers in blocks 12 and 13.
I don't know where I would be without this blog.  It is so nice to be able to see what everyone else has done with their blocks and all the tips are so helpful.

Block Seven

I finished block seven last week.  I think this is one of my favorite blocks so far.  Once again I didn't do the embroidery.  I like everyones blocks with the embroidery but I just don't enjoy doing it so I  chose to use the bias strips.  It was a little tricky making them so small but but I am happy with the way it turned out.  One question....are you making the blocks wonky like the pattern are do you straighten out the vines and center up the circles and flowers?  My circles are a little off center on the basket but they were that way on the pattern.

Blocks Four, Five and Six

I finished three more of my blocks this week.  I opted to put block three aside for the moment and move on.  I think I will have to make a trip to the quilt shop to find a few more yellows and some of the orange because my supply of those colors is limited.

                                 

 Block four seems to stand out a lot when put beside the others - I guess it's because of the large red leaves.

 I changed the flowers to red in block five because I didn't have a good yellow to use here.

I decide against the bird in block six.  I am not real fond of birds in quilts. so I just moved my center flower over a bit.

I have prepped the next block.  Lots of little tiny circles in that one.

WooHoo Block Two!

I found this block to be easier than the first one and certainly easier than those awful fingers I am working on in block three.
If I didn't like those little fingers so much I think I would just skip that block.
I was just wondering what method of applique everyone is using to do the fingers.  I have been using the freezer paper on top method but don't seem to be getting as nice an effect as I would like. Some of the seams you turn under are so small in-between the fingers I am wondering if they are going to last.
But enough of this whining.....off to stitch.

Block One Finished

I finished block One.  

I decided to put my  little yellow circles on top and not do reverse applique'. 

I  think I was able to achieve a better result.  I also did not do the embroidery for the stems. 

I also changed my background fabric.  I started stitching block one on the other background and did not enjoy stitching on it at all -  too many little white leaves on top of the fabric and they were a  difficult to stitch through.  My new background is Kona Cotton and I really like it.  

I did prewash the Kona because it looked like it might shrink when it was washed.

Looking back I am glad I did not check out the individual blocks too closely before starting this quilt.

I mostly just looked at the whole quilt and really liked it.  I think some of these blocks are going to prove to be a little difficult for me.....I don't mind circles but all those little fingers and tiny outer curves in the pineapple block are proving to be a problem and I see more of them in other blocks.

Do any of you have any tips?

Starting is the Hardest Part

I believe the hardest part of any project is just starting 
Today  I am finally getting around to starting my Cherry Tree Quilt.
I have been collecting the patterns since the very beginning and really love this quilt.
.

I spent way too  much time trying to decide on a background fabric and then the other day I found this white fabric in my stash.  I bought it on clearance a few year back because it had a few spots on it.
I had so much of it I was able to cut around the spots.
It isn't the fabric I had in mind but it will do and I can finally start.
That said - I am already stumped.  I have never done reverse applique' and all those little circles in the first block have this tiny yellow dot in the center that are supposed to be done in reverse applique'.
Boy do I need some help. How did you all tackle this?