Leaves and dies -

When I was testing my leaves -

My bloggy buddy KatieM  - HERE - asked me about dies -

Does Accu quilt have a leaf die? Just wondering...

I replied -

Yeah - they have several - and I have most of them - but they're not the right size - or they waste too much fabric. I would have to apply the fusible to the fabric before I cut them - and some dies only have one or two leaf shapes - so I would have to cut the fabric to cover only those shapes - and if I have to cut the fabric before I cut the leaves - I might as well just cut the leaves - right? - ;))

I think I have another way to do it - drawing them on the fusible and cutting them by hand - but hardly any waste of fabric. If it works in "real life" like it works in my head - I will show how I did it. Might even show you if it doesn't work, too - haha - ;))

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So these are the dies that I have -
The one in the middle - top row -
Is obviously too big -

The one on the bottom -
Stems & leaves -
Cut a variety of applique shapes using quilt diagram as inspiration -
Leaves are the wrong size and the stems are too free-form for what I’m doing - ;))

Round flower/star center
4” strip - 20 leaves across width of 40” wide fabric
7‘ strip - 32 or more curved stems across width of 40” wide fabric
Start at selvage edge to cut one curved stem, align cut edge of fabric with curved stem blades to nest stems. Continue to cut curved stems in this manner across the width of the fabric.
Nah - I don’t think so - ;))

Rose of Sharon -
Place scraps over selected blades and cut -
Scraps yes - yardage no - ;))

So this is How I Do It -

I draw my leaves on some fusible -
Using a template -
And nest them to minimize wasted fabric -

Cut a chunk of fabric -
Trim the fusible a bit -
Press it to the WRONG side of the fabric -

Cut along the RIGHT side of the leaves to make strips -

Cut the leaves apart along the LEFT side -

Trim them up a bit -

And I can get 18 leaves with a minimum of waste -

Now wouldn't that make a MUCH better die? - ;))

Hey, AccuQuilt -

If you like my idea for a die -

I want the credit -

And I want the bucks - ;))




Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -