It took a few days, but I made it = 15 finished leaves!
It’s looking like autumn indeed!
Over on our chat board Deborah asked for some tips for sewing our maple leaf efficiently. I have to agree - these are small pieces, so the going is slow. Scrap sewing is often time-consuming, even though it has its many satisfactions. The best tip was offered by Pamela who said, “Instead of all those little seams I’m going to try strip piecing some of those square units together and then cutting them to the proper size.” Well, that is indeed a brilliant idea if you’re sewing from yardage instead of scrap squares! Thanks, Pamela.
I’m totally committed to the slow-squares route, myself. Luckily, I enjoy the journey. Every time I lay out a leaf, I enjoy playing with different combinations of fabric. Even with my very focused color scheme this time around, I am able to make some leaves extra dark and some leaves extra light, for example. It’s these little things that keep me going.
I suggest you start by sewing 15 stem units and a big batch of HST blocks. This gives you a clear goal, as each stem unit will need to become a leaf before you are finished. When your HST’s run low, make another big batch and so on.
After laying out two blocks at a time, I sew everything into rows. Then I press my rows and return to the machine to finish the block.
I actually sew the last long seam in the block without pressing the seam between the stem and the short leaf rows (see leaf at top right). It saves a little time to sew this without pressing - just holding the seam open. As you can see, I press all my seams open in the end.
That’s fifteen leaves, each akin to one other and also unique, just like the leaves on the maple tree outside my window.
I am also a fan of making unique leaves from scraps. I like the satisfaction of playing with the placement. I didn't quite hit 15 this week but I am loving watching the stack grow.
yes!
I have gotten 4 done. I can't wait to move a featherweight down stairs. I love my upstairs sewing space in my new house, AND kitty Princess loves being upstairs with me, but, I always have 4 things going on around here and all but sewing is down stairs.
Anyway, I spent three lovely hours sewing cutting trimming. I have all of the back ground fabric cut. I also spend a lot of time digging through boxes of unorganized scraps finding wonderful little colors for leaves.
I have my "craft and chat club" today in my old ppl neighborhood, so when I get home it is back to the sewing room, yay. When I go to this "club" I usually bring a quilt to bind, but today I am going to show off my blocks too.