Making the Maryland AMB Sail Boat Block

To follow up from Yesterday's Post, here's a little behind the scenes look at how I made the Maryland block for the American Made Brand Blog Hop...

First I chose a few of the lovely colors that looked to me like they'd make great water and sky...

...and I also pulled out white and navy for the sail boats in Barbara Burnham's design depicting boats on the Chesapeake.

I used Heat n Bond Feather Lite to trace the applique pieces because it's so light that I didn't have to cut out the fusible behind the center of all the pieces.  (Tip: I traced the sail boat shapes reversed so that when I apply the fusible to the back of the applique fabrics and then lay them down to fuse they will be facing the right direction.)

I also cut four 3 inch strips (approximately) of the fusible, one for each of the "water" colors.

Using the Creative Grids 3" Wave Ruler, and a smaller rotary cutter, I cut a wave on one side and straight across the other to make three inch wide strips with a wave on one side.

The strips were laid out overlapping, and with the dips and crests of the waves randomly staggered. Then when I was happy with the placement, I fused them in place with an iron. Then using a micron pen, I traced the Maryland name across the top, off centered to the left making sure to stay more than a quarter inch from the edges to allow for seam allowances when the block gets sewn into a quilt.  Using matching/coordinating thread colors, I blanket stitched across the top of each wave.

Finally I fused the little sail boats down and blanket stitched around all of the applique shapes to complete the block :)

Now you can go to the Free Pattern Page at Spring Water Designs to download your copy of the Maryland Sail Boat AMB Block to get the applique templates :)

And if you haven't already, head on over to Yesterday's Post and leave a comment for your chance to win a bundle of American Made Brand cotton fabrics from Clothworks!

...And follow along the AMB Hop each day thru June 20th to see all the 50 State blocks...and get in on a chance to win there too!   ~ At the end of the Hop all of the state blocks will be set into one large amazing American Made Quilt :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn