Wednesday, January 21, 2009

D-3

This one is purely an applique block. I used the applique method I described in block A-7.

Cut a 6" square out of your background fabric, in this case white.
Print or trace the "Jack" design onto the rough side of freezer paper and cut out on the lines. Using a hot, dry iron, iron this, shiny side down, onto the right side of a piece of "Jack" fabric (green here). Make sure your fabric piece is big enough to allow for ⅛" to ¼" of seam allowance around the shape. Mine is too large because I contemplated doing reverse applique on this block but then decided against it.

Cut out the shape, leaving a ⅛" to ¼" seam allowance all around.
Clip the inside curves almost, but not quite, to the edge of the freezer paper. This is a general rule in applique. Clip inside (concave) curves, but never outside (convex) curves.

I've had some questions about how to accurately clip those curves. The secret is a very sharp pair of sharp-pointed scissors. I've had these for years and I'm not sure you still get them out there. I hope so because they are starting to go a little blunt.

Center the design on the white square. I did this using my square ruler. As you can see, I marked the center of the ruler with a permanent marker since it's not actually marked on this ruler. I think on the "real" Dear Jane ruler there are two diagonal lines which would intersect in the center of the square.

Baste the design onto the background, being careful not to baste into the seam allowance.

Applique the shape onto the background turning the fabric under with the needle as you go, and using small invisible stitches as close to the edge of the fabric as possible. Refer to the method in block A-7 for more details.
You may have to pause to re-iron the freezer paper onto the fabric a couple of times to make sure it stays in place.
This applique can be a little awkward to do. Hang in there. The end result will be worth it.
Trim the block down to 5", making sure to keep the design centered.
Because you cut the white square a little bigger originally, you'll have a little leeway here in case the design slipped a little in the applique process.

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