The July Shop Hop

 I don't take part in the Shop Hop because it is miles of travel and I'm not into that.  I have done it, but I felt like I had to purchase something in every store and then I would often wonder why I bought certain things.

I was up at The Hobby Horse in the "Glen" to spend money and as I was checking out, Gail asked if I would like her block.  I did not refuse.  I was working against time to get things done to finish up my quilting donations for the year.  Once that was done, I grabbed the kit and got started.  Gail loves to applique and her block was just that.  A lovely time spent over an afternoon, an evening and then finish it up the next day.

A very stylish Sunflower Block.  My block is slightly smaller than what was suggested.  I joined the "petals" at 3/8" instead of a 1/4" because the day I made it apparently my brain was "on hold".  

I did use a different background than what was in the kit, mainly because the only time I like the colour blue is when the sky is not overcast.  

I actually did do hand applique and I did hand quilt it, but we won't talk about the quilting.  I have a long arm for a very good reason.

It hangs on the door into my den/computer/office space.  I used cording the hanger.  I knotted it close to the end and stitched it in place.  To hold it in place I put a light weight piece of wood in the sleeve.  With the knots at either end, it won't go far.

I made the yo-yo for the centre the everyday way.  Then I got to thinking, could I????  So I tried.  You really need a fabric that frays well, but this is what I had so I used it.

Cut your circle:  I used a mug for the template.  I didn't have a lot of fabric left over from the kit.

Stitch around the edge with a small stitch.  Maybe a 2.0, you could do 2.5

Now fray what you can.  You won't be able to do it all because it is not straight cuts.

Using a running stitch, gather the circle along the same line as your stitching if your thread doesn't match. 

Give it a yank 

when you are done and you have little bits like these found in the middle of a daisy

I can't use this on this wall hanging now but I am going to keep it on my bulletin board for the next time applique says "it's time to do it again."

Links for this post:  The Hobby Horse Quilt Shoppe