Tag Archives: Flying Geese

Foundation piecing with Freezer Paper

DC Modern Quilt Guild has a skill building Quilt Along going on right now. Anna from Life Sew Crafty has challenged us with a weekly quilt block. Anyone can join in this fun challenge! Go to Anna’s blog or join this Facebook group.

Blocks 1 thru 5 are pretty straight forward. Block 6, however, is one of several “theme” blocks the quilt will contain. I chose a “flying geese” theme and found this trail of geese block from Daniel of Piece and Press. It is a foundation pieced block and he says in his post that he used a freezer paper technique to sew it.

I had some freezer paper sheets that are sized for printing. After resizing the block to fit the size I needed for the QAL quilt, I printed it onto the freezer paper sheets and made two red registration marks between each piece. This block only has 9 pieces which I think made it especially suitable for this technique. *The complete trail of geese block contains 6 of these individual blocks – 3 of which are mirror image.

Each template piece was cut out and ironed onto the wrong side of it’s corresponding fabric and then the fabric was cut 1/4″ larger than the template.  In this block six of the pieces are background and three are the geese. I numbered the geese (and my fabric) 1 thru 18 in order to have the geese end up in the color order I wanted.

They were arranged back into their block positions and then sewn together in order –  the registration marks made it very easy! I placed right sides together and sewed along the paper edge – not through it.

Once done, the paper was simply and easily peeled away. This is so much easier than removing paper from stitching. I’m not sure this technique would work for a more complicated foundation pieced block, but it sure was great for this one!
There is a great round-up of foundation piecing tutorials by VeryKerryBerry here.

This was a fun block to sew and I look forward to the upcoming theme blocks during this Quilt Along.

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Quilted Christmas Wreath

Quilted Christmas Wreath

I made this quilted wreath last year for my mother-in-law to hang on the door at her assisted living facility.

Finished piece is approx. 13 inches square

I used this paper pieced pattern offered by Beth Maddocks at her Piece by Number site. After I did the paper piecing (which is done in quadrants), I joined the pieces, layered the top with batting and batting and free motion quilted it.

Wreath detail

I then added the piping for a nice detail. I have taken a workshop with Susan Cleveland about adding piping into the binding. I know that this is hard to believe, but I actually think that following her technique and adding the piping makes binding the quilt easier! I know that sounds crazy, but it is true.  Susan calls her technique “Piping Hot Binding” and she has these two 8 minute youTube videos that show you exactly how it’s done.  She has a “tool” that makes it somewhat easier, but is not necessary.

Piping

Notice that little piping!

Once the piece was all finished and bound, I added the buttons, bow, label and hanging dowel with string.

Quilted Christmas Wreath back

I made the label by adding fusible onto the red fabric and then tracing around an angel shaped cookie cutter.

Label on back

I hope that you enjoyed seeing this little project!

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Filed under Family, Gifts