Color BOM Blocks: Applique

The skill for this month in the STLMQG Color Wheel Spoke BOM is applique. I don't like to do applique, although I admire applique quilts made by others.

Last month the skill was fussy cutting, and I ended up using a fussy cut center for a Dresden plate block. The center was die cut and machine appliqued on.

It was not difficult, and with a little glue basting it didn't slip around. I decided to make more appliqued circle blocks for this month. Repetition being one of the elements of design, I can use these 6" blocks scattered throughout the quilt, or sew them together to make one 12" block.

I didn't have any thread to match my yellow green color, so I used monofilament in the top and white 50 wt. in the bobbin, and stitched with a small blanket stitch. These are actually raw edge applique, but the stitches are close together so I don't think they'll fray too much. Again I basted with glue, four tiny dabs at the edges of each circle. I also used lightweight paper as a stabilizer, and tore it away from the back when finished. Stabilizer kept the background fabric from puckering around the edges of the circles.

I think we only have two or three more months in this color BOM series. I wonder what the skills will be? We haven't had curves yet, nor EPP, so I expect they'll come up. Then the challenge will be to put all the blocks together into a cohesive whole. I'm planning a puzzle-style quilt a la Gypsy Wife.