Just Because It's June

Good morning!  Here it is, finished at last, the June Block of the Month!

Ta-da!

The pattern is called Spring in a Jar, and was an attachment to the June newsletter.  The contributor was Pat P.

This is a big deal for me.  I have to admit, I was a little bit intimidated by this block.  Piecing the background was fun and easy, and I've always liked the way pieced backgrounds look with applique.  The problem for me was the machine applique itself.  It's just not something that I usually do.

Let's be clear, I actually like applique.  I don't think of applique as the "A" word (like someone we know).  In the past I've done quite a bit of hand applique, and I've worked out a method I like.  I'm not planning a Baltimore Album quilt, but I'm comfortable with it for the most part.

But machine applique is a whole nother animal.  Of the more than 20 sewing machines in my house, only one even has a zigzag stitch.  That's my Pfaff, which is also one of the only two that use electricity.  I'm a treadle girl, and although there is a zigzag attachment that can be used for treadles, it is very primitive.  (Believe it or not, the needle doesn't move side to side, the attachment moves the fabric to zigzag.  Seriously.)

Normally I use the Pfaff just for machine quilting, so I had to get out the manual to see what stitches I actually have.  Sadly, no blanket stitch or buttonhole stitch.

I did manage to find some Heat n Bond fusible web in the basement, so I could fuse all the little pieces to the background.  And after hunting around I found threads to go with each color.  But how was I going to sew them down?

Internet to the rescue!  I found this tutorial from the Crafty Quilter, and she shows several ways of stitching down the appliques, including using just zigzag stitching.  Armed with this information, and blessed with the two year old's nice long nap, I got it done.

Here it is on my table, with my own blue jar.  I didn't have anything red blooming, so I had to settle for the pink peonies.
I really like this block.  I definitely made some placement errors and the stitching is a little amateurish in places.  If you win this block, I hope you'll overlook the imperfections.
Now I feel better about doing machine applique.  Thanks, Pat P.!  It's always good to learn something new.
Are you making the June block of the month?  If so, my advice would be to take your time, practice on a scrap first, and (definitely!) don't wait til the night before the June meeting to get started!
Have a great week, everybody!