Moda Blockheads: Block 28-Pumpkin

Block 28 is by Jan Patek so a cute little applique is in store for us today.  You can find the pattern on Jan's blog HERE

As I am playing catch-up with the blocks I chose to use my favorite fusible applique method.  This block went together very quickly for me.  

I started by tracing all of the pattern pieces onto my fusible.  Apparently I was a little tired when I started and traced and fused all of my pattern pieces before realizing I had forgotten to turn Jan's pattern over to reverse the pieces as I normally would for fusible applique.  No problem, just means my pumpkin will be the reverse of Jan's.
When you trace the pattern pieces be sure and add a little extra, 1/8 to 1/4 inch is fine,  to the pieces that will be on the bottom of the applique.  ​(I made them dotted lines to help you see)  I also numbered them to help me remember how they fit together.

Cut out the pattern pieces leaving a little extra around them,  Following the directions on my fusible I used my iron to fused the pattern pieces onto my fabric.  When the fabric cools cut them out.

Starting with the pieces towards the back I laid them out on a pressing mat.  This allows me to fuse everything together before placing on my background fabric.  A light touch with the iron holds them in place as I add the rest of the pieces to the pumpkin.

The last three pieces have been added and light fused together on the pressing mat.  Now I can just carefully peel the complete pumpkin off of this nonstick mat.

The pumpkin is fused onto the background fabric and I add a piece of stabilizer to the back.

I am trying something new today-one of the feather stitches on my machine. I will be using my usual buttonhole stitch to go around the outside of the pumpkin, but decided I wanted something different in the middle sections.   For this stitch I have set my length to 1.9, and my width to 4.0 and I work with my needle in the down position.  I am using Superior Threads Magnifico for the top thread and a matching Masterpiece color in the bobbin.  The Magnifico has such a nice sheen to it, and I get a lot less lint in my machine with these threads. (Justs a note, I do not get paid in any way by Superior Threads, I just love their products.  If you click on the photo it will link you to their site.)

Just like I have shown with previous fusible applique projects I begin with a straight stitch which is also set to 1.9.  I take 5-6 stitches right along the edge where the two fabrics meet.

When I get to the bottom of the pumpkin, I stop, lift my presser foot and rotate the applique.  Now I start with my chosen feather stitch (or buttonhole can be used if you prefer.)  By beginning in this way my starting stitches will be locked into place and I do not have to worry about them coming undone.

I proceed slowly along the edge of the fabric, turning the applique as needed to keep the straight stitch part of this stitch right along the edge of those two fabrics.

When I get to the top where these two fabrics join I stop, lift my presser foot, keeping the needle in place, and pivot the fabric back around to go the other way.  I have switched back to my straight stitch and take a few stitches back over those I have just done and finish with a locking stitch, a nice way to make sure those stitches do not come undone.

My sticky note to remind me what stitch I am using -handy if you get distracted.

I am going to repeat this process on all of the other inside seams, starting at the bottom of the pumpkin each time so that my feather stitches go in the same direction.

There, all of the feather stitching is done.

I am going to work the buttonhole stitch now, in a very similar way.  I begin with a few straight stitches.

Then I switch over to my Buttonhole stitch.  I do not have to pivot the applique as I am going to go completely around the pumpkin and end up where I started.  I have my stitch length still set to 1.9 and now my stitch width is 2.0.

I stop with my needle down when I get to the stem.

Pivoting the applique piece I continue stitching around the stem.

When I get back to the bottom of the stem I switch now to my straight stitch, lift the presser foot and pivot the applique in order to sew across the bottom of the stem.

Once I reach the Buttonhole stitches on the other side, I switch back to the Buttonhole stitch, pivot the applique back around to continue sewing around the rest of the pumpkin.

Once I make it back to where I started I switch once again to the straight stitch, take a few stitches and end with a locking stitch to hold everything nicely in place.

All finished with the applique I felt my little pumpkin needed just a little something more.

So I drew a line for a little tendril and sew along it with my straight stitch.

I turned the piece and sewed back over the line to give it a little more depth.

That's  better.

It took a while to convince myself that I could add a yellow pumpkin to my Garden Notes blocks.  We grew over 100 pumpkins this year which have all pretty much turned a beautiful orange now.  This one is not quite there yet.  
Pdf version of this tutorial

I have put together a list of all of my Moda Blockhead tutorials which I will be updating as I add new ones.  You can find the links for each HERE
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Until next time,
Happy Quilting!!
Debra