Bella Skill Builder: Orange Peel

It is month 2 of the Bella Skill Builder series, sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop. This is a free monthly series designed by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life.

This month's block is the classic orange peel with the petals in two sizes.

While the block is fairly simple in construction, I had forgotten how many steps are involved. There are YouTube tutorials for each block. I happened to have the book, Playful Petals by Corey Yoder (another brilliant Moda fabric designer) handy, and I followed her technique for fusible applique.

I used Lite Steam-A-Seam 2. After tracing the petals and cutting them per Corey's instructions, which involve cutting about 1/8" around outside of the traced petal and then cutting out the center of each traced petal, leaving about 1/4" (this reduces bulkiness), and then removing the paper from one side, I finger pressed the Steam-A-Seam onto the fabric. At that point, you are supposed to remove the other side of the paper and be ready to fuse the petal to the background. However, I always had difficulty removing the paper and found that with a very light once-over with my iron, the fusible was adhered to the fabric enough that I could then cut the shape, remove the second side of the paper and it was ready to fuse to the background squares.

I chose to machine blanket-stitch the petals to the background squares.

Once I got going, this process didn't take as long as I had anticipated. And I'm really happy with the results.

Here are my completed blocks. This month I also decided that the overall quilt would benefit from some pops of a pretty turquoise here and there. I already had this color in my stash and I think it will really liven things up.

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