Back-to-School Blog Hop -- A Rose by any other Name

It's my turn, it's my turn... and I have been enjoying all the information that has been shared so far. How about you?

My topic today is Fast-Piece Applique, and in case this is the first time we are meeting FPA is a method of constructing a quilt top that looks like applique but is really piecing and makes stitching circles and curves a breeze.

Back just before my 3rd book came out I had shared a how to YouTube video. Since then I am always asked for the rose pattern used as the sample, and finally today you'll find it by clicking here.

It was a lot of fun to put this small quilt together recently and get to finish it off so entirely different than I might have back when the video came out.
So, I hope you grab the pattern, then copy it to freezer paper and try it for yourself.

I started with silks -- what color to make the rose? Pink, yellow, red, white, purple... so many to choose from.

then came picking the fabrics for each pattern piece:
then prepping the fabrics.

Next, I chose pairs and stitched them all together just like in the video, and then on to stitching set in pieces like the one below. (there is a piecing list noted on the pattern)

 

 

 

 

Trimming everything as you go along is important, so remember to lift the paper and trim close to stitching on the top.

 

Fast-Piece Applique is one of those methods that can be used to create almost any type of quilt easily, and also be mixed with other traditional construction methods. In my latest book, Mandy Leins and I teamed up to stitch up the rose in an entirely different way -- the roses were actually not stitched but glued. Then Mandy did her stitching magic to pull it all together into a fuzzy, fantastic quilt.

If you like the idea of simplifying designs, and mixing it all up, then you'll want to leave a comment below -- then, next week on 9/15 you may be the winner of one of two e-book copies of Fast-Piece Applique I'll be giving away.

and while you're clicking and commenting don't forget to check out all the other Blog Hop stops along the way!

Sept 1: Peta Minerof-Bartos of PetaQuilts –
So, Does that Diagonal Method for a Pieced Backing Really Work
Sept 2: Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com – The Quilter’s Knot
Sept 3: Teresa Coates of Crinkle Dreams – The Importance of Pressing
Sept 4: Cath Hall of Wombat Quilts – Color Coding for Paper-piecing
Sept 5: Sam Hunter of Hunter’s Design Studio –
How to Calculate and Cut Bias Binding
Sept 6: Melanie McNeil of Catbird Quilt Studio – Credit where Credit is Due
Sept 7: Mandy Leins of Mandalei Quilts –
How to Keep a Perfect 1/4” Seam Between Different Machines
Sept 8: Rose Hughes of Rose Hughes – Fast Pieced Applique
Sept 9: Megan Dougherty of The Bitchy Stitcher –
The Care and Feeding of the Domestic Sewing Machine
Sept 10: Lynn Krawczyk of Smudged Design Studio – Make a Mobile Art Kit
Sept 11: Susan Beal of West Coast Crafty – Log Cabin 101
Sept 12: Sarah Lawson of Sew Sweetness – Zipper Tips
Sept 13: Jane Victoria of Jolly and Delilah – Matching Seams
Sept 14: Jemelia Hilfiger of Je’s Bend – Garment Making Tips and Tricks
Sept 15: Ebony Love of LoveBug Studios – Curved Piecing Without Pins
Sept 16: Misty Cole of Daily Design Wall – Types of Basting
Sept 17: Kim Lapacek of Persimon Dreams – Setting your Seams
Sept 18: Christina Cameli of A Few Scraps – Joining Quilted Pieces by Machine
Sept 19: Bill Volckening of WonkyWorld – The Importance of Labels
Sept 20: Jessica Darling of Jessica Darling – How to Make a Quilt Back
Sept 21: Debbie Kleve Birkebile of Mountain Trail Quilt Treasures –
Perfectly Sized No-Wave Quilt Borders
Sept 22: Heather Kinion of Heather K is a Quilter – Baby Quilts for Baby Steps
Sept 23: Michelle Freedman of Design Camp PDX –
TNT: Thread, Needle, Tension
Sept 24: Kathy Mathews of Chicago Now Quilting Sewing Creation – Button Holes
Sept 25: Jane Shallala Davidson of Quilt Jane – Corner Triangle Methods
Sept 27: Cristy Fincher of Purple Daisies Quilting – The Power of Glue Basting
Sept 28: Catherine Redford of Catherine Redford – Change the Needle!
Sept 29: Amalia Teresa Parra Morusiewicz of Fun From A to Z –
French Knots, – ooh la la!
Sept 30: Victoria Findlay Wolfe of Victoria Findlay Wolfe Quilts –
How to Align Your Fabrics for Dog Ears
October 1: Tracy Mooney of 3LittleBrds –
Teaching Kiddos to Sew on a Sewing Machine
October 2: Trish Frankland, guest posting on Persimon Dreams –
The Straight Stitch Throat Plate
October 3: Flaun Cline of I Plead Quilty – Lining Strips Up