I have been putting off finishing my Halloween swap blocks because they were so labor intensive. (I know, doesn't make much sense, but there we are) I used this awesome tutorial and loved how the one fully finished block looked, but the end process of turning it into a candy corn shape was tricky due to the tight curves. (Sorry, looks like the linked tutorial blog is dead...)
While reading Kris' blog, I found a new way to make my shapes and I love it! I thought I would do a little tutorial to help remind myself how easy it is to make any pieced shape.
First, join several fabric strips together so that they are at least 1/4" larger overall than your final shape. I pressed all those seams open for a smoother piece.
Then I cut my candy corn shape from freezer paper. It is much easier to quickly press the shape onto your strips than to trace around a template, and it is reusable. Plus it gives all those strips a bit more stability while sewing the curves and you don't have to worry about your drawn line showing on the finished product later. Dry press the freezer paper to your strips, with at least a 1/4" extra all around.
Pin your strips to a piece of light weight fusible interfacing. The right side of the strips should be touching the bumpy, iron-on side of the interfacing. DO NOT do a quick touch-up with the iron on those strips. The interfacing will stick to the nice side of your shape and it will be toast. Ahem.
Carefully sew just outside your freezer paper shape.
Once you're all the way around, peel off the freezer paper and save for re-use.
Now trim all around your shape, leaving about 1/4" seam allowance. Then clip/notch curves or points for a smooth finished edge.
VERY CAREFULLY cut a slit in the center of your interfacing, and start to turn....
Pull everything through and gently poke out all the edges. I used a very light weight interfacing, and it tended to tear at that center cut if I pushed too hard. Also, if you poke too hard you'll rip through your edge seam.
Now place your shape onto the background fabric, and dry press to stick in place. Stitch around the edges however you please - I neatly top stitched all around.
We are supposed to label your blocks on the front for the Halloween Swap - I use a fabric dye pen that doesn't bleed. If I was worried about bulk, I would have trimmed the extra black fabric out from under the candy corn. I didn't think it was necessary, all was nice and smooth!
Pull everything through and gently poke out all the edges. I used a very light weight interfacing, and it tended to tear at that center cut if I pushed too hard. Also, if you poke too hard you'll rip through your edge seam.
Now place your shape onto the background fabric, and dry press to stick in place. Stitch around the edges however you please - I neatly top stitched all around.
We are supposed to label your blocks on the front for the Halloween Swap - I use a fabric dye pen that doesn't bleed. If I was worried about bulk, I would have trimmed the extra black fabric out from under the candy corn. I didn't think it was necessary, all was nice and smooth!
Sit back and admire your pieced applique shape! The whole thing took a small fraction of the time I spent on the first block and I love how neat the edges are. I think the blocks will quilt up beautifully!
