Broderie perse

I love broderie perse because it is a wonderfully easy way to add details such as flowers and leafs without the work of cutting out and appliqueing individual petals. So what is broderie perse? It is the art of appliqueing motifs from a print onto a background. One trick is to use a background that matches the background in the print. Let me give you an example. The flowers are cut from one fabric and the brown branch from another. For the branch I simply tacked it in place with applique pins and needle-turn appliqued it in position. The branch was straight enough that I could turn under most of the background fabric so that all I was left with was the branch. I could have done the same thing with a strip of brown print fabric but I already had a scrap of the branch fabric so why not use it? The flowers are more detailed so I cut them out leaving more background in places where I wanted to avoid deep curves or sharp points. The flowers were cut out and pinned to the background so that I could needle-turn applique them in place. My background fabric is fairly busy so the background beige in the flowers almost disappears.

Having difficulty seeing where the flowers stop and the background fabric begins? That's the beauty of broderie perse! In the following picture I've outlined the flowers so you can see  the separation.

Here is an example of a set of leafs that were appliqued to the branch. I love the colour, shading and detail in the leafs.

In the next picture I've outlined the section that was done in the broderie perse method. I was quick and easy to do because there were no sharp points or deep concave curves.

The flowers and leafs are part of one of the blocks for my 2016 Quilt Along. I am guessing that you are curious to see the block so here it is! I will be doing more with this block before it is finished and ready to join the "flock"! If I were to make this block again I would like have used a busier print for the bird's body but it is done. If it really bothered me I would either change the body with pens and paints or replace the body with a different fabric or just make a new block. But I can live with it so live with it I shall. Once it is stitched into the quilt it won't be a problem because there will be plenty of other loveliness to see!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H

Easier Than Pie & Beyond Rows 4 and 5

Today I'll share rows 4 and 5 of my Easier Than Pie & Beyond hexagon quilt; it is coming together. All of the block designs are available in five books that are available in my Craftsty Store.

This is the fourth row. I love the red rosette that is second from the left. I call it Jack in the Pulpit and it is in Book 3.

And this is the fifth row.

What next? Add these two rows to the three that I've already stitched together and stitch the final two rows.

Sadly I forgot to take a picture of the five rows stitched together. In addition I had to make half rosettes to fill in the sides and guess what? Forgot to take pictures of those as well! I used a blue/gold and taupe diamond print along with a creamy subtle print. Needles to say the middle hexagon is the same as that in all of the blocks in my quilt. It gives the whole quilt a more cohesive look. Using the same fabric for the middle hexagon in every rosette is a subtle way to make a bunch of very different blocks look like they belong together.

I know that many of you have commented on how complicated the Easier Than Pie & Beyond hexagons appear but I can honestly tell you that if you can sew a straight line and do a simply whip stitch you can make any or all of these designs!

Want another peek at the 2016 Quilt Along? Well want no more because here it is! I've added a round of white hexagons to frame the bird. There is more to come so stay tuned for pictures and instructions!

Until I post again, happy sewing!

Karen H

Mixing the ingredients for my Easier Than Pie Quilt and a sneak peek

Thank you to everyone who has purchased my Easier Than Pie & Beyond hexagon booklets. I hope you are having fun making beautiful hexagon rosettes. I've made open donuts of twelve hexagons from two fabrics and surrounded each rosette with these rounds. This rosette is called Chubby Star and it is in Booklet 4.

So now it is time to assemble the rosetted into a quilt top and I'm pretty excited about how it is looking. The rosettes need to be joined with a path (think of the path as a sashing). I could have used whole hexagons between the rosettes but instead I decided to use diamonds and triangles. I just think that they look more elegant. I have a soft beige fabric in my stash and the print looks like a linen. That is the fabric I will use for the diamonds and triangles.

To make the diamonds I cut hexagons into diamonds which are one third of a hexagon.

To make the triangles I cut hexagons into triangles which are one sixth of a hexagon.

Each rosette will need six diamonds and two triangles. I baste a goodly amount of diamonds and triangles and then attach them to each rosette. This keeps the project portable and manageable. I will also need to add two extra diamonds and one triangle at the left side of the first rosette in each row but I do that after I've decided how to lay out the rosettes. There will also be diamonds and triangles added to the bottom edge of the bottom row. This rosette is called Ground Floor and it is in Booklet 1.

This is the first row stitched together.The path fabric is very subtle but that is the look I am going for and I think it will work just fine.

This is row 2. You can see how it will attach to row 1.

Also I am working on my 2016 QAL. I still haven't come up with a name for it but I am SUPER excited about how it is looking. I've remade one block and have two more to make for the outer border. Then it is filler bits and I can sew it all together. I think it is going to be a stunner of a quilt! Want a sneak peek? Well here it is! This little guy will be in the centre block. He is appliqued but if applique isn't your thing then a lovely large fussy cut print will make a great substitute. My plan is to show you the entire quilt top put together before we start the QAL so that you know what you are getting into.

I'm linking up with Val's Quilting Studio where the Tuesday's Archives theme is butterflies! Pop on over if you have time and see what other bloggers are sharing.

Time for me to do some more sewing. Stay tuned for more updates on my Easier Than Pie & Beyond quilt top. Until I post again, happy sewing!

Karen H