Strippy Improv Halloween QAL - Week 3

How are your blocks coming along? 

Here are my remaining two blocks - a ghost and a witch hat. 

I’m going to use these (4) blocks in a wall hanging but I wanted an idea for how to make a project from just one block in case time got short again. I chose to make two new pumpkin blocks, and I'm going to turn one into a throw pillow and one into a trick or treat bag. I'll share more details next week. 

Tip 1 - Let's start with a tip about block background placement. Play around with your block background before fusing it down to make sure you get the best combination of fabric, and also to make sure things like the stems show through correctly. Adjust your background to find the best placement before you adhere it in place. Since your piecing extends beyond the traced shape on your muslin, you've got some wiggle room for how you position the background on top. Audition it to find the best look for your block - make sure your favorite fabric strips show. Also make sure that pumpkin stems or witch hat accent strips are positioned correctly in the block.Here are two "don't do it this way" examples: 

Too much pumpkin, not enough stem!

Too much stem, not enough pumpkin!

Tip 2 - Let’s talk about working with light colored background fabric.

 If you look at my blocks for this week, I used a pretty light background fabric. I did that because I wanted the black cat and black witch's hat fabrics to show up, but it also means those black strips might show through! Here's how to fix that. Before adhering the fusible web to with the traced shape to your background square, adhere a piece of fusible interfacing (I used HeatnBond Lightweight Fusible Interfacing). This makes the fabric more opaque and reduces the likelihood that the strips will show through. 

Here are my four blocks together. 

 These blocks are going to be an adorable wall hanging!

Want to join the Strippy Improv Halloween QAL? You still can!

There's plenty of time to catch up in the QAL - and we'll all be done in time to share our projects BEFORE Halloween! Woo hoo! 

Here's the QAL schedule: 
Friday 9/19: Fabric and block choices
Friday 9/26: Make 2 blocks
Friday 10/3: Make 2 blocks
Thursday 10/10: Assemble and finish!

I hope you'll join me for some fun Halloween sewing!
Happy quilting!
Lisa