Today's Quilter - UK (2020-01)

Prepare the fusible appliqué for the gulls

1

Lay a piece of fusible web (paper side up) over the gull templates and trace

one (1) large and two (2) small gulls with a sharp pencil. Roughly cut the

gulls out with paper scissors leaving a small allowance all round.

2

Place the gulls paper side up on the reverse of your chosen fabrics and iron

to fix in place. Cut the gulls out as carefully as you can on your traced

pencil lines.

3

Peel o the backing paper. If this is tricky, scratch the middle with a pin

and peel it away from there.

4

From Stripe Sand, cut two (2)

small gulls and one (1) large gull

using the template.

Making the block

5

Ta ke t he 3i n squ a r e s c ut f r om t he

background pale fabric and dark

fabrics. Draw a diagonal line from

corner to corner on the back of each

background square. With RS together,

place a background square on top of a

dark square. Stitch in from each side

of the drawn diagonal line. Cut along

the drawn line to make two (2)

half-square triangle units. Press. Trim

to 2in square. Make twelve (12).

6

Gather the rectangular pieces cut

from the background fabric and

the half-square triangles. Before you

begin piecing a block, place the cut

fabrics in order onto a ‘design wall’,

step back and check that everything is

in the right place.

7

Following Fig 1, piece the

background in rows. Press the

seams open so they lie as flat as

possible ready for the appliqué.

8

Arrange the appliqué gulls very

carefully on the pieced

background. Once they are pressed in

place with the iron, they cannot be

removed. Remember that the negative

space is just as important to the overall

success of your design. See Fig 2 to

help you position the appliqué.

9

Janet used free-motion stitching

and matching threads to secure the

fused appliqué to the background

fabric. This step could also be satin

stitched or even buttonholed by hand.

Using a matching or contrasting

thread, stitch around the gulls. Be

confident – go on, you can do it! When

you’ve finished, pull threads to the

reverse of the fabric and tie o

securely. Press the block well.

Fig 1

Fig 2

4 in x 12in

2 in x 8in

2 in x 4in