Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Red White & Blue Blog Hop - Welcome!

Happy 4th of July and a big welcome to all of you visiting for the Red White & Blue Blog Hop!

I must admit that I have been enamored with this color scheme for some time and have several projects in progress using it.



Here is the block I created for this special hop.  I was inspired by a commercial on the food network which showed a beach ball floating across a pool.  To me, nothing says summertime quite like a pool party!


Actually before we get our feet wet....if you also love the Red White & Blue color scheme, check out the other participants of the blog hop.  There were some awesome blocks yesterday at:
Also posting today are:
And tomorrow I am sure the following quilters will have some terrific blocks:
The full schedule can also be found here, and the blog hop goes for nearly the whole month of July!  There are enough participants that you could make 5 quilts from all the blocks created!

Now then, let's dive in!!!!!


First, you may want to download the ball template here (pardon me as I have the original version of quilting software = graph paper).  You will also need:

  • 8" x 13" light blue fabric
  • 5 1/2 " x 13" dark blue fabric
  • 2" x 13" strip of white fabric
  • (2) 5" square pieces of white fabric or muslin
  • Red scraps
  • embroidery floss, if desired (I used light gray, black, pink and green)
Step 1 - Make your foundation:


Lay your white strip on top of your dark blue fabric so that it overlaps by about an inch


CAREFULLY!!! Use your rotary cutter to make a wavy design, making sure to stay within that 1 inch of overlap AND making sure not to cut yourself!  TIP: I found laying my ruler on the blue fabric and just barely on the white helped keep things from shifting too much.



You should have something that looks like the above.  These are gentle waves!  Anything too big will be hard to piece together.  Think of a gentle breeze blowing on the surface of the pool - not someone doing a cannonball.

OK? Fingers in tact?  Feel a little naughty for cutting something so improvisational and imperfect??

Now, remove that little raw edge of white on the left, flip the white over onto the blue and pin matching concave and convex curves together (that's why we overlapped the two fabrics).


Now sew with a 1/4 inch seam and press toward the blue.


Ooo, yes! We really broke some rules there, didn't we!  Now add the light blue piece.  This time you should actually sew a straight seam - I know, I know, the fun is over.  Press toward the blue again.


Foundation complete.  Don't square it up yet.

Step 2 - Complete the ball applique:

After printing your templates, decide which applique method is best for you.

  • You could use fusible web and machine applique the ball together
  • If you are brilliant at needle-turn applique, you could just go straight at it and I am sure your ball will be perfectly round.
  • I wanted to do hand applique, but I was not confident that it would turn out properly without some help, so this is what I did.....
First I cut out the "foundation circle" and the other circle that included pieces A, B, and C.  It looked like this:



I took the "foundation circle" and traced it onto one piece of my muslin.  I actually liked using the Frixion pens for this.


I then traced the inner part of my ball shape (this section was unnamed).



I now have a guideline of where I need my pieces to be turned.

I traced the templates A, B, and C onto scraps of red.  Cut them out with approximately 1/4 inch allowances, pinned them to the marked foundation circle and then needle-turned the appliques making sure my stitches just covered the lines marked.

At this point I felt the inner white area needed its own fabric piece, so I traced that unnamed section once more on a white scrap and appliqued it in the same manner.

Then I trimmed the whole foundation to allow for an approximately 1/4 inch seam.  It looked like this:


Now decide where you best like your ball to be floating, and applique it in place.

Step 3 - Embellish as desired:

I am taking Rachel's Handstitched Class over at Stitched in Color and am totally loving it.  So, I felt after all that hand applique, I needed some hand stitching to go along with it!

I felt the beach ball's seams needed to be highlighted in some way, so I backstitched along them.

I also added a depth indicator (like pools have) of 4'.  I picked 4' because today is the 4th, but you can choose whichever number you like best!  Maybe you hang out in the deep end more than I do!


Hmm, mine still seemed to be missing something...


That's better.  If I actually got a chance to relax by the pool instead of  being a lifeguard for my 3 little ones, I would want a nice cocktail at the pool's edge.  Strawberry Daiquiri anyone?


There you have it!  Once all your applique and stitching is done, you can square everything up to a 12.5" square.  You could also adjust to make it a 10.5" square rather easily.


I hope you enjoyed my contribution, now go enjoy your Independence Day!

Cannonball!!!!!!!!

Jen



81 comments:

  1. Good Morning Jen, well you certainly encompass having a ball ! lol
    even at this early am....cheers

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  2. Your block is adorable!! Perfect for a summer time quilt!!

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  3. Great fun! Love the beach ball, glad to be hopping with you :)

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  4. Very Nice! Thanks for sharing. You too have a great holiday.

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  5. Great block! Thanks for sharing how you made it.

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  6. Cute block, Jen. Thanks for the fun block idea.

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  7. Loved your block. Very unique from all the others that have been posted.

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  8. Love the beach ball and you certainly did a wonderful job. Thanks for showing how it was done. Judy C

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  9. Very cute block, I love all of the inspiration of the bloghop. Thanks for participating. Wish I was at the beach right now.

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  10. adorable! Hoppers are going to love the curved piecing portion of your tutorial--you make it look so easy!!
    p.s. I think if i had 3 little ones I'd find time for a margarita... :O)

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  11. How cute is that! I love the idea but I can't imagine designing it - you have lots more talent than me. :) blessings, marlene

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  12. That is a great block and great tutorial! Perfect summer project.

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  13. Cute, cute, cute. I feel like I just want to jump in, right after I take a sip of that drink of course. Nice job.

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  14. I love your technique for the beach ball. Make me want to jump in my neighbor's pool.

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  15. Thanks for sharing the tutorial - very creative!

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  16. I love this!!!! My grandbabies both love beach balls!!! I am sew happy with your tut...I might be able to do this!!!! Thanks!!!!

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  17. Thanks for a great lesson. Sure makes you feel like kicking back and enjoying the summer at the beach.

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  18. Very creative. Love how everybody is starting to design their own blocks!

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  19. Love the details--very cute little block! Thanks for showing us how to make it.

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  20. I love that beach ball! sweet!

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  21. Red, white and blue
    And a little different too!

    Love it!!

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  22. Oh, that is the cutest block! Haha - you naughty little rule-breaker-- didn't your pool water turn out great? Actually, that was very brave of you, thanks for showing us the technique! Adorable.

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  23. VERY cute blog! VERY creative! That pool looks very inviting! It'll be over 100 here today! Forget the fireworks - just give me a pool! AND a strawberry whatever!!! lol

    Happy 4th of July!

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  24. What a perfect block for summer, love that little beach ball! Thanks for sharing your great tutorial!

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  25. Thanks that was a great tutorial. Have a nice 4th!

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  26. Cute block! Thanks for sharing. I think I'll take my kids swimming today ...

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  27. Love this - very summery - thanks for sharing.

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  28. Love this block, it's different, hope you get a chance to lounge by the pool and enjoy a cocktail. Happy 4th!

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  29. great tutorial. this block is so cute!

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  30. What an adorable block!!! Thanks for the tutorial!!!

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  31. Excellent post. I really enjoyed your block and tutorial. We will be at the pool today, too.

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  32. What a cute block! Thanks for sharing!

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  33. I have seen alot of cute blocks on this hop, but this one is REALLY cute!

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  34. Thanks for the fun block and the tut! Beach ball and refreshments at the pool are perfect for the 4th (and every warm day all year round)!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  35. great block and tutorial thank you for sharing!

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  36. Happ Hop Day, Oh my goodness, how cute is your block! I love it. Thank you for a great tutorial and for playing!! Super job!

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  37. Wonderful tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing.

    Debbie - Traveling Quilter

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  38. Very cute! Love the beach ball!

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  39. I did enjoy your creation. Perfect for a hot July 4th day!

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  40. What a great block! It's simple, it's striking and it looks VERY well done. Great job!

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  41. I loved the beach ball design!! It screams summer!!

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  42. Love the block, thanks for sharing.

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  43. What a fun block! I love that you have the pool depth on there. hehe. Too cute. How great that you have a pool as well. Thanks for sharing and for the template. I have the same program, graph paper. hehe.

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  44. It`s just gorgeous.Thanks for the tutorial!!

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  45. What a fun block! Enjoy your day in the pool. I don't fit into my bird bath, bummer (:

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  46. Such a cute block. Definitely says summer to me.

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  47. Wonderful block!! Love the addition of the cocktail! :)
    And nice tute too!

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  48. Ummmm I would love to jump into the pool! Please and thank you! Oh the frozen drink would be swell as well! :)

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  49. I fun block! Thank you for the tutorial. We just returned from a day at the beach..It fits perfectly.

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  50. Great block! Wished I had a pool today!

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  51. What a great block...so fun!

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  52. Your block is very cute. Looks like a fun block to make.

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  53. Thanks for sharing your block -- perfect for a pool!

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  54. Thanks for sharing the tutorial for your block. It's perfect for a summer project.

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  55. Oh this is such a cute block. I LOVE it! Thank you for the great tutorial and templates as well. I'm definitely going to try this one when I get a little more practice at quilting.

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  56. Very cute idea for a block. I love it. Thanks for letting us stop by. Oh, how I would love to take a dip today. Bye for now.

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  57. thanks for taking the time to do this blog hop. You have a very cute block, will this be apart of a larger quilt, what are your plans for it?

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  58. Love your block. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  59. Fun, fun!! What a great idea, thanks!

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  60. I loved stopping by and enjoy the tutorial. Thanks for sharing...Judith, Texas

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  61. Great block it brings back memories of going to the beach and playing with a beach ball when I was a kid.

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  62. I love ur block!!!! I'm going to have to try and make one for myself!

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  63. Wonderful block!!! And the background is pretty special too You really picked a great place to take your picture LOL. I love how creative you were in designing your block - the beach ball is perfect!!! Now I want to go to a pool party!

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  64. Wow...this is so cute and summery. Thank you for sharing with us.

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  65. Love your beach ball--it's so SoCal-iconic. I'm from NoCal, but I don't know what would be iconic for NoCal, any ideas? I'm a retired Home Ec teacher and trying to use my stash. I have been learning many techniques even though I dabbled in quilting many years ago. Now I have the time to learn and actually complete some projects. I have been doing the Free Craftsy BOM. It's great and I look forward to the first of every month.
    Rosemary
    nellieduclos@yahoo.com

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  66. Terrific block! Thanks for sharing the instructions. I'm going to make some into summer placemats.

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  67. Too fun!! I love it. Yes, like Moe said, I think placemats would be so cute,

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  68. This is a darling quilt block! It really gives the feeling of summer! Thanks!!

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  69. such a fun block - love the beach ball :)

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