My original quilt design had a black sewing machine, but for Christmas a few days ago I received the most beautiful Featherweight machine that I’ve seen to date from my DH. When choosing fabric I decided to make this quilt block to commemorate my newest Featherweight machine.
This machine, although it was born the same year I was, looks brand new & so does its box!
I’m so excited to sew on it!
Hopefully one of these days life will slow a bit & I’ll have a chance to do so.
I used my go-to freezer paper (no raw edges) appliqué
but you can feel free to use your favorite technique.
If you’d like to master a new technique in the new year, I have a lot of very short videos of the very easy task or turning the seam allowance under & machine stitching it so there are no raw edges on the appliqué.
This is a bigger version of my sewing machine that I originally designed last year during our Quarantiny quilt.
You can see how I made it here. It’s not hard but you will need to practice. Having the right tools is key, in particular Apliquick Bars & small glue sticks for this sewing machine but also paper circle cutters & other tools for the little Dresden plates.
I have everything you need for making little Dresden plates & turned edge appliqué on the notions page of my website. You can find them by clicking here.
The pattern you need to make your white (or black or whatever color you choose) sewing machine can be found my clicking the download button below.
Thanks to all of you who are sewing along with us,
especially those of you who are sharing your block pics with us!
I love seeing the blocks in your fabrics & also the spins you put on them.
Today we will make this cute but simple flower block.
I prefer to use a bias tape maker any time I’m making stems on a quilt.
For this block I recommend the Clover 3/8″ Fusible Bias Tape Maker.
Note: The stem fabric doesn’t need to be cut on the bias for this block.
If you have a similar but different size bias tape maker it may work. You can also fuse a piece of fabric if you’re not comfortable using a bias tape maker.
Remember, this should be fun!
Click the download button below for the PDF instructions for the Flower Block.
Welcome to Step 15, the last step of making your Candy Corn Sampler!
Wow, it’s time for quilt assembly!
I hope you’ve kept up & have all of your blocks complete, but if not, “Just Keep Sewing!”
If they are compete, refer to the diagram on page 21 to lay out all of your blocks & the border strips to be sure you have everything in its correct place.
Below is a pic of my top in progress minus the bat corner blocks.
Once everything is in place, sew the blocks into columns then sew the columns together.
I’d show you those pics, but I was so excited to sew my top together that I didn’t think to photograph these steps!!!
Sorry, lol!
Position then glue or fuse the “B” on the lower portion of the applique strip
& the little bird on the “OO” block.
Appliqué them in place.
Lastly, sew the candy corn border strips to the sides & then to the top & bottom.
Now to layer with backing & batting & quilt it.
You still have a couple of days ‘til Halloween you can probably get it quilted by then.
Or if you’re like me, hang the top for Halloween, then take it to your favorite quilter on November 1st!
I’m sure Tamara would love to quilt your Candy Corn Sampler.
After it’s quilted, don’t forget to sew the little white buttons on the bats for their eyes.
Have you sewn on buttons with your sewing machine before?
I sew all of my buttons on with my sewing machine.
First, tape them down in place.
I tape multiple buttons on at the same time.
Next set your machine’s stitch length to “0” & set the stitch width to align with the holes in the buttons. On my machine it’s “3” for the width.
Did you know that no matter the size of the button, “most” button holes are the same width apart? Super large or super tiny buttons are the only exceptions I’ve noticed.
I sew multiple buttons on & then go back & trim threads.
Notice I use the open toe foot for this task.
Did you know that I use this foot for pretty much everything?
The only time I take it off is to put on either the walking foot or free-motion foot.
To remove the tape painlessly, pull the tape off parallel with eye stitch width.
Usually it pulls off in just 1 piece.
Repeat with remaining bats.
I really hope you’ve enjoyed this quilt-along.
I loved designing and making my Candy Corn Sampler Quilt.
If you’re just reading along to see if you’d like to make this or another pattern of mine I hope I’ve enticed you to do so.
If you’re not already a member of my Sewing With Susan Facebook group, please join & share pics.
I have more images to hopefully help you along on your Awesome Appliqué Strip journey…
I thought I’d taken this pic of all the appliqué shapes I’d made but didn’t find it for yesterday’s post. Sorry!
As I was designing & making this quilt (like all of my quilts) I design/sew/assess as I go. Sometimes the quilt is finished just as I originally designed it & sometimes it morphs a bit or a lot!
This quilt just had minor fabric color changes, but mostly for photographing purposes.
I love this part!
Many times as I’m working I change things only to revert back to my original design… like the “B”!
The “B” was originally black but at some point I imagined it would read better if light like the “OO”.
It just didn’t pop on the grey appliqué background.
Even though I had to make another “B” I decided it needed to be black (just like my original design).
That helped me to move forward on the appliqué strip once I’d fixed that problem.
You have no idea just how many hours I spend getting a design “just right” do you? I’m sure you don’t because I can’t even calculate them now that the quilt is complete!
Finally it was ready to fuse, glue
& stitch!
And stitch some more…
Now it’s perfect!
If you’re not already a member of my Sewing With Susan Facebook group, please join & share pics.
Welcome to Step 13 of making your Candy Corn Sampler!
Today is Awesome Appliqué Strip Continued.
On page 19, you’ll find the instructions & diagram to complete the center appliqué strip.
Like any task, practice makes perfect!
Below is the appliqué video for the blind hem stitch if you need a refresher.
It’s the same stitch for appliquéing the template shapes & the vine.
After all the stitching is complete, be sure to remove the paper templates.
Refer to page 3, Appliqué finishing to cut background fabric, wet shapes w a wet cloth, wait a couple minutes then remove templates. If it’s wet enough the papers should just pull right out.
It really is simple.
Using patience for this is my best advice.
If the paper doesn’t remove easily, get the piece a bit wetter.
Don’t forget, the “B” and the bird on the “OO” block will be added after assembling the top.
If you’re not already a member of my Sewing With Susan Facebook group, please join & share pics.
Quilting my way through life! 