Applique quilt projects

Whenever I sort through things in my quilt room, I come across projects I have forgotten all about like these applique quilt blocks.

They have been tucked away for quite some time and now seems like a good time to create something with them.

I went through an applique phase, I think when I got a new sewing machine with a neat buttonhole stitch (also known as the blanket stitch). If you are interested in seeing how to do this stitch, you’ll find a good article and video here about machine applique stitches.

Stained Glass effect

I don’t remember where I found this pattern (it isn’t one of mine) and loved the stain glass effect.

Accuquilt Flower

I remember making this block for a contest that Accuquilt had one year. I didn’t win but had fun making the block using my Accuquilt dies. I used the GO! Round Flower die and the GO! Flower Bunch die for the applique. the background was made using the GO! Strip Cutter die that cuts 1-inch, 1½-inch, and 2-inch strips at once.

I did a free-motion applique on this block, that is still one of my favorite ways to do applique.

Sunflower applique

This was a batik design I was making and wasn’t happy as there wasn’t enough contrast between the flower petals and the background so it was shoved aside. I think I might try outlining it with black thread or maybe doing a little fabric painting on it.

Tall Flower

I really have no idea what I planned to make with this! Maybe I was just experimenting with the blanket stitch. It is too beautiful to be stuck in a box. I’m thinking a wall hanging would be fun to make with this one.

Here is a closeup of the blanket stitch done on the applique. I used all batiks, even the background.

Flower quilt blocks

Next up is a bunch of flower quilt blocks. I remember making one a month for Angela’s Rainbow Scrap Sampler that I used to do several years ago. She still does this and picks a new color each month to work with.

I must have been on a roll with half square triangles! Maybe I should do a block of the month with these and finally make them into a quilt. I have one block at the bottom that is actually done with batik fabrics….it might be fun to redo this and make all batik blocks.

I will still make a quilt with these, I just need to make one more in maybe a dark green.

Design wall

My design wall is in the hallway, I put up Styrofoam sections but I think I’m going to take them down and just use the back of a flannel tablecloth instead. That is what I did by my sewing machine in the other room that you can see a peek of.

Do you like to applique? I have kind of figured out what I’ll make with each appliqued quilt block other than the series of twelve blocks. I’ll be sharing each one in future posts!

Looking for some of my applique tutorials?

• Scrappy Butterfly quilt
• Batik Umbrella quilt
• Chinese Forget Me Not