Thursday, July 24, 2014

TSN Thursday!

Nope, I didn't spend all day watching The Sports Network (that's TSN in Canada). I tried something new... my own version of TSN! As usual, it was the Pile O Fabric Skillbuilder BOM pushing my boundaries... so many new techniques! I've been putting off this month's block... not just because my studio's a wreck, but because it's more appliqué. And not just appliqué, but layered appliqué. It's the paint by number of quilting!

Here's the first of my new somethings! I printed on freezer paper. That's right. I've never done it before. I was always afraid that somehow I would gum up my printer. But it went off without a hitch! I can see so many possibilities here... no more printing and tracing onto fusible web. This freezer paper thing is growing on me!
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I also spent some quality time making a fabric colour key. This time, the instructor didn't give the specific colours she used, but rather she gave a guideline for us to choose the proper values. Yikes. I'd be lying if I said this was a quick process. Sorting through Kona scraps (my happy place) choosing just the right pieces and using my trust Colour Card to identify them... fun, fun, fun! I should have done this months ago to make the block patterns less confusing... but I just wanted to sew, sew, sew!
Once those templates were roughly cut out, I ironed them onto my starched scraps. So many tiny bits. Then I had to cut them out... even tinier bits!
Since beginning this course, I have bought more new notions than I thought possible. This time it was Liquid Stitch, a super thick, strong glue that dries clear. So happy that I managed to find it at my LQS! In this pic, I'm spreading glue on the back of each little piece and laying it in place based on the pattern. That Liquid Stitch sure does stick, especially when you set it with a hot iron. Another new thing!
 And here's my version of the rotary cutter block... not too shabby, if I do say so myself!
I can hardly wait to get to work on the scissors block. Since I've already got the templates ironed to the selected fabrics, it should come together more quickly than the cutter.

How about you? Did you TSN today or recently? Leave me a comment and let me know all about it!

J

P.S. I'm linking up to Celtic Stitches' New to Me. This is my first time for this link-up so another TSN!

12 comments:

  1. What a brilliant block! I have never come across liquid stitch before but it sounds like I should start looking out for it :)
    Thanks for linking up to New to Me too.

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  2. Your workmanship on this block is amazing. You should be very pleased with the results and give yourself a great, big pat on the back.

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  3. That's awesome. I had to look twice because I thought it was just two different sized rotary cutters sitting on the mat :)

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  4. Awesome job!! You are being productive this week. And trying new things.

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  5. Had to do a double-take to see which of the two cutters was the real one. Great job, Jenn!

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  6. Your cutter is awesome! What a fabulous technique.

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  7. Wow! Those are teeny tiny pieces. Your finished block looks great, looks like a fun, new technique.

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  8. Congrats on a new skill. These look fab :)

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  9. You did so awesome with this one! I remember seeing these two on pile o fabric's instagram and thinking they were so cool! I need to learn this technique. Can't wait to see your scissors!

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  10. I had never thought of printing on freezer paper. Who knew?!
    I had to do a double take to realise that one of the cutters was real and the other was not. Brilliant!

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  11. You are learning so much and you quilt will be just fabulous! I love the blocks so much. The rotary cutter is awesome! You did such a wonderful job.

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