Quilt University Class

Although I am pretty experienced at needle-turn or hand applique, I am always wanting to improve my skills and learn new and better ways to do things.  With that in mind, I checked out Quilt University and found a class on 2 fabric applique quilts taught by Nancy Chong.  Nancy has an outstanding reputation as being a very thorough, excellent teacher.  Even though the class started shortly before we left for vacation, I signed up for it anyway and after getting home from vacation this past Thursday, decided to start.

Nancy gives you a choice of 3 different patterns to use and I chose the candles pattern thinking that it would be a nice wall hanging during the holiday season.  For 2 fabric applique quilts, you choose a light and dark fabric that complement each other.  Here are the fabrics I chose:

 

 

You have the choice of using either the dark or the light as your foreground fabric.  I wanted the light for the background so proceeded to trace my design on the dark fabric using Transdoodle transfer paper.  I can't say enough for this product.  You place the Transdoodle paper between your pattern and your fabric.  I used a ball point stylus to trace over the lines of the pattern and was very happy with the results as the lines are crisp and easy to see:

It looks a little weird at this point but not to worry ~ the light fabric is behind the dark!

Afer tracing the design you pin and baste on the dark fabric.  Then, you cut on the traced line.  I made dash marks about 3/16 inch from the edge as a guide for turning.  I've been stitching on this project each evening while watching TV and here's my progress so far:

I'm really enjoying this process and have learned a lot from Nancy's class.  This is the prelude to taking the plung and making a king sized Hawaiian quilt.  Luckily, Nancy is offering a class on 'How to make a Hawaiian Quilt' in January and, for me, that will be the perfect time to start.

I have to say that I had a wonderful vacation and saw many beautiful areas from the Colorado Rocky Mountains to the Black Hills of South Dakota.  After 3 weeks of traveling it feels so good to be home and it really is true that there's no place like home.

Until next time  . . .
Debbie