How Difficult Are....
 

I found some cute McKenna Ryan blocks I would like to try. How difficult are her quilt blocks? Could an adventurous beginner be successful without overwhelming frustration? Thanks for your info. m

I don't know which blocks you are referring to, but, I am a beginner and I have found that anything is possible. Just take it one piece at a time. If you get frustrated, just walk away. When you have calmed down and are ready to focus again, go get it! I wouldn't buy all the fabric for a full quilt just yet. Use your stash or buy a few fat quarters and try one block. If you get too frustrated, wait until you have more experience. If you find it easy, go for it. Good luck in whatever you decide. And, please, post pictures.

Post a link or something so that we can see what you are asking about. BUT my motto is NOTHING VENTURED NOTHING GAINED! Go for it.

I have McKenna Ryan's "In Full Bloom" that was given to me as a gift, and I am not finished with it. I also finished one of the blocks from "Calling Me Home" as a gift. Here is what I believe.
I am what I consider an intermediate quilter, and I would consider most of her quilts a bit of a challenge.
I have seen her quilts done a little "sloppier" than others and I have seen them done with precision.
I am fairly picky, and I am a precision piecer where my stuff is concerned.
These quilts entail a lot of tracing work with a fusible interfacing, doing the fusing, some free edge quilting, and some free-motion quilting.
I think if you are patient, and diligent, you will be able to do these quilts. If you get frustrated, take a break, like many suggest with ANY quilt. Yes, they can be difficult, but the beauty of her designs, outdoes most of the frustration.
http://www.pineneedles.com/SuperStor...ssortmentID=42

Good Luck & Happy Quilting,
Susan

I am trying one of her quilt patterns..."Home Tweet Home".... There are so many tiny pieces to fuse together. I do not do needle turn applique', I do machine applique'...at this point I am having second thoughts about this. "WHAT WAS I THINKING?"
I have not given up, I am just not ready to tackle this project yet and I have been doing machine applique' for a long time. I'm thinking that Ms. Ryan has a lot more time on her hands than I do. LOL,LOL
I don't think her patterns, for the most part, are for the beginners....however, IMO, Make one block and see how it goes for you. You might really love this project....never say never and never say I can't do that! You don't know unless you try it!
At this point, I have switched over to "Affairs of the Heart" quilt to applique'...

"I have seen her quilts done a little "sloppier" than others and I have seen them done with precision."

Now I really am afraid to try, I got a set of her patterns with the owls and was very excited to get it at a good price . I even bought batiks to do it with but have been so afraid to cut into them because I never buy those expensive fabrics. I dont want to waste all that money and have a sloppy quilt. Dang maybe I should sell them.

all I can tell you is that NOW during the cold winter is the time to sit and trace out all of your parts...label baggies and put each section into its own bag! Then was your fabric, and get ready fuse and trace!

i would give one block a try it dosent hurt to try. and you could always do somthing else with the rest off the fabric if you decide you dont whant to finish.

I did an early pattern of hers. it was 3 trout placed vertically above each other. Can't remember the name. It was easy, not as complicated as some other of her patterns. I gifted it and it was loved. So, I made another of the trout (only one fish) for me and I love it too. Just try one block and see how it goes for you. Read through the instructions first, then read again, visualizing each step. You can do it if you want. Just don't say "I can't" and you will do it.

Give it a try, you can do anything you set your mind to!!!!

I agree with the others, try it and see if you would like to do enought to makes a quilt.
For me it sounds like a waste of time. I like faster quilts, been quilting for 46 yrs.

I will jump into any pattern if I like it. That is how I learned to grow in quilting.

I've found that some I consider very easy to do are considered difficult by others and ones that I've been told are quick and easy have turned out to be anything but quick and easy for me, so I just look at something and if I like it, I give it a try. Some of the ones I've tried have turned into UFOs to be completed at some nebulous future date when I figure out how to make it look like I want it to. Others went together like a dream and have been gifted and loved by their intended recipients.
I say give it a try! You'll never know unless you do!

I received Fly By Night & Leap of Faith for Christmas. Started on LOF & having a great time with it. Traced & Wonder-under -ed, just need to stitch - am thinking of satin stitching around birds. Have only done a few simple applique projects before this. For the eyes - try using a hole punch after you apply WU to fabric - that took some thinking ;) but works.

I was just debating one of her patterns... still haven't decided. I did do a wall hanging that is similar to her style.. and didn't even attempt to zigzag all the little pieces. I just fused it all down then layered and quilted the pieces down. One thing I did notice is they get very stiff with all the layers of fusible.

Thanks for all your comments. I would need to order the patterns on line and pay postage, so ordering one doesn't pay unless I would order several. So now I have to decide. The patterns are on the quiltopolis site, and they are having a sale. I am interested in the flowers with the little chicks. I would use mostly fabric from my stash. I will go back again and think in terms of little pieces. Perhaps that will help me decide. Thanks all. m

I say go for it. Applique is fun, using steam a seam 2 is wonderful. I have done several wall hangings and it is not necessay to machine applique around the shapes.

I have made many of her quilts. I am currently working on her wildflower quilt (the second one) for a friend. You will need to purchase an applique pressing sheet, and I find that the Clover mini iron very helpful. You lay the pattern under the sheet and fuse the parts together before applying them to the background fabric. They will peel off the sheet as a unit. I use invisible thread and stitch very close to the edge of the pieces with a short stitch length. I do this as part of the quilting process.

I love her stuff, but haven't ventured out, yet.

I think she recommends appliqueing the edges without turning under. Raw edge maybe? Forgot what that is called. Easier than needle turning.

I have done a couple of McKenna Ryans patterns of Roosters. To me they were not difficult but more time consuming. The results were lovely. I made a couple of pillow shams with the patterns. However, not sure about making a whole quilt with the patterns. Love her suggestions for fabric though.

I agree, you can do anything if you really want to. Just take it one step at a time and you will be amaized at the results.
Happy quilting!

I agree. Try one block. If you don't want to do any more you've still got a potholder. LOL

Any task will be difficult if you decide it will be difficult before you start it. However, if you don't get in a hurry, you take your time and follow directions you will end up with a beautiful block/quilt that you will be so proud of. Just remember that Thomas the train didn't think he could make it up the hill, but he did and so can you!

I love McKenna Ryan patterns! Her patterns don't call for needle turn applique It is mostly raw edge free motion applique. They are usually art quilts so they won't be washed alot. It is great learning tool for free motion quilting. I make quilt samples for my LQS and whenever she wants a McKenna Ryan done, she gives me a call. Have fun with them.

Start with scraps and practice. Like making a muslin wedding dress and working out all the kinks first.

Mckenna Ryan is 1 of my favorites. When I first started sewing I did several of her patterns and they were not hard. I love them. She's awesome. Go for it. You'll love the results.

I Love McKenna Ryan's Patterns
 

I have done quite a few of her patterns BUT I enlarge them so they are easier to make and so I can satin stitch around the pieces. Instead of the teflon sheet I use parchment paper.

This one did not attach. It is a full sized quilt and has been through the washer and dryer.The pattern was for 12 inch blocks which I enlarged.

I did a McKenna Ryan with the roosters. I had fun doing it. The applique pieces are more time-consuming but I enjoyed the process. They were raw edge applique. Since mine is a wall-hanging I did not stitch around the raw edges but just left them and they look beautiful. I won't wash this quilt but fluff in the dryer every so often and the applique stays in place.

Applique, your quilts are very beautiful!

Just be sure to wash your fabric before you iron on the fusible webbing. Ask me how I know this is important.