Finally....

I got a half day free, and could start on my new project, Calico Paradise, from Collector with a Needle, Dawn.

 My preferred method of applique is needle-turn, backing basting.  the centre of the quilt is done in one piece and when I tried to trace onto the wrong side of the fabric, it was just plain hard work.  You can see from the photo above the detail of the design on the pattern.  It is complex, and a really high class pattern.

So, what I decided to do was to trace half the centre onto freezer paper, then iron it onto the back of the background fabric and then draw around it.  Remove, then draw the other half.  Great plan?  Well I stuffed it!  I decided it was easier just to trace 1/4 of the design, fold the paper in half and then cut out the two layers.  I expect the original maker would have done 4 folds and cut out this way.

Well, the freezer paper kept slipping, so I ironed them together - dah!  and then of course I could not seperate them.  So, I ended up with quite a stiff piece of paper, with a 1/4 of the design.

 I then had the pin it to the back of the background fabric, draw around it and move it 3 times to do the whole centre.  BTW - this centre is about 30" so it is really quite hard to handle.

 At the same time I got the centre circle drawn on freezer paper, so at least I know where that is, and marked that, plus  the 4 leaves within the centre.

 The next part took me 2 evenings to day.  I had to back-bast the madder print fabric onto the right side of the background.  This is done with a large-ish needle - I use a 8 straw needle, and a quilting thread that contrast with with top fabric.  In this case I used aGutemann mustard colour.

 Once it is all basted, you can then give it a press, and trim about 1/4" around the tacking line. I just remove the main part of the outside fabric, and leave the little cut out pieces until I get to them.  You can see (just) on this photo the tacking lines, and then I draw over the stitches with a Clover wash out white pen.  This makes it easier to spot the tacking stitches if the fabric is a bit busy, or I am getting tired :-)

The Clover pen comes off easily with the iron.  I use it all the time on dark fabrics.  When you draw with it, it does not show up straight away, but appears slowly.  People using the pen for the first time, think it is not working, but just wait a bit and the lines appear

So, this is what I have now.  Not really a kind of "carry along" project is it?  But at least it is all tacked in place, I do not have to worry about getting stabbed with pins during the applique process, and it will not move about.  I know the back-basting takes time to start, but the process gives a great result, and is ideal for large pieces of work like this one.

 In case you think I have run out of things to do, you are wrong!  I am still trying to get my "Past Reflections" completed for the Adelaide Quilt show in November, and I have just about finished all the background quilting.

I have also quilted about all the shapes, and just need to go back and do some extra quilting within some of the motifs.  I am pretty much on track with this, and find a deadline pretty motivational.