My Alphabet Quilt Blog of the Month Part 2B

I know that I said the machine appliqué lesson was next, but my machine was acting up and I had to have it cleaned and checked--thanks Kurt! So, in the meantime, I've been working on getting more blocks ready. As you can see on Amy's directions that are listed at the bottom of the placement sheets, she starts at Step 5. You have already prepared your appliqué pieces and are ready to fuse them into place.

Amy has done a terrific job giving you the order of placement for the appliqué pieces. However, I found that in some cases it helps to pre-construct some units. Place the pieces on the Appliqué Presser Sheet or the release paper from the fusible web, press in place and they will release when cool. I also have found that I like to mark some of the detail lines before I fuse the pieces together.

So, with that said, here are my hints for pre-constructing and pre-marking the first eight blocks...................

Front of bus
Pre-construct
Mirror supports and mirrors
Inside and outside of all lights
Top of bus and windshield
Bottom of bus and grills
Pre-mark
Detail lines for abc

A
Pre-construct
Paintbrush and letter a
Face and hair
Collar and bow
Pre-mark
Nose, mouth, eye position, detail lines of hair ties and bows

B
Pre-construct
Hat and brim
Face and hair
Pre-mark
Nose, eye position, bubbles, and bandage detail lines

C
Pre-construct
Camera pieces
Pre-mark
Mouth, eye, detail lines for fingers and bow

D
Pre-construct
Top of hair, headband pieces, and reflector
Face and right and left hair
Pre-mark
Nose, mouth, and eye position

E
Pre-construct
Outside and inside of earphones and earphone wire
Pre-mark
Nose, mouth, and eye position

F
Pre-construct
Frog and frog eyes
Pre-mark
Nose, frog mouth, frog chin, eye positions for girl and frog, and bows

G
Pre-construct
Goggle, goggle lenses, goggles straps, and buckle
Pre-mark
Nose, mouth, and eye position

Cut the fabric for the backgrounds
From your background fabric, cut seven strips 11 1/2". Cut each of these strips into four blocks 9 1/2" x 11 1/2". I like to treat my backgrounds with a couple layers of spray starch to make them extra crisp so that they naturally act like they have been stabilized.

Follow step 8 of Amy's directions
Read the instructions directly below the block placement sheet for any specific instructions for Step 8. On a light table, put a 9 1/2" x 11 1/2" fabric block background right side up over a block placement sheet. There should be approximately 1/2" of extra fabric around the block. Place applique pieces and/or pre-constructed units in place on fabric background aligning with placement sheet. Fuse into place.

There is lots of preparation for the applique to go smoothly, but well worh the effort. I will give you the order in which Iwill applique the pieces next as well as post photos of the actual applique process (as soon as I can find one of my 3 pairs of magnifier glasses).

Hunting for my glasses so that I can be back soon,
Lynda