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.

Dozen Squares Paper Quilt Blocks Display Suggestions

The "Dozen Squares" quilt blocks have recently become available 

from the SnapDragon Snippets design team 

through the online store at Silhouette America. 

"Dozen" refers to the fact that the collection includes 

one quilt block design for each of the 12 months.

If you have been interested in this set of designs, 

but aren't sure how to include them in your decor, here are some ideas. 

Select one you like best, then you are ready 

for a full year of sharing your paper (or fabric) creations!

The first display version is a wonderful tabletop easel that is made from wood components. It comes from staff designer Whitney at the Wood Connection Crafts in Midvale, Utah. (For more information about this project, click here, then scroll down to "Chic Multipurpose Block".)

Here I have displayed the April block connected to it's month label panel, with ribbon knot tails at top. It is held in place with strong magnet discs attached to its backside that attract to the metal plate on the easel. (NOTE: the cut file for each variation in this post is scaled smaller to fit the particular display treatment shown.)

This picture shows the display piece by itself. The block with finial, candle stick, wood applique and routed oval are joined, painted and distressed, with metal plate glued in place on the front. Another variation replaces the metal plate and magnet discs with a square of cork so the blocks can be pinned in place like a bulletin board.

My next variation is a cute tabletop wire frame from Ackfeld Wire Co. I used sheer ribbon ties threaded through the block's top hole punches to tie the block to the top of the frame. Frame details: item no. 88027, 6x6 fringed single stand in text linen (creamy white). Find this frame at www.ackfeldwire.com.














Or follow this link http://ackfeldwire.com/product_info.php?products_id=1000055 for the specific wire stand used here.

This side shot gives a better idea of how the wire frame 
actually looks and works.

The final display idea for this post is a fabric version. July's square is cut from Silhouette fabric interfacing (fusible web), assembled as a block, then fused to the front fabric panel of the sleeve (or fabric tube with muslin-faced side edges and ribbon on front and back at each end). For this version, I used the "July" tag from the Docket quilt block, but you could get creative to use the "July" from the lower panel of the Dozen block, too. The sleeve is placed over a stuffed muslin "quilted" pillow.

The sleeve is removable, so that when one month is done, the ribbon tie at one end is loosened to allow the sleeve to be removed. Then the new month's sleeve is replaced. Only one pillow needed for all twelve months.

Here is a closeup of the pillow with sleeve.

(If you would like more specific information about how I made my sleeve, dimensions, ribbon length, etc., email a request for "Dozen Squares Sleeve fact sheet" to hearthsewnpatterns@yahoo.com.)



At least one more idea for using this series of "quilt block" designs will be presented in a later post. Hope this gets your imagination and creativity flowing!

June On the Docket Kit Swatch Key

This is the fabric swatch key to help identify the fabrics

included in the Spring 2013 Quilts, Etc. (Sandy, Utah)

June On the Docket project kits

available for purchase.

Kit fabrics are used to create the mini quilt shown (right) that celebrates dad activities. 

If you are interested in purchasing the "On the Docket: Summer" HSN 189 pattern by mail order from Hearthsewn, click here. 

(Please scroll through the pages to the 'O' section of the patterns listing.) Titles in the series include "On the Docket: Spring", "On the Docket: Autumn" and "On the Docket: Winter".

If you are interested in contacting Quilts, Etc., quilt shop in Sandy, Utah, to inquire about kit availability (and pattern as well), click here.

This kit and kits for previous On the Docket mini banner projects may be available for purchase while supplies last.