Block 2: "things are made"

 Welcome back for Block 2 of the Beautiful Things QAL! 

I'm in the middle of a cross-country move as I film and make this block but it's giving me a respite from the never-ending box-packing, junk-sorting, heavy-lifting that has been my last couple of weeks. And I'm excited for the adventures that await! Let's jump straight in. If you have any questions AT ALL, reach out to me via social media, email, or on this blog/YouTube. With a baby in tow and lots of changes going on, my response time is not as fast as it normally is, but I WILL respond to you!

A couple of notes from some feedback I've received:

If you ordered the kit from FlexiFuse, it includes all the laser-cut applique, so you will SKIP all the applique tracing and cutting steps. I'm sorry I didn't mention that to begin with, but I don't have a kit, so you can see why it wasn't a present thought. Haha!

If you ordered the pre-printed fusible templates from FlexiFuse, you will SKIP the applique tracing step and fuse your fabrics straight to the pre-printed fusible. I am using the pre-printed templates (though I do show you how to trace in my Block 1 video).

If you haven't started the quilt along yet, just jump straight into Block 2 so that you're able to finish the block in time to be eligible to win the upcoming giveaways/prizes! Go HERE to download fabric requirements, cutting guides, and all the applique templates if you haven't already!

***IF you're not planning on making the full quilt and would like to stop at this point after Block 2, you can! It'll just read "Beautiful Things are Made. You won't want to trim the bottom of your block off, and you'll add your bottom "stamp" applique pieces and additional sashing with Blizzard Shimmer before quilting/binding it.

Let me know if you have other questions or concerns, but let's dive right in!

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Block 1 Giveaway!

First things first, congratulations to @quiltish for her Block 1 finish! She won a FQ bundle of Alison Glass fabrics and a Cutterpillar Flex Light! ANYONE that posts their Block 1 block, message me with your email address and receive a gift card to my favorite quilt shop!

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Here's the download link for the Block 2 instructions so you can get started:

Block 2 Instructions - Beautiful Things QAL
File Size:	489 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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A list of what you need to cut for this block:

Cut (1) 5-1/2" x 3" rectangle from each of the following fabrics:

Apple Shimmer
Mandarin Shimmer
Marigold Spectrastatic
Citron Shimmer
Wasabi Shimmer
Caribbean Shimmer
Peacock Shimmer
Dawn Shimmer
Violet Shimmer

Blizzard Shimmer:

• Cut (2) 5-1/2" x WOF cuts--

       Subcut into (2) 5-1/2" x 38-1/2" strips and (1) 5-1/2" x 2- 1/2" rectangle

• Cut (2) 26" x WOF cuts

​      Subcut into (2) 26" x 30" rectangles & use the remainder to cut (18) 3" squares for the flying geese

​For the applique, you'll need to download and print the following templates to size. Click the button below to visit my previous blog post to download the templates.

Download applique templates

Take note that you will not need ALL the applique templates of these colors for this specific block, but it will save fabric and time to trace and fuse all the pieces at a time. I just wait to cut the pieces out until the block that I need them. Watch my YouTube video (link below) where I talk about this.

Watch the block 2 video

For this block, you'll need the applique templates for:

Mandarin Shimmer
Sunset Spectrastatic
Marigold Spectrastatic
Star Shimmer
Citron Shimmer
Wasabi Shimmer
Peacock Shimmer
Dawn Shimmer
Violet Shimmer
Pink Coral Shimmer
​Noir Shimmer

Follow the Block 1 instructions for assembling your flying geese units with your 5-1/2" x 3" fabric rectangles and 3" Blizzard Shimmer fabric squares. I pressed the seams towards the white to prevent thick seams at the end.

Sew your completed 5" x 2-1/2" flying geese units together with a 1/4" seam in color order: Apple Shimmer, Mandarin Shimmer, Marigold Spectrastatic, Citron Shimmer, Wasabi Shimmer, Caribbean Shimmer, Peacock Shimmer, Dawn Shimmer, Violet Shimmer. 

Then attach your 5-1/2" x 2-1/2" Blizzard Shimmer rectangle to the top end (adjacent to the red flying geese) of the column, which should now measure 5-1/2" x 25." 

I pressed my seams toward the end of my rainbow column--it'll lay flatter that way :)

Want to see more in-depth steps on your flying geese units? Watch my video to see a step-by-step and I'll tell you how I chain pieced everything, which makes it go WAY faster :)

Watch block 2 instructional video

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Then cut everything out with microtip scissors. I legit can't feel my fingers still LOL.  This block has LOTS of pieces!

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Now for the applique! Trace your reversed templates on to the FlexiFuse and then fuse on to your fabrics with a high heat, no steam. Download the link below for the layout guides for the flowers. It'll be significantly easier to line everything up later if you do!

Block 2 Layout Guides - Beautiful Things QAL
File Size:	410 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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These microtip scissors make it relatively simple to cut out these intricate pieces! Woot woot! It still took me several hours just to cut out the applique though. 

​If you're blessed to have picked up a laser-cut kit from FlexiFuse, curse you! Lol. You'll have it much easier than I did!

Sew the 26" x 30" fabrics together with a 1/4" seam on the 26" side (the shorter one). Then using a Cutterpillar Glow lightbox, I started laying out my applique. I'd really recommend watching the section of my Block 2 video where I talk about how to center the block because I'll give some helpful tips about lining up all the applique.

Watch Block 2 video

DO NOT fuse pieces 5, 34, 35, or 36, OR the bottom stamp pieces to your block!!! They'll need to be added after you sew other blocks on. Again, watch my video (link above) or read the pattern instructions to learn more.

After you've fused your pieces down (EXCEPT the ones I listed just above), stitch them down with a straight stitch (or if you're ambitious a buttonhold/blanket stitch).

You'll need to square up/trim down your applique block after you've stitched everything down. It needs to measure 25" x 57-1/2." You'll want to trim it off the BOTTOM of the block and mostly off the left side of the block. I talk more about that in my video ;)

After your block is trimmed, sew your column of flying geese to the right hand side of the applique block. 

Then, attach Block 1 to the top, add applique pieces 5, 34, 35, and 36 (and stitch them down). 

Finally, add your 38-1/2" x 5-1/2" Blizzard Shimmer sashing to the left and right hand sides of your Block 1& 2 unit. You're almost halfway done with your quilt!!


Don't forget to post your Block 2 by November 9th, 2020 to be eligible to win the giveaway/prizes! See you in two weeks :)