Uneven sizes vintage blocks
#1
Uneven sizes vintage blocks
I'm trying to finish up my UFO's and I'm finding out why they are unfinished. I just pulled out some blocks I bought a long time ago of 4 hand stitched butterflies on a large 15-16 inch block. Each block is a different size within 1/2 inch to one inch and because the butterflies are all hand appliquéd, there is absolutely no way to cut them the same size. I've thought maybe I could stitch another piece of fabric to the smaller blocks to make them the same but I thought I'd throw this problem to you first. Some of the blocks actually have the stitching right near the edge with no seam allowance. The blocks are made of 1930 fabrics and are quite pretty. I really want to make these into a quilt. Help please.
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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You could applique them onto a background fabric, then cut the background fabric into equal sizes to create a pieced quilt. Or you could applique them onto a large piece of background fabric (the size of a quilt, or the inner portion of a quilt).
You could also add a border fabric around each one and mount them on frames (either quilted or unquilted), making 4 different pictures to hang.
Whatever you do, you will need a seam allowance. Perhaps you could carefully unsew some of the hand applique near the edge, turn under the edge of the applique more, and re-stitch that part of the applique to allow for a seam allowance.
If there is a bit of fabric at the edge, say 1/8" inch, you could possibly fuse fabric onto that edge, zigzag to secure the edge of the applique to the additional fused fabric, then turn so that the fused fabric adds enough to make a secure seam allowance.
You could also add a border fabric around each one and mount them on frames (either quilted or unquilted), making 4 different pictures to hang.
Whatever you do, you will need a seam allowance. Perhaps you could carefully unsew some of the hand applique near the edge, turn under the edge of the applique more, and re-stitch that part of the applique to allow for a seam allowance.
If there is a bit of fabric at the edge, say 1/8" inch, you could possibly fuse fabric onto that edge, zigzag to secure the edge of the applique to the additional fused fabric, then turn so that the fused fabric adds enough to make a secure seam allowance.
#5
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,538
If the stitching is a nice buttonhole along the edge and you want to preserve it, I might cut around the butterfly with enough to fabric to turn the edges under. I would then hand applique it to a new background square.
#6
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,659
Unless these pieces are going to be framed and under glass, I like to know if the fabrics will bleed or shrink before investing any more time in them.
Reason for my caution: I had acquired a very cute skirt at a yard sale with appliequed flowers and leaves on it - when washed - in tepid water - the appliques and fabric under them got very wonky and would not lay flat.
#7
Thanks for all your suggestions. I have 12 blocks with 48 butterflies. I'm going to look at them again with your ideas in my brain to see what might work. I'm thinking I washed these when I bought them as they were really dirty with age. I'll try and post a picture later.
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09-24-2011 10:03 AM