Work in Progress Wednesdays seem to arrive very quickly this year!Could be that life is very busy at the moment.
This year I am participating in the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2012 but I am off to late start. That said I have at least started!
When I signed up for the project I had no idea that Take a Stitch Tuesdays would be so popular. If I had I would have perhaps not signed on. Now that I have started I am pleased I did as it will push me.
I considered pre-making my blocks but just before Christmas I did not find time to. I am pleased I didn’t as I think it will keep the journal blocks more honest.
I decided to work with 8 inch blocks.
As some readers know my daughter Eve is a circus performer and after 10 years in the business she is in the process of staring her own Circus. If you have not checked out her blog Stardust and Sledgehammers do so as she writes about all the behind the stuff of life in a circus!
Time this month has been taken up with costuming (just one of the tasks) so I decided on a circus theme block made from some of the scrap fabrics. This week I managed to piece the block.
I thought I would share with you a technique I sometimes use which is to fuse a shape to the block. It is an ideal technique for themed blocks particularly if you can use a design in silhouette. I use Mistyfuse as the fusable, as it is very light and unlike other products does not stiffen the fabric (makignit unpleasant fo rhand stitchers) or gum up your needle.
The fabric you choose needs to be ironed so test it first to make sure it can be.
I first print out the silhouette design.
I traced the design on to baking paper using a pencil.
On the back of the fabric lay out some Mistyfuse.
Place the backing paper over the top of the Mistyfuse and fabric so you have sandwich of fabric, Mistyfuse and baking paper. Have the design face up. Run an iron over the sandwich to fuse it together.
Carefully cut out your shape.
Peel off the baking paper.
Place you shape mistyfuse side down and iron into place.
You now have a shape on a block that can act as a foundation for a design.
I used the same technique for the juggling clubs flying up the block. This is the block on my design wall. I am at the think about it and “collate together stuff for it” stage. I hope to be able to embroider it some time this week and perhaps even make the deadline!
Baking paper? Is this baking parchment or tracing paper? I am in the UK and wondering if the terms are different. Would you be kind enough to clarify, please?
Baking paper is the stuff you use to lone cake tins and trays – hope this makes sense
What an awesome thing, starting your own circus, sounds a little daunting to me, but FUN TOO. Hope she does well and you keep us informed on her progress. LOVE YOUR BLOCK !!!!!!! I have never tried that mystifus or how ever it is spelled I might have to check that out, looks like fun.
Your block is beautiuful.
Jeanne
Is that a silhouette of Eve performing??=)
Big congrats to Eve, sounds amazing and also fun! This colour scheme is absolutely delicious. I'm inspired and I think I can pull that palette together from my stash.
Thanks for the info on Mistyfuse. I'd like to try backing some velveteen since hooping it is a problem.