I've got a question about the leaves... they appear to all be pretty much the same, are you folks using ONE pattern for all the leaves, or drawing each one? One the other blocks so far this wasn't an issue.
I did my bias stems like Suzanne Marshall-- ok, I should say, her method, I'm sure mine won't look like hers but it was simple. The thin stems were trickier than the wider basket handle.
Haven't decided yet how to do the berries, I don't own the circle templates & haven't had time to run out & see if they're carried locally, but I have plenty still to do before I get to that! Florence

Margo, your block is beautiful. I had a feeling the stars and berries were going to make this block pop. These BOMs have been all about me trying new things. This month I a using Sharon Schamber's foundation paper and I have only appliqued one leaf so far but I love it. There was just enough edge to wrap the fabric around. I could not believe how easy it made needle turn applique. And my new Bohin needles I love. They are so sharp and slender and long that I had to learn to keep my finger out of the way. I knew there was one other new trick I had tried. Suzanne Marshall's method for creating stems on the bias. Great. I've stitched one leaf and one stem but having lots of fun. I cut circles out of heat resistant mylar and gather the fabric like making yo-yos, but I think I am going to try the foundation paper and see how that works.

Sue this quilt is an absolute delight to make! The April block is my favorite and I can't wait to get started! Lynn, I think Sue mentioned using buttons in lieu of appliqued berries--someone correct me if I'm wrong. I like to use Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circles, too. I use spray starch (and I always wash my quilts when finished) to keep the edges of the circles really smooth. I use the tip of the iron and press from the edge of the circle to the center until the fabric is dry and "set". I then let it cool before I remove the basting and the mylar circle. My circles have turned out so much better since I've started using this method. Judy & Margo--NICE BLOCKS!

Hi everyone -

Wow, Margo; I love the fabrics you chose for your April block! Seeing yours, along with everyone else's earlier blocks, just tells me that I can hardly wait until everyone is finished and posts a picture of their finished quilt top (or finished quilt!). It is going to be so much fun to see everyone's creative efforts!

Keep on stitching....!
Sue Garman

Margo, this is BEAUTIFUL! I love love love the fabric colors on your flowers. Wish I could see it in person.

Judy, I love the beginning of yours too.

I started mine today. Can't wait to work on it!

Dana in Olive Branch, MS

Wow Margo u sure are fast for doing needle-turn on this block!

Carla

Thanks for the links, Lulabelle! After looking at the links, it's basically the same way I do it, only I cut my own templates the exact size I need from an old manila folder!

OK, ladies...I've posted my April Block!!!
I'm not thrilled with the way my stars look, but for now they are staying put!

This link http://www.karenkaybuckley.com/store.html has the perfect circles and her bigger circles, but not the instructions.

Here's a great tutorial for them http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/2007/12/perfect-circles.html

Something that is close without using KKB's circleshttp://mccallsquilting.com/curiss/404_makingcircles/

And finally, something I came across that looks interesting
http://www.annamariahorner.blogspot.com/2007/02/super-circles.html

I'll be checking into this! Karen Kay Buckley!

I use Karen Kay Buckley's perfect circles too. Before that, no matter what I tried, they were never round.

quilter64 wrote:
I am not familiar with her technique, but it sounds similiar to what I'm doing. Please let us know if she has a link with a tutorial that we can check out!

I agree with quilter64, I use the perfect circles mylar templates by Karen Kay Buckley. Prep time is balanced out by great finished results. Sally in NE Ohio

I find that Karen Kay Buckley's method is the easiest. Using circle templates, Magic Sizing, etc. Then you can machine or hand applique.

QuilterLynn wrote:
Lynn, I don't know how you are planning to do your berries, but I posted pictures in album #3 on my tutorial that explain how I prepare mine for hand applique. I think one of the easiest ways to do circles is to fuse them and stitch the edges with a narrow satin stitch on the machine, but it takes practice to get them really round! Sue mentions in her directions that we downloaded with the pattern that there are some circle templates available in the TQS Shoppe, but I've never tried that method.

http://community.webshots.com/user/TennGram?vhost=community

It might make you feel better to check out the quilt on Sue's web site called Lily Rosenberry. Then we can be all thankful that we only have 31 to make for this block!!! :shock:
IT'S A BEAUTY, and you can order the pattern if you want to make your own!!!

http://suegarman.blogspot.com/2008/03/introducing-lily-rosenberry.html