Wednesday, May 22, 2013

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 - ;))
===

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 -



4 comments:

Katie M. said...

I wonder if ACCU QUILT works with the fabric companies????!!! I do like your way better, even if it is a bit more time consuming. Time is money and money buys more fabric - so in this case I think you're being 'paid' for your extra time (does that make sense? It's still early :-) )

A Left-Handed Quilter said...

Thanks, Katie - I like my way better, too - ;))

Angie in SoCal said...

That's how I do them, also. And that's why I didn't buy an Accu-Go. Like the fabric you used.

A Left-Handed Quilter said...

Thanks - it is the easiest way, isn't it? I must admit - even though I have these dies - I have yet to use any of them. Like I said - if I have to cut the fabric before I cut the leaves - I might as well just cut the leaves. With templates I can make my own leaf - and choose the size and shape. I am not limited to the one or two on a die. But MOST of all - I like the minimal waste with this method. This fabric is so pretty I really don't want to waste any of it - ;))

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