Chris Malone - Birds, Butterflies, & Blooms

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Birds, Butterflies & Blooms will bring a breath of fresh air to your home and to those whom you choose to gift. Each and every project throughout this book was chosen and designed by Chris Malone, one of todays leading quilt designers. She has a distinct style and a flare for whimsy, not to mention color. Chris has put together this vibrant collection of 14 fun and easy quilt projects just for you. Mix and match the coordinating pieces to complete projects that reflect your own personal taste and needs. Youll find something for every room in the house. The entire collection of projects was created with basic fabrics from Timeless Treasures to ensure that they would be available for purchase for some time to come but dont let this stop you from adding your own touches and colors to these lovely projects.

In Birds, Butterflies & Blooms youll also find detailed instructions for the fusible appliqu technique that is used throughout the book along with designers tips that are given with every project for ideas about other ways to use the motifs. This is a must-have book for the quilter who is looking for style, options and variety.

Chris Malone has been sewing and crafting most of her life. As an accomplished sewist, quilter and designer, she has had hundreds of designs published in sewing and quilting publications and has authored several books of her own.

She is a regular contributor to Quilters World magazine and Annies quilting and sewing book titles. Chris whimsical style has been a favorite of many quilters and sewists and is easily recognizable at a glance.

Chris resides in the diverse and beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon.

General Information

You probably already have most of the supplies needed for these projects. Even so, here are a few tips on materials and tools, general assembly instructions and finishing tips you may find helpful.

Scissors for paper and fabric

Rotary cutter and mat (optional)

Nonslip quilting rulers

Nonpermanent fabric-marking tools

Template material

Sewing machine

Walking or even-feed foot (optional)

Hand-sewing needles

Straight pins and pincushion

Curved safety pins for basting

Seam ripper

Steam/dry iron and ironing surface

For best results, use only good-quality 100 percent cotton fabric and quality thread. Your time is worth it. If you are prewashing, do so with ALL of the fabrics being used. Generally, prewashing is not required in quilting.

There are a lot of appliqud projects in this book and all have been made using fusible web with paper release and machine blanket-stitched edges. Always follow manufacturers directions for fusing times as brands do vary. Of course, if you prefer to hand-appliqu or use other methods of machine appliqu, feel free to do so.

Almost any low- or mid-loft batting will work for these projects. For items that will be subjected to heat, such as hot pads and coasters, using one or two layers of cotton batting along with needle-punched insulated batting is suggested.

A needle-punched insulated batting reflects heat and cold back to the source. This breathable material has deep fibers that prevent conduction and a reflective metalized film that prevents radiant energy from passing through. Do not add this batting in anything you will be using in the microwave.

Fabric glue is listed on some of the project materials lists. Usually it is described as an optional item, as you can choose to tack the pieces in place by hand. But sometimes, it is easier and more practical to use glue. When using a fabric glue, apply it carefully and sparingly and follow the manufacturers directions.

A walking or even-feed foot attachment for your sewing machine is a very helpful tool when sewing layers, and it is useful for simple quilting patterns as well. This foot feeds the upper and lower layers of fabric through the machine at the same rate.

Since a lot of the projects have curved pieces that are sewn and turned, consider adding a pair of pinking shears to your tool box if you dont already have them. If you cut around curved seams with the pinking shears, you eliminate the need to clip the curves with straight-edge scissors, saving some time and effort. Pinking shears can also be used to control fraying on seam edges.

Read all instructions carefully before beginning each project.

All seams are " unless otherwise directed.

The measurements given for each project include the outer seam allowance.

Press each seam as you sew.

Many of the projects in this book are made using a fusible web with paper release and a machine blanket stitch. Refer to Raw-Edge Fusible Appliqu on page 6 for specifics. Other appliqu methods may be substituted if desired. All of the appliqu patterns are reversed so they will face the correct direction when fused to the background. When appliqus overlap, slip one edge under the other " before fusing.

Sometimes, appliqu fabric is so light colored or thin that the background fabric shows through excessively. You can correct this transparency problem by fusing a piece of lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric. Then apply the fusible web with the marked pattern to the interfacing side. Cut out and use in the same way.

To add dimension to appliqu pieces, padded appliqu is a method where batting is sewn into the appliqu shape. Refer to Padded Appliqu below for specifics on using this method.