Piecing the Apple Core or "Double bit ax" by hand
 

Hi there. I was asked a while back to show a member on the board how the apple core pieces were sewn together by hand to make a quilt. I took these crude pictures to demonstrate how it was done for her. I thought I would share this with the rest of you, who might want to learn the joys of hand pieceing.
Although much slower than machine piecing, you can carry it anywhere with you that you might have to wait. (doctor's office etc.) It is relaxing. You can carry enough for hours of work in a zip lock bag along with your needles, thread and sissors inside your purse or bag. It also helps keep your fingers limber, especially if you are beginning to get a little artheritis in your hands. It is relaxing. You can also do it while watching TV.

1. place two pieces right sides together with the curved areas together. One will be up and down and one will be across. Working from the right to the left , sew a running stitch ------- 1/4 of the way from the edge of the two pieces working the curve in as you go. (If you need to , you can pin these pieces together before you start or you can use you fingers to gently ease them together as you go.) With a little practice, you won't need the pins. When you reach the end take a couple of stitches in the same place to stay stitch. Move on to add your next piece.
2. After you have sewn the first two together continue until you have the piece as long as you want your quilt.
3. Make your next row beginning with the first core facing the opposite direction as the first one on the first row. That way when you sew them together they will fit
Continue making your rows alternating the first and second blocks to begin each row until you have enough to make it as wide as you want your quilt.
4. Take your first two finished rows and place the right sides together and begin sewing them together with the same 1/4 inch seam allowance, making sure your seams all match up. You can gently pull to stretch your fabric to make this happen if you need to, for same amounts. This will get easier and easier as you go along. Continue until all rows are sewn together.
Congratulations. When you get the last row sewn together, you will have a completed quilt top.

Thanks for the pix. I like about 2 rows having mine finished. I'm fascinated by this pattern for some reason. I guess because I like scrappy quilts.

Me too! Here is a picture of my last one.[ATTACH=CONFIG]302815[/ATTACH]

I like those too but have never done one.

Thanks for the tute #1piecemaker! And that is a GREAT quilt!!!

Thanks a heap I am going to try it my maternal late grandmother pieced her baby son one years ago,she has been gone since 1977 I just love it.In hers they were no 2 blocks exactly the same.She saved every little bit of fabric.No wasting with her.Thanks a million I really mean it.

This is my favorite quilt to make and your instructions are right on the money

I am working on an applecore too, BUT, I have a GO die cutter for the cutting of these pieces--it is so precise and I am using a sewing machine to piece it........just as much fun and I agree it is a fun way to use scraps........oh, and I will machine quilt it when done.........it will be a queen size..... along with the scraps I have put in two lines of white cores to give it a kind of inside white border....saw it in a mag last year.........like the way it looks, works in quarters, then they are put together to make the large bed quilt.

ok i am hooked in.....will start mine today....estimate four years, but will carry it everywhere just like i did the GFG

the magazine a previous poster mentioned is the quilter magazine issue feb/mar 2011 page 64

just picked it up at the donation ($0.25) table at guild last wednesday...think this was ment to be!!

Love it. Have you seen it in a larger apple core? Fantastic. Saw it in Bountiful Utah in30's fabrics and it is darling. Owner told me she got the pattern off the internet. Found it and am going to do it. Fun quilt.