Welcome! Are you enjoying the blog hop? You're familiar with the book we're celebrating by now, right? 318 Patchwork Patterns. (You know, the beloved book previously released in Japanese, out of print, but now it's available again and it's an English edition thanks to the savvy folks at World Book Media.) So now I have to show you what I made from the book, but straight off I have some things to admit and I'm feeling a little sheepish.
1| I have never ever tried this particular kind of paper piecing that all the others in the hop are so skilled at doing. It's one of those things I just haven't learned to do yet and therefore it scares me... a little bit a lot.
2| That's why I didn't try one of the fun blocks from the beginning of the book, though I'm definitely feeling more eager to learn now. I've been watching quietly as artists like Charise churn out the most amazing fabric creations, figuring someday I'll try it ~ I'll love it ~ and then it'll be all over for me. But until then, I had to come up with something else for this blog hop... sooo I decided to do an applique block.
3| Well, hmmmph. Never done an applique like this before, either. I've never appliqued from a pattern and never an entire intricate block like this one. But... I did it.
And I love it! Kumiko's designs are so beautiful and timeless and can be translated any way you like based on the fabrics you choose, or the way that you incorporate the block into a project. And just think ~ there are 318 patterns to choose from in this book! I chose #288.
However, what I'm basically saying is that I don't think you want to ask me how I did it because I'm still learning, but in a nutshell...
step 1: I copied the little tiny pattern #288 from the book at regular size. I cut out the little pattern and then I photocopied that at 366% to get an 8 3/4" square block.
step 2: I traced the enlarged pattern onto freezer paper, cut out all the shapes, and pressed the freezer paper stencils onto the right side of my fabric. (For this applique I mainly used my daughter's old clothes, but I added two Japanese lawn prints to the mix.)
step 3: I folded the fabric seam allowances under the freezer paper "stencils" and sewed each piece by hand to a linen base. I think I should have traced the pattern also onto the linen, that way I would know exactly where to sew on each shape, but I didn't do that part and that explains why my applique is ever so slightly wonky. But heck, I'm very proud of it. And I would do it again. I love handsewing!
I turned my applique block into a tote bag. Since the bag is for me I felt free to do whatever I chose, and I used lace as the binding on the sides. I used a Juliana Horner print for the bottom binding as well as the bag lining. For the little label at the top, I cut a freezer paper stencil with an exacto knife and painted on the "nanaCo."
I'm so sorry for these horrible photos. I didn't get one clear pic but you get the idea.
Judging by the success of my first block and this new tote, I think this book and I are going to have a lot of fun together!
Would you like a chance to win a free copy of this book? Just leave a comment on this post telling me what you see yourself making with it ~ and you're entered! Comments will close Monday, November 3rd, at midnight. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced soon thereafter. This giveaway is open to all. Thank you to Zakka Workshop for sponsoring this book giveaway!
Good luck to you all! xo amy