Step 10Step 12
step with the two cucumber green
(H) rectangles.8
Cut the leaf shapes out by eye(^11) ⁄ 8 in outside the stitching. Turn
them right side out and push the
seams out gently. Press them fl at.
9
Peel the backing paper from the
appliqué shapes and layer them
on the background as shown in the
photograph. Tuck the open ends of
the 3D leaves under the bamboo in
random positions; just check that
they won’t interfere with your
stitching when you appliqué the
two-dimensional leaves. Keep the
shapes at least 1in inside the raw
edges of the background so they
will be clear of the seams after the
background has been trimmed back
and joined to other panels.
10
Slide small pieces of white (X)
fabric behind the panda’s and
hippo’s heads so that they lie behind
the holes you’ve cut for the eyes.
Slide small pieces of grey (U) fabric
behind the holes cut for the hippo’s
nostrils. The hippo’s pupils are tiny
circles of black fabric appliquéd in
place, but you could satin stitch
them with black thread if you prefer.
When you’re happy with the layout,
fuse the shapes in place.
11
Sew around the shapes (except
the 3D leaves) with machined
blanket stitch using machine-
embroidery threads to match the
appliqué fabrics. Claire and Jemima
recommend spraying the appliqué
lightly with starch to help keep the
fabric stable while stitching it. Blanket
stitch around the raw edges of the
eyes and the hippo’s nostrils, working
the vertical ‘leg’ of the stitch on the
heads. Draw the panda’s eyelids with
an erasable fabric marker and
backstitch them with black thread.
12
Write the ‘bears’ and ‘snakes’
lettering on the signs and
backstitch it with black thread.
Assembly
13
Press the completed appliqué
block. Centre the template you
made in Part 1 over it – check that
there is an equal amount of fabric
overhanging the left and right edges.
BLOCK
OF THE
MONTH