April Calendar Graphica Construction Tips

The April Calendar Graphica banner quilt

in the year-long series is now available

as a cut file from SnapDragon Snippets

through the Silhouette America online store.

CONSTRUCTION TIPS:

Refer to the other "Calendar Graphica" banner quilt tutorials for other basic steps.

1. After downloading and opening the file in Studio, ungroup then move the shapes into the groupings that will be cut from the same fabric. Cluster these in a "cutting-efficient" arrangement, with a little margin around each. Then use the "reveal mat" feature in the Page drop-down menu to figure out how bid to cut the piece of fusing and fabric for this set of shapes.

Here, I can count the one-inch grid squares to determine than my fusing and fabric need to be about 7.5" x the width of my mat (12"). I usually make sure there is about 1/4" margin between the shapes and the edge of the cut fabric/fusing panel.

2. Cut the piece of fusing to the size figured in Step 1, then fuse it efficiently to the backside of the corresponding fabric. 

3. Trim the fabric even with the fusing paper backingb edges (rotary cutting equipment is great for this).

4. Place the prepared fabric panel onto the mat to correspond with the positioning of the shapes on the screen mat. (In this case, the shapes cover the entire width of the mat.) Smooth it and make sure it is evenly attached.

5. "Send to Silhouette, and make all the necessary adjustments before pressing "CUT". The settings I prefer are "fabric cotton print" with the blade depth adjusted on-screen to 4, and the blade itself ratcheted to 4, too. 

6. Carefully weed the excess fabric, then use the spatula tool to lift the cut applique shapes from the mat, taking care not to stretch them.

Repeat the arranging, fabric prep and cutting for each cluster of shapes.

7.  To fuse the "April" name panel, use the "panel stencil" shape in the cut file to cut a placement guide from paper or card stock. NOTE that it does NOT include the seam allowances, so center it within the panel's edges. Use a temporary marking tool to mark letter "openings" positions. OR, place the cut letter shapes within the openings, use a tiny tack iron to tack-fuse a portion of the letters so they will stay in place, carefully lift away the stencil, then thoroughly fuse the letters in place.

8. Prepare the large applique groupings by positioning them together on the center panel. NOTE that top handle edge is approx. .75" from panel cut edge, right side basket rim edge is approx. .75" from side panel edge, and left side basket rim is approx. 1.25" from panel edge. Green line is center line. Make adjustments, taking care to insert appropriate shapes under the adjacent shapes as needed, then fuse in place. Here is the line drawing of the basket, showing in red lines the base shapes under rim and behind body overlays. Base shape also overlaps the base and overlay shape edges, and handles are inserted under the rim edges. Large tulip shape overlaps its center oval, small tulips have oval "centered" over petal shape, stems are inserted under flower head and basket rim or handle shapes.

9. Use the Applique Pressing Sheet, if available, to pre-assemble the layered shapes from the bottom up, then carefully peel the assembled applique unit and position it as a whole onto the center panel. Make final adjustments, then complete final fusing in place.

Here the basket is being assembled on the Pressing Sheet.

Tulip heads . . .

. . . and bunnies can also be pre-assembled on the Sheet.

For the bunnies: place the base (darkest fabric) shape first, then position the tummy and tail, then the "body" (front and back paws and middle), then head on top. 

Position bunnies onto the panel with paws lower edges approx. 1.25" above the panel's lower cut edge. Position circles centered between as shown on completed image or thumbnail. 

(Image to follow)
If the bunny eye circles seem to small to fuse and stitch, either leave the edges unstitched, or use the round end of a paint brush loaded with black acrylic paint to place a paint "tutti-dot" circle in the eye position.

10. Finish the exposed applique raw edges with over-edge stitching of your choice. I use a short & narrow machine blanket stitch with matching thread. For secure stitching, leave thread tails at beginning and end of runs, pull ends to backside and hand tie in double knots before clipping tails short.







11. (Image to follow)
Join upper and lower panels, then add narrow and outer borders to complete the top. My border widths are CUT: narrow 1" (to finish at 1/2") outer 1.75" (to finish at 1.25"). Layer with backing panel (cut a couple of inches longer and wider) and thin bat or drapery flannel. Smooth and pin layers, then complete machine quilting as desired, at border seams, at applique edges, and in background if or how desired. Trim and bind outer edge. Add hanging system sleeves. (See Steps 16-23 of the tutorial for January Calendar Graphica for details.

March "Calendar Graphica" Quilt Design

The March panel quilt, "Rooster Vane & Shamrocks" 

in the "Calendar Graphica" monthly series

is now available from the creative minds at

SnapDragon Snippets

through the Silhouette America online store.

This design is available both as a cut file (svg) 
and as a published print pattern from hearthsewnpatterns.com. 
While some of the steps described here will be specifically for the cuttable version, constructions beyond the "cutting" steps will apply to either.

(You can also refer to another post 

for construction tips - search "January Calendar Graphica Banner Quilt".)

Step 1. Prepare to cut the fusible applique shapes. I manage this by making a quick swatch chart with the shape description and a place to pencil in the size requirements for the shape or shapes to be cut.

You can determine what size you need to cut for the shape being cut from a specific fabric by positioning and rotating the shape for efficient use of the space. In this screen shot of my Silhouette 12x12 mat, I have used the "Page Tools" to adjust the slider in "Reveal cutting mat" so that I can see the 1x1 grid. Now I can see the spacial area that my fabric should cover in order to successfully cut my shape. According to the grid, I can cut a piece of fusing approx. 5" wide x 4" long, apply it to a matched size fabric patch, and position it in the same mat area.

You can also "select" the shape, read the size notations that appear in its "bounding box", then add 3/4"-1" overall to each dimension for fusing and patch sizes.

For multiple patches being cut from the same fabric, arrange those shapes together with small margins between to allow the blade to cut the fabric and shapes, then follow similar procedures to determine required sizes.

Step 2. Cut the upper panel fabric: 11 1/4" x 15 7/8".
Cut the "MARCH" lower panel fabric:11 1/4” x 4 1/8”.

Step 3. Fold the upper panel and crease lightly to establish the vertical center line. Unfold. Arrange the cut applique pieces with the vane "post" centered over the center line, 
the bottom-most applique edge approx. 1/2" from the panel cut edge, and the top-most "comb" shape edge approx. 1/2" from the panel cut edge. (Tail plume will be approx. 3/4" from top cut edge.)

Here you can see me using a see-thru ruler with the 1/2" cross lines at panel edge, and ruler edge at comb applique edge.

Arrange all "first layer" shapes, make adjustments if necessary, then press to fuse in place.

Step 4. Arrange remaining rooster and vane shapes. Then fuse in place (follow product directions).

TIP: This image shows how the wing "swoosh" shapes can be grouped from the original download file, moved as a unit to be cut on the mat, then the "weeded" discard fabric shape used to help transfer the three shapes' positions to the rooster body.

You could also cut a paper/card stock template of the original arrangement to accomplish this same thing.

Step 5. Once the shapes are fused completely, use matching color thread to stitch over the raw edges. You can use a zigzag/satin stitch, or a blanket stitch (my preference).

(NOTE: this image shows the "MARCH" over edging, though this step is demonstrated in Step 10.)

Step 6. As each "run" of over-edge stitching is completed, leave 1" to 2" tails. Pull the bobbin thread to bring a "loop" of the top thread to the backside, work the tail end all the way out at the backside, then tie a double knot and clip threads short.

Step 7. Mark the positions of the shamrock appliques to left and right of the center post using the measurements shown in the illustration at left.












To make this easy, cut the "whole" shamrock shape from cardstock, then use it to follow the guide measurements from the image to trace the outline using temporary marking tool of some kind.














Step 8. If you have an "Applique Pressing Sheet", you can pre-assemble/fuse the component parts of the shamrocks before positioning them over the marked outlines on the center panel.












Otherwise, position the shapes onto the center panel, make adjustments then fuse in place. Follow this order: the outer petal shapes and stem, then the inner shapes, then the center base, then inner oval, then smallest oval.

Step 9. Prepare  "MARCH" letters panel. One way to ensure proper positioning is to cut the "layout" panel from cardstock as a tracing stencil, as is shown here.

The stencil is centered over the front of the cut-to-size lower panel and strategic positioning guide marks at corners and extremities are marked with temp marker.











Step 10. Position the cut appliques (with fusing in place) following guides, then fuse in place. Over-stitch raw edges as for other appliques in Step 5.)

Step 11. The rooster's eye shape is very small. If you prefer, you can paint the pupil instead of applique stitch it. Here I am using the rounded end of a decorative paint brush dipped in black acryllic paint (dip from the lid) to make a "perfect" tutti-dot in the center of the outer eye applique circle.






To finish your quilt banner, including adding borders, refer to the equivalent steps demonstrated in "January Calendar Graphica" post on this blog: http://needlesnknowledge.blogspot.com/2014/01/january-calendar-graphica-banner-quilt.html.