Maggie’s First Dance BOM and Giveaway

Welcome to the first month of …

This month, Aurifil is giving away a box of Aurifil Thread from each of the featured bloggers. All details to win are at the bottom of this post. If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time. Visit Jacquelynne’s block 1 post and sign up.

Jacquelynne’s pattern centers can be appliqued, embroidered or left plain to use a focus fabric. I’m doing the embroidered center. If you have never tried embroidery before, Jacquelynne’s designs are a great way to begin. She also has a video tutorial on getting started.

I’m using Bright Sun Fabrics by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda  and DMC Floss for the embroidery. I already have so much floss that I only had to add a few colors. If you need floss, check out Aurifil’s Floss Collection.

If you notice, I added a few extra details to the embroidery.

I used Jacquelynne’s cute Note Cards to Color for inspiration. When I saw the note cards, I knew I wanted to add just a little extra to Jacquelynne’s already great design.

The flower petals, stems and leaves are all back stitched with three strands of floss. I used two strands of floss for the running stitches inside the petals. I used x-stitches for the centers and marked a little dot where I wanted them to go. Jacquelynne also has a video tutorial for the basic stitches.  The running stitch and x-stitch are a shade lighter than the petals and centers.

I thought I would show you how I prepare the centers for embroidery. When I embroider a piece, I always use another piece of fabric to help stabilize the piece and hide the knots. I have used muslin, another cotton fabric or in this project, Pellon Shape Flex Woven Fusible Interfacing. If you use an interfacing, make sure it’s a woven.

You can see the grain lines in this picture. You don’t want your embroidery piece to be too stiff. Now for the prep.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

1. The main fabric is cut larger than the unfinished size of the block. I cut the interfacing the same size as the unfinished block. Then I find the center of each piece by folding horizontally, then opening the fabric up and folding vertically.
2. I match the fold lines of the wrong side of the main piece and the interfacing.
3. Then I press the fusible to the wrong side. If I’m using muslin, I’ll baste around the outside to hold the fabrics together.
4. Next, I find the center of the design by folding horizontally, then vertically.
5. I use a light box to trace, but you don’t need one. For years, I used a light under a glass table top and I’ve also taped pieces to a window to trace the design.
6. Now to trace. There are several tools you can use. I prefer a blue water soluble pen. You can also use a Frixon pen or a very thin line permanent Micron Pen. If you use the Frixon or blue pen, you must fuse your interfacing first. The heat will erase the Frixon pen and set the blue pen.

Now you’re ready to embroider. I do use a hoop, but the choice is yours.

I will also be doing the applique version of Maggie’s First Dance. I won a fabric kit from last year’s Cozy Cottage BOM contest. (You can read more here).

I will be using Aurifil 50/2 Mako Cotton for the hand applique (and machine piecing). This piece is glue basted and ready to go. I made bias strips with my bias bars for the stems. I’ll tuck in all the points as I’m appliqueing.

 

 

Some of my favorite tools for applique: Roxanne’s Glue-Baste-It, Perfect Circles and Scissors by Karen Kay Buckley.

 

 

 

 

Now for the giveaway. Since it’s the beginning of summer, tell me which is your favorite vacation place; the beach, lake or mountains. Leave a comment by midnight on June 12 for your chance to win an Aurifil box of thread. I’ll choose a winner at random, but make sure you leave your email. This contest is open to US and international readers.

Also, Jacquelynne has set up a Pinterest group board if you would like to share your photos. Go here to request to join the board. She is also doing a Linky page where you can post pictures and see what others are doing. You can also tag your pictures on Instagram, #maggiequilt. Be sure to visit all the featured bloggers and leave a comment for a greater chance to win one of these great Aurifil boxes of thread.

http://greydogwoodstudio.com

https://farmhousequiltsblog.wordpress.com

http://thecraftyquilter.com

http://www.evapaigequiltdesigns.blogspot.com

http://gogokim.blogspot.com

http://lilypadquilting.blogspot.com

https://thequiltingnook.wordpress.com  (That’s me)

If you’re new to my blog, I hope you take a few minutes to look around. Happy Embroidering!