I’m not yet tired of red, so here’s another interesting border block.

This is needle-turn applique, using Wonderfil’s Invisifil thread in grey.

Successes:

• It is done

Challenges:

• I have not much experience with needle-turn applique, and it shows.
• I first attempted it “naked”, just turning the fabric edge under. And it ended by with very jagged curves.
• So I reprinted my templates on card stock, and tried two more techniques:
  • I first tried a technique with aluminum foil, and could not secure the template, fabric, and foil without sliding
  • I then used just the cardstock template, and carefully ironed the edges over
• You can see that the hearts are a little better as they increase in size, but they are still not what I would like to see
• So, my next applique will use a technique I learned from Liz Thompson at Quilt Canada 2024 in Edmonton:
  • Using water-soluble thread, sew your applique piece to a scrap of fabric or interfacing
  • Trim edges, and then cut a slit in the waste fabric
  • Turn inside out, and carefully press
  • Gently place your piece in water, and separate your applique piece from the waste fabric
  • Press to dry
  • Hand-stitch

Here’s the quilt, with nine blocks: