Fabric Questions....

I went fabric shopping today, looking for background, but realized I had some questions before I could buy.  I am wondering...
1.  Do you cut your background squares extra large to allow for shrink up from the stitching, since these blocks are heavily appliqued, and if so, how much larger?  Say on a 15 inch finished block, how large do you cut it?  (I ask because I have had blocks shrink a bunch when I applique--maybe I am pulling too tightly?)
2.  Is the normal 1/2 inch seam allowance the amount that is called for in the pattern (and thus fabric requirements)?
3.  For anyone making the Roseville quilt, was the 9.5 yards recommended on Glorious Color for the background plenty of fabric or did you have a bit extra left? 

I'm just trying to guess how much extra to buy to be safe and have it all match.  I haven't gotten the pattern yet, but wanted to have an idea if I find some fabric this next weekend as I'll be able to shop a couple stores out of my area, and still won't have the pattern when I'm able to shop.  Hope that makes sense--I'd appreciate your advice.

Hi from one crazy quilter........

Hi I'm Pat Sloan... a crazy obsessed quilter... some of you know that already!

I want to do the Lollipop quilt..

but my friend Monica showed me the heart quilt from the Quilted Romance book...

SWOON.. we both convinced ourselves it's easier... yes we DID ... plus we convinced at least TWO others to play with us!

That is the quilt at the top
....this is as far as I've gotten

stay tuned.. news at 11....
pat sloan
http://www.patsloan.com

Made some progress

I have stitched a number of blocks and am back in the swing off applique, forgot how much I enjoy it and I still like all the fabrics that I had picked for the quilt.

Happy stitching
Christine

Here Comes Trouble

Cue the theme music from "Jaws"

Die-hard hand appliquers, step away from the computer screen.  Everyone else, place your seatbacks in their upright and locked positions, and stow away your tray tables.  There's the possibility of turbulence today.

Deep breath everyone.  Ready?  Here we go:

The subject of my post today is MACHINE APPLIQUE.
Yes, I am making Lollipop Trees as a fusible, machine applique project.  It's a different approach to what you usually see on this blog.  But I think it's a legitimate one.  And it's fun--so what's not to like?  

As I was thinking about what I was going to write, I realized that my approach to the quilt is a unique one, and not just limited to the fact that I'm using the sewing machine:

Fabric selection:  when I ordered the pattern from Glorious Color I also got the Kaffe Fasset fabrics that were available with it.  We all agree they're really fantastic.  But here's the thing about fabric collections.  I do feel that if you use only one designers fabric, then it looks like the designers quilt, not your own.  Quilting is deeply personal, so I always need to feel that it's unmistakeably MY quilt.  So I've incorporated my own fabrics into it.  

I've read alot of posts on this blog and others about people suffering from Fabric Selection Psychosis and Paralysis.   It's completely understandable.  I've avoided it by choosing fabrics for my blocks the following way:  I chose 1 or 2 or Kaffe "feature" fabrics for the main body of the block.  In the above block it's the large leaves, the flower center and the large circles.  The selected fabrics should look nice together but I don't get all hung up on things matching perfectly.  Then, I go to my stash to see what else might work.  The olive green leaves, the small purple circles and the orange polka dot are my own fabric.

Here's another thing that's making this quilt personal for me:  in the original pattern photo you will see that the blocks are symmetrical; that is, the elements on the right are identical in size and fabric to the elements on the left.  But mine aren't.  There's not a huge amount of asymmetry, just enough to shake things up a little.  I like it.


 This quilt is really all about the incredible design and the beautiful fabrics, so I'm keeping the quilting stitch a narrow, simple satin stitch.  The thread either matches the fabric, or is a complementary color.

So is anyone else doing this or another Kim M. project on their sewing machine?  Let your voices be heard !

Pam-----The background fab is Graceful Geisha by Lonni Rossi purchased last year from Bigsbys in Milwaukee, Wi.

Kim----The EQ blocks are in the Folk Art Applique add on. You had GREAT vision to turn the original blocks into Glorious ones with your fabric choices and the fussy cutting.

Mary

More Stars and Sprigs

Woo hoo!! These are the last three applique blocks for the Stars and Sprigs, they really don't take long to make and I've enjoyed the small blocks that can be done in an evening. These last ones are darkish and more moody in colour but it's what I though looked right.

I'm getting pretty excited about nearing the end of the center part of the quilt so just some more star blocks and I can assemble the last three rows. After that will be another border and then another and then the last one. I feel the end is closer with every stitch.

Who else is going to be making this one when the pattern comes out next month?

My second bloc