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Ok the eyeball is just awesome! I am so glad you are all doing this too. Isn't it amazing how different and incredible they all look? Cant wait until Feb 1!

PattyJ and S Sue...love your little fishie! And the eyeball...clever. It looks great! I think what I am worrying about is the whole cutting out and fusing down...not so good at that part! I did pull a few fabbies today though so hope to get to this very soon.

Lovely fishes!

I'm still working to catchup on Lois's chicken blocks for last year.

But, I'll be downloading these for a future project perhaps. My problem (okay, ONE of my problems) is that I don't like fusible applique. The edges need to be covered, and I don't enjoy the look of machine stitches. So, each has to be embroidered by hand...and that takes so much time.

I wish that she would design her pieces so that they can be done by hand. But, her points are like little slivers at times and just don't work well. I thought I'd do the chickens by hand, but found on the very first block...that was impossible. Now, I have seven blocks all fused...and am still working on the hand embroidery for the very first one. Slow go!

I like the idea of the netting over the fishes however. And, maybe that would make these suited to a quilt as you go kind of block...stippling over the netting. Wonder how much "gunk" my machine needle will get with the fusible?

Thanks for posting the fishes...makes me think!

Having no idea what the heck I'm talking about since I don't do needleturn or raw edge applique, I have a couple of comments for Kathy.

Why not cut the pieces for your type of applique. The recommended method is for fusible but who said you absolutely 'have' to do these blocks this way? It would be easier with fusible but it ain't the only way. As quilters we do that sort of stuff, changing the method, allll the time.

On another thread there was much discussion about how to use fusible. You do not have to cut the complete piece from fusible. I like to cut my fusible at least 1/4" on the inside of the piece outline. Then I don't sew into the glue. I also prefer to doughnut hole or window cut my fusible; making the fusible about 1/4 to 1/2" wide. Then the rest of the piece is softer and more flexible. I only need to hold it in place 'til it gets sewn. And this short cut of the fusible allows you to make that 1/8" turn under for applique, hence no raw edge.

Why can't a water soluble glue be used for the same purpose. Ladies that applique do that frequently, don't they? Remember, I don't do needle turn applique.

Those that use freezer paper for applique can use that method here also. Just have to make sure the pattern piece is cut small enough to allow that, or conversely, the fabric is cut large enough.

And, I guess lastly. Why do the 'points' on the patterns need to be sharp? If rounded is how they come out, who knows but you. And you have a more unique pattern if you change the points.

Them's my thought on how you might be able to enjoy these patterns. (As for the Funky Chicken, you can still turn under the edge even if you have fusible on it already, unless it's fused to the background fabric and even that depends on how strongly it is glued down. Sometimes reheating the piece will loosen the glue. AMHIK lolll)

Hope I helped, a little.

Good Thoughts Paus, I did something different with the fusible this time and I like how it came out better. Since mine is probably going to be a wallhanging I don't mind the stiffness. I shortened the blanket stitch so it is just a tiny bit on the fused piece. I also ironed some fusible interfacing on the back of the piece before I started stitching. It worked out really well, but it is a little stiffer than I'd want a quilt. I'm wondering if you could use tear away stabilizer, that way it would be softer. Might try that too.
Thanks for the compliments on my fish. I used a varigated thread for the blanket stitch and I love the look. Pat

I've been watching this thread, and looking at that pattern and had absolutely no idea where I could use something like this even though it looks so fun.

I have a DDIL that asked me for a quilt for one of their bathrooms....they have four. She said she had an idea but hasn't gotten back with me, yet and that was over a year ago. Her preference at the time was something outdoorsy/Alaskan.

How do you think this would look in a bathroom?

Good idea Paus, I just might borrow your idea. I have a lighthouse BR and I think a few fish wh would be cute in there, or maybe I could make more fish and have a shower curtain. Hmmmmm thinking.
Editing to add:
Paus maybe you should download the pattern, just in case you decide to make them. I didn't do that with the Chickens and I am sorry.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: patty j,

The very worst that could happen is I wouldn't make the quilt, I'd just have another pattern in my files. I'm downloading!!!!

Paus- I hope you do all the BOM in the fish. You and Patty can compare fish. LOL Sue

Sister Sue, you are such a help. lollll

The fun part is, especially for the aquarium idea is - you can make a school of fish if one pattern really appeals to you!!!

And salt water fish come is so many amazing shapes and colors - this project is going to be so much fun to do!!! (yes I printed off the pattern....... and will be making these too!!!!)

This was definitely NOT on my list of things to do - and I am really bad at starting things I shouldn't (and I mean REALLY BAD ) that this is a project I should not even be thinking about......But, I have found (and bought : ) fusible thread from Superior Threads (why did I do that?? I don't applique!!! Oh, right, I bought that bug pattern from Ami Simms........ ) And this thread becomes the glue to attach your pieces without making it 'heavy' or stiff - so they said. And I want to try it - so now I can!!!

So this is why I am going to do this!! To 'practice' my with my new thread so I will know what I am doing when I get to the bugs project!!!

And I think fish are really neat - and watching all the chickens last year, was just fun!!!

off to sew........

Thanks for the link to FatCats bluesnail!!!!!

LL I'll be watching to see how that thread works, where did you get it??
This BOM is going to be fun glad to see some more are thinking about joining in.
At least print the patterns it can't hurt for sure. Then you won't have to buy them later. Pat

The shower curtain was what I thought of right away. I have a kinda blah bathroom, creme, brown, beige, so thought this would be the perfect project to add some bright color to it.
I went to Joanns today for background fabric, but nothing grabbed me, so will head to the LQS on Tuesday after work to see what I can find there.
I am loving all the cool fish!

...so I just went through my stash again to see what was what and am now trying to pick some fabbies for the first fish. I keep seeming to try to get all matchy-matchy and I don't want to! May have to just mix everything up, close my eyes and grab! We will see what finally comes forth...

Alex.... I have that same problem with matching, even when I want the project to be more random. I had a big mess of scraps laying around as I searched for something that would look nice with the orange that I just had to use for my fish body.LOL

...and Patty...I love how your fish turned out!

Patty - I found it at the Superior Threads web site. Here is the https://www.superiorthreads.co...es-fusible-web/link:

And if you look to the right, they also have videos where they show you what to do and how it works. No, I have not tried it yet - but I will. I have ordered the thread that works with it - I do not have it yet. The thread does not stick to the fusible and just releases and comes right off the project. Cotton would stick and then you would have a mess..

this will be fun. I went and looked and I really do not have good 'water' fabric in my stash....hmmmm How can I fix that I wounder???

Patty and Alex - I want you to do opposites on your fish!!! Go look at a colour wheel and if you pick orange, go staight across and pick out that colour for another part of it. And if you have a third colour to choose - go 1/4 of the way around the wheel and pick that!!! No MATCHY/MATCHY!!!

Go look at fish in the ocean - especially ones near the bottom!!!! wild colors and they all work!!!

But hey, this is your fish - do what you want!!!

And mostly have fun and enjoy them!!!!

(I am thinking of how to do the eyes since I saw yours Patty!!! That is just funny and fun!!! love it!!!)

Did you check your batiks LL or maybe some greens or grays, Not all water is blue!!!
I went to a lake near Skagway AK and it was the most beautiful aquamarine I have ever seen. It was more green than blue. Just a thought.

Here's some tropical fish inspirations. The kind we'll be thinking about with this quilt.

http://images.search.yahoo.com...all&va=tropical+fish

As well as some of the not quite as colorful bottom feeders of the oceans. But there are some as seen in my personal photo from a deep water fishing trip.

http://images.search.yahoo.com...z=all&va=bottom+fish

As for the background color, old wives tale sez the deeper the water is, the bluer it is. So if the ocean appears green, you suppose it isn't as deep. Personally, I think the waters off the shores of New Jersey are grey no matter how deep it is. And we all know the Pacific Ocean is blue.

Water colors can go anywhere from tan in a very sandy area to the deep blue we most think of, including aquamarine. So there's a very full spectrum of water colors to choose from. In my bathroom it's turquoise.

Aren't you glad this question came up? lollll

This message has been edited. Last edited by: paus4quilts,

Our Lake Louise
https://www.google.ca/search?q...sAQ&biw=1152&bih=743

has the prettiest lake you will ever see!!! The water is such a gorgeous colour and it is so pristine. So yes, water can be so many colours and you are right Patty - batiks would work for my fishes background!! Why didn't I think of them????

To many things on my mind yesterday I guess.... - I cleared out my sewing area and created quite a mess - which I am still going to be working on today and tomorrow and probably a few days after that - SO, thank-you for the hint of looking in my stash for a fabric I most definitely have!!! : And once I get my tables and sewing area free of debris I will be back sewing because I have made a pile of things to work on, and a list of what needs to be done!! And yes, these fish - even though I have not started one yet.... is on the list because, I know I will be doing them!!

Does anyone know where I put my appliques sheet though???? I remember going to class, putting it back in it's thing it came in and .... it's not there???? What did I go and do with it??? It's marked $30 on the carboard sleeve it came in and I do not want to have to replace it if I have just misplaced it.... but it's a good thing to have when working with fusible anything.... oh where oh where has my appliques sheet gone??? Oh where oh where can it be????

bye for now!!! And thanks again for the batik hint. These fish are going to be fun!!

fishy is cut out and litely fused down. working on blanket stitch now around the edges. I am doing it by hand as I am much more comfortable with hand work and my machine doesn't have a blanket stitch anyway! Hopefully later today will have it done to post pix. I am quite happy with it.

Alex, Looking forward to seeing your fish, I'm really excited about this project.
LL My DH and I took a Canadian Rockies tour and Ak cruise in 2011. We went from Calgary to Vancouver and we stopped at Lake Louise and the big beautiful hotel there. You are right the Lake was gorgeous. Thanks for reminding me. We had a great time on the train and the Rockies were awesome. Pat

Ah!!!!! Lake Louise....beautiful, simply beautiful.

...my January fishy...

Love it Colleen!!! Button eye is perfect! I was trying to think what I was going to do for the eye, since mine will be a shower curtain, and the button will be perfect and still be able to be laundered easily.

Oh, he's beautiful! Love the button eye - perfect. Makes me wish I had done mine by hand, but the whole goal for me is to learn machine applique, so I'll stitck with my plan.

Another great fish - I did notice that his body fabic kind of looks scaly - great choice!

Thank you my stitch friends. I must admit I was a bit worried about the eye. Finally decided to try a button and found a few of my older buttons would work. What better way to use them and showcase them?

I find that I tend to hoard some things, like buttons I love, and as I age I am trying more to just go ahead and use some of these things. Better me just use the stuff I enjoy than to have it go in a jumbled table at an auction later when I am gone. Heck, if I use it all up I will have a good excuse to go to more auctions and buy more stuff!

Alex, nice looking fish, Love that body fabric, looks just like scales. Great job.
Just 4 more days until Feb. 1. Who is going to be posting the reminders for the new month??

Colleen - great choice of fabrics and I too love the button eye, think I will replace the eye on mine with something else, gives it more character and I don't have to take out too many stitches

any other fishies out there ready to be seen?

Come on, who likes to make fish. Patty j sure enjoyed her fish. Anyone else???? Sue

I actually gasp out loud when I saw your fish alexemmarose!!!! And with that background!!!! It just blend right in there and looks right at home!!! PERFECT!!!! at least, I really like it...... And I to like the button eye!

I am woring so hard (yeah, right!! I am staying out of my sewing room more like it.....) BUT, I do not want to strt another thing when I can not stick to it right now!!! Plus - I am waiting for the thread to go with the fusible I bought so it won't stick to it to come in the mail... AND - the real reason (I have a few... ) applique scares me a little. It like I have swam to far and now how do I get back???!! So this year, I want (need is more like it - I keep picking APPLIQUE projects!!! ) to get comfortable with this skill - and these fish are going to help me!!! LOVE all the fish so far!!! This is so much fun!!!!!

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Thank you L.L. I am anxiously awaiting seeing a few more fishies!! They are quite fun! I am like you...not so great at applique. I ended up borrowing an idea where I just put a little bit of fusible web in the middle of the sections (all of the little fins and things each got their own little piece)and then I just blanket stitched them down since I am not so great with machine applique. Decided to just do what I thought I could and not try to get too fancy with it!

I am almost done with mine, will have pics probably tomorrow. I had a manager meeting and got home too late to work in it tonight.
I am also handstitching mine.

To all of you who are sitting on the fence about doing this BOM, may I urge you to at least download the pattern before you get charged for down loading later. I regretted not doing the chickens and by the time I really wanted to do them I had to pay for them. . Only 2 days left for the free download.

Ok Patty I jumped off the fence. I managed to finish both January and February block.. FYI the pattern called for 2 yards of back ground fabric I had to piece 3 blocks together. Not cool. Anyway I will post pictures when I get back. I have an interview this afternoon. Wish me Luck Ladies!

Sooo, yesterday I downloaded the pattern #1, onto the fusible and discovered I'm almost out of fusible. Gonna have to buy some more, drats.

Found my fabrics to make Fishy #1 and began cutting out the patterns. Got side tracked and didn't get the fusible onto the fabric. And am I ever glad!!!!

Today's fishy will be a much better display of the fabric I was going to use for #1. I see where I'm going to have to plan a little bit better in my fabric selections.

J Lu, I'm going to have to piece my background fabrics. I don't feel badly about doing that because the fish are so large they'll cover most of the seams.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: paus4quilts,

Ok I broke my camera! I can't believe I broke another camera. Ugh! So I took a picture with my I-Pad

Here's February The back ground is green I don't know

This message has been edited. Last edited by: J Lu,

J Lu, love it! your wild print fabric really makes it stand out!
Still working on my first one, I got a horrible burn at work and it is down to the bone on the bottom of my thumb, tough stitching right now, but will get it done sometime in the next few days.
Printed out the pattern for #2!

Your fish are adorable. Great fabric choices.

J Lu- You are mighty quick with the fish. Love them. good thing that February is a short month. Only 27 more days til the new fish arrives. LOL Sue

J Lu...LOVE your fishies! Love your fabrics!

Only 27 more days till the next one comes out!!!! And I have not even started #1 yet!!!!

Say it isn't so!!!!

L.L. Love your comments!!!

J Lu: Glad to see your wild fabrics. I have some 'uglies' I was thinking I could use for this and seeing yours, makes me think I will. Like your Fishy!!!!

The fish are all really neat. Can't wait to find time to work on one of these.