Fiesta de Talavera by J. Michelle Watts is a gorgeous appliqué quilt! http://jmichellewatts.com/images/Sam...e_Talavera.jpg
But I have to ask, is this pattern really for a person who does advanced appliqué? If so, what makes it for a more advanced stitcher? I would like to try it, but I am not sure I would say that I am intermediate/advanced appliqué person. I have worked on only a couple of template appliqué projects in the past without too much difficulty so I was just wondering if this was something that I might be able to attempt. Attempt is actually the wrong word because I can always attempt it but might not actually finish it! :lol: :lol: Accomplish and complete it might be a better phrase. Anyway, I would like to know your opinion of the experience level needed for this quilt and any input you might have on it.

Ohhhhh, what a gorgeous quilt!! I'd say GO FOR IT!!!
Karen

PS: I'm currently working on a Baltimore album-ish quilt and the biggest challenge I've found is maintaining the symmetry with mirror images. This one would be no different but if your placement layout is accurate you should have no problem.

it's a very pretty quilt. if you have mastered the basics of quilting, i would say that any project can be tackled. you just have to read and understand the instructions and check everything two or three times before doing it. good luck

It's a beautiful quilt, and I think you should try it. Your applique skills will improve as you do it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Janet

Go for it.

I'm a newbe quilter, but when I try something I'm not familiar with, I make sure to have enough material to make a few extra blocks. I just consider the first few blocks training while I perfect the technique.

That being said, I haven't advanced to anything like this. It is beautiful. I say try it and good luck.

Beautiful

There are many of us that have made beautiful quilts that we just didn't know they were not for beginners or confident beginners. We just did them and enjoyed the learning process. Have fun....go for it!! AND keep us posted on your progress:)

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I have several ladies at my local quilt shop and in my guilds who applique so I know that if I had some issues that they would be able to help but I didn't want to fork over so much for the kit if it was going to become a UFO!

Wow, that is one lovely quilt! I would say you could definitely do it, all it takes, as for any project, is determination and perseverance.

Good luck.

I just saw this online today, but its way over my experience level. maybe someday.

It's beautiful ---- what makes it for "advanced"...I'd say the sheer number of appliques. A beginner takes longer to get a block done than an advanced. Therefore, they beginner would get discouraged with this. However, if you are tenacious and KNOW you will finish it -- GO FOR IT!!!! It's gorgeous!

I have a love hate relationship with applique....love the look of it, hate doing it. But this is a beauty. I might try this one myself.

It's a gorgeous quilt and regardless of the fact that they recommend to be an "advanced" stitcher, I say go for it. If you're not "advanced" enough, you surely will be by the time you finish it. LOL

I have a suggestion for the fabric. Sew batiks has graduated hand dyes or Moda has graduated batiks. I think that would work better so your flowers dont all look the same.

I remember my first Baltimore Block. Beautiful to look at, intimidating to attempt--81 pieces for an 18x18 block!! I decided to try the pattern on some fabric from my stash first. Found out that with time and care, it was something I could accomplish, plus I made a runner out of the practice blocks! So, if this is something you have fallen in love with, don't under-estimate your own abilities. Go for it!

I love that quilt - I saw it in person at the show here in Dallas last year.

I bought a similar pattern called "Fiesta" from Fat Cat Patterns: http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/Fiesta.html (it came to me in EQ format, which is a big factor in choosing it over Talavera)

I plan to use the starch method to prepare the appliqued pieces. I think starch and washaway glue reduce the difficulty level on any applique pattern. The pieces I've been working on in Christmas Wreaths are pretty small, but it's coming out well considering that I just started applique a few months ago.

Starching the pieces into submission :) and then heating the glue basting to dry it holds all the perfectly shaped pieces firmly in place.

You can then concentrate on making tiny even stitches instead of trying to sew perfectly and turning exactly 3/16" at a time and getting points and inside angles turned and keeping the design symmetrical and untangling your thread from the applique pins or pieces every time you take a stitch. :)

if a beginner would choose this as their first project, i could see where there would easily be a difference of opinion as to whom the pattern is suited...
the creators of this pattern are {CYA} covering their -----

you GO, girl!

I agree with poly parrot above. Try Fatcat's Fiesta first. That will give you an idea.

There's only one way to find out! Jump in head first and just do it!

It's going to be beautiful!

That is an extraordinary quilt...if I liked doing applique I would do it and I am no where near intermediate.
Just take your time and know this quilt will take real time to complete!! cheering for you!

Sindy Rodenmayer does do fabulous work doesn't she? I was able to start saving the fiesta blocks with #3 (missed #1 & 2). I've just gotten EQ7 so haven't had much practice with it (meaning only cracked the book open and loaded program onto machine) but I will be taking some lessons starting in September on it via online. So is having the files easier or what with the EQ7 files than the PDF files she has available? Aha, I see that she now has both formats available for sale. But please tell me why would I use the EQ files? Is it just to see fabrics or with the printing of the blocks out or what? You have me curious as to what I've been missing without having this program before now!

Try one block. If it turns out that you can do it well, then keep going. If it turns out that it is a little too challenging yet, then make it into a pillow. You have nothing to lose and lots of experience to gain.

You can re-size the blocks (bigger or smaller), play with alternate settings, see them with different fabrics, intersperse different blocks and see how they play with the originals, change the blocks... so many options when you have EQ.

I think Fiesta looks harder to me.

I think it's painted. Looks like fun. I watched a Fons and Porter show a couple of weeks ago and the quilter painted blocks. It was really beautiful. I've been wanting to t ry it myself but don't have any good design patterns. I'd go for it.

Here is a link to a block of the month for a similar type--free-- you could try a block....http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/Fiesta.html

it's a beautiful quilt, I say just start and take your time. I made a complicated one by just taking one block at a time and before I knew it all the blocks were done and I gained confidence with each block.

Looking at it I see two things that make it "advanced". One of the narrowness of some of the pieces, but even more difficult is the closeness of the appliqued pieces to each other - a lot of them are right next to each other.

I would say try to make a few pieces of your own. Try the fans with the long narrow curves placed at a point at the center and fanned out at the top. Also try a few pieces where you place two pieces butted up to each other (unless the technique is to applique one on top of the other?).

So try making your own. Just use a few pieces scrap and cut them as close to some of the shapes and place them similarly to the shapes.

One other thing if you decide to go for it. I see that a lot of the pieces, especially the fans, look like hand dyes with graduated hue. Not sure if that will be important to you or not to achieve the same affect.

This pattern is for someone advanced in applique.
Not a pattern for a beginner. If you are a beginner and try such a complicated pattern I'm afraid you may not finish the quilt or
muddle through and not be satisfied with the finished quilt top. A lot of time, work and money will go into applique quilt.
Be sure you are up to the challenge. I would do some smaller project until I can advance to this pattern.

If I'm a beginner, what patterns should I do first to become advanced?

Fiesta de Talavera an intricate pattern and you might get very discouraged. If you'd like to try something very, very similar, you might try a block from Sindy Rodenmeyer's FatCat Patterns: http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/BoMs.html

Her "Fiesta" pattern is gorgeous and the "Southern Gentleman" BOM has similar features to the pattern you're wanting to make.

The great thing is you can get the current BOM free at FatCat and try something a little beyond your present ability without spending a lot of money.

go for it.....you will be pleased with how good you do...you will learn as you go..and be so proud of your finished work..be sure and post pics....good luck...

wow, thats a beautiful quilt. take your time, make it yours, do your best-enjoy the challenge!

I would machine applique it +surprise+ and make the blocks a tad larger so it would be even easier.

Use Derwent Inktense pencils to color the applique designs. Your work will be perfect and after stitching around the shapes, it will look like applique. :lol:

I agree with amandasgramma and suggest you try a pillow or baby quilt in that pattern first because they take a lot less time. If you think you can still hang in there for the bizillionth stitch go for it! It is a beautiful quilt.

If I were considering making this gorgeous quilt, I would draft a block inspired by one of the patterns and make it up. That would help me decide whether to go on with the real Fiesta de Talavera.

What a beautiful quilt! Go for it. The curves don't look all that hard to do so it's probably getting the placement of all those pieces correct or just having the patience to get it completed that makes the quilt 'advanced'.

Go for it. It is only advanced if you let it be