Monday, May 19, 2025

SWEET LAND SEW ALONG - Week One!!


  Welcome to Week One 
of the Sweet Land Sew Along!!



If you are just joining us and would
like to know more about this sew along
and how it works
to read my blog post called 
"Bee Prepared" 
where I tell you all about it:)
if you still need to download
the sew along guide.


We are making the 
Sweet Land Quilt 
which finishes at
 88" x 88"
It consists of 5 pieced blocks 
and 4 applique blocks
as well as a scrappy pieced border!
 



To make the appliqué blocks, 
 we will be using my 
Sew Simple Shapes called of course...
Sweet Land Sew Simple Shapes!
 



The collection that we are using 
for the quilt is...
AMERICANA!!


For this week we are going to turn
some of these Americana fabrics, 
Sew Simple Shapes and interfacing...


Into this!!!
 Sweet Land Applique Block #1

***PLEASE TAKE NOTE***
I usually do a video tutorial for 
the first week of my sew alongs
but I am doing it here on my blog
for this one because I currently
have Covid and have lost my voice,
so I am not able to film.
But no worries! 
I'm sure I will be better soon
and I did not want to postpone
the sew along until after my voice returns.

Sew...with that being said,
Let's get started!!


Use the sew along guide to prep 
for each of your applique blocks.

I only need to show you how to make the applique block once because 
of course the other three applique blocks
 are done the exact same way and just
 have different fabric.
You will know which fabric for which block
from the details in the sew along guide. 



A few things to keep in mind 
when tracing your shapes is that
 a few are traced in reverse.
You trace in reverse by turning 
the shape right side down when tracing.


You will need to trace one of the eaglets,
 one of the flags and one of the
 blue flag parts in reverse.


READY...
 SET...


SEW!!!


First step is to sew these strips
 for the baby eagle beaks to the side
 of the fabric for the bodies.
Also trace the line for the beaks
from the sew simple shape.


Use a 1/4" seam allowance...


and press the seams open 
so that the applique will lie flat.


Now you can line up the traced beak
 line directly onto your 
seam allowance before sewing.


Sew directly onto your traced line 
all the way around and end by 
oversewing about 1" or so 
to secure the stitches.

I like to use a smaller stitch
 when sewing my shapes to ensure 
that I do not have loose stitches .


All sewn!!
These little eaglets are the only shapes
 that need two fabrics sewn together
 beforehand so now you can 
go ahead and sew all the rest:)


I have each of my shapes for the block sewn
 and have separated them into 3 categories.

The ones on the design board on the left
 have inner curves and the ones 
on the right have a cleavage area 
and the ones above the boards have neither.


Trim all of the shapes leaving 
an approximate 1/4" seam allowance.


This is how you clip the inner curve areas
 on the flag parts and the eaglets.
 Make 3-4 clips close together 
just short of your stitching line.


 Now these appliqués can lie flat 
after turning and pressing 
because if these clips.


Speaking of turning,
I cut an X like this in the interfacing 
ONLY so that I can turn.


Then I turn.
Take note that after turning
 each shape looks pretty rough
but they look great after these few steps...


First I use a turner to shape it 
around ALL of the sewn edges 
and gently push out the points...


Then I quickly use my 
Quick Press Seam Roller 
around the edges before


pressing it on the fabric side and 
then using a clapper.
By doing all of these steps, 
each shape is ready for laying out the block!

If you are new to my method,
please feel free to watch a video or two
 that I have done in my previous sew alongs
to help you out if needed.

In my BEE PREPARED post 
for this sew along, 
you can find direct links 
to each of these tutorials
 by scrolling down to the bottom.


Okay back to the shapes!
This is how I clip each cleavage area.
ONE clip right to the stitching line 
but not into it or past it.
Now these will lie flat after 
turning, shaping and pressing.


For the remaining shapes that
 do not need clipping, 
simply trim leaving a seam allowance.


All of my shapes are turned, pressed 
and ready for laying out the block...


Let's go to the worktable and get started:)
Grab all of your supplies,
including the 16 1/2" Trim-It Ruler
and a measuring tape...
you will need both as we go along.
Prepare all of the 1/4" stems
 as called for in the guide.
If you have never seen how I prepare 
the stems please CLICK HERE
and watch my video for my last sew along
and you can see how I prepare mine.


First thing is to grab your Sue Glue
 and let's put together a few of the pieces.
Glue the flower centers to the flowers,
the blue flag sections to the top corners
and the wings to the eaglets.
The wings extend about 1 1/2" 
above the eaglet body.
***Take Note***
When gluing you only need a little bit.
Try to remember that "a dot is a lot!"


Okay let's begin with the bottom stand piece,
  the center stem, the three flowers and the center leaves.
The stem measures 7" long from the top 
of the stand to the bottom of the flower.
The bottom of the red leaves
measure 4" up from the top of the stand.
I glued the leaves and the top flower down.
I placed a little bit of glue on the 
BOTTOM of the stand and only the top
 of the stem to keep them in place.
I only glued the side flowers down on the outsides and not the insides.
 I didn't glue those entire pieces down yet
because I need to keep them free for 
tucking the rest of the stem ends underneath.


Also take note that you don't want the
 entire design to extend past 15 1/2" tall...


Or 15 1/2" wide because the block
 will measure 16" x 16" AFTER 
it's sewn into the quilt 
and the design will need about 
1/4" space away from the seam allowance
on the top, bottom and sides.
The center of the side flowers line up
 with the bottom of the red leaves...



And measure 5" from the side of the 
gold circle to the center of the stem.
Repeat this measurement for the other side.


After laying out a few pieces from 
the center out as I've shown you,
I now rely on the lines of the ruler
to layout the rest of the shapes and 
keep them as symmetrical 
as I can on both sides.
I will take a top photo of the ruler 
on my block as I go along and add
 more pieces so that this will help you
 with your placement as well.
Take advantage of all of the lines 
on the ruler when placing your shapes. 
Having horizontal, vertical and 
diagonal lines make all the difference!



Next I placed the flag poles and the flags.


I trimmed the ends of the poles 
on an angle like this before tucking under
 the center stem and gluing down.


There is 1 1/2" between the bottom of
the tucked under poles and the
top of the bottom stand...


And the flagpole measures
 1" above the flag. 
I also pressed the top of the poles 
under 1/4" and glued them down 
so the edges would be finished.
Take note that I glued the flag sides
 on TOP of the poles and did not
tuck them underneath.


Close up of the left flag placement... 



and close up of the right.
Okay now let's place the prepared 
bias stems that go with the side flowers.


I tucked both ends of the stem 
underneath the flowers and underneath
 the center stem and the base
and glued both stems down with
a very thin line of glue down the center.


Now time for the baby eagles!!
I extended their legs all the way down
 to the bottom but of course 
you don't have to as they will be
 cut off when trimming down the block
 and the ends sewn into the seam
 when sewing the blocks together.
Now let's add the final shapes...


The hearts and leaves:)

I've placed all of my shapes
 and I love how it looks1
Keep in mind that everything is not 
exactly symmetrical but thanks to the ruler
it is pretty darn close 
and as long as I am within the
 15 1/2" guidelines I am good to go:)



Now I will go ahead and 
glue everything down that I haven't 
yet and pin into place to dry.


I like to use my pins as much as I can 
before gluing down each piece
 but take note that if by chance 
you see a shape that you would 
like to adjust I only use a little glue 
and I can carefully pull it off 
and adjust as needed before the final
glueing and all of the pins are removed:)


My block is now ready for applique!!
After applique I will press my block
 from the back and then use the 
16 1/2" x 16 1/2" Trim-It Ruler
and trim down my block before 
I sew it into the quilt.
If you have never appliquéd before,
 please CLICK HERE
to watch my tutorial on both 
hand or machine applique.
Either way looks fabulous 
and is totally up to you!


I hope you enjoyed this 
step by step tutorial for the 
applique block and now you know how
to make the remaining three!
My tip is to use your first one as a 
guide when laying the rest out.
You could place it on top of your 
Easy Trace Lightbox as a base guide 
for the others. 


Please use the guide for the 
fabrics used for the remaining blocks.


I must say that having these details 
on each block is very helpful!!


Of course because I am working ahead 
I had already made the other three blocks
 and was saving block one 
to make it with you for the tutorial:)


I put all four on the design wall 
in my work room so that I could 
take several photos for you:)




I think they are so fun!!


I hope that you enjoy making your blocks:)


Thanks for sewing along with me this week!
I'll be right back here next week
and show you how I make a sashing and a cornerstone block:)
Until then,
Happy Sewing!!
xx
Lori

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