• About Tsoniki Crazy Bull
  • February 23, 2019

You are here: Home / Sewing/Quilting / Bee Europa April Queen Selvedge Block

Bee Europa April Queen Selvedge Block

April 2, 2015 by Tsoniki Leave a Comment

I decided it was time to get my selvedges used so I picked a selvedge block to have my bee mates in the Bee Europa group to make for me. I am super excited! When I had this idea, I made three blocks myself quickly. We won’t talk about the fact that for two of them I used foundation paper to piece the selvedges. Yeah, that will have to be ripped off at some point and I’ll have to figure out how to still use it. Or maybe I’ll have to start over with those ones, we’ll see. Anyway here is a block I made as an example. I’ve trimmed the edges so nothing is hanging over.

2015-04-01 20.57.15

I am sending a piece of backing fabric that is 8.5 x 11 inches in size. To make this block simply fold the fabric to get a crease from one corner to the opposite corner, like this:

2015-04-01 20.59.45

Pressing the fabric will be enough to give you a starting point. Take any selvedge that is long enough and line up on edge alone the crease. I used a few dabs of glue to keep it in place. Once that first center (or off-center as it is) selvedge is ready, it’s easy to build on the rest of them. And don’t worry about a perfect straight line from corner to corner, it’ll work out. You can see that the line doesn’t touch the corner in the second photo.

2015-04-01 21.00.12

2015-04-01 21.03.14

The first selvedge is held with glue, and depending on the fabric you are using, lay the next one on top or tuck it under with a small seam allowance. I’ve used both a zig zag and a straight stitch to secure the selvedges in place.

2015-04-01 20.57.30

These are not sewn down, but I just wanted to show how to do the layout. I don’t want a quarter inch seam allowance as that would cover up the fabric info, which is an element to using the selvedges in a project. The first picture shows the art gallery fabric laying on top of the black and white, and then the next fabric laying on the art gallery.

2015-04-01 21.03.39

Here you can see that I tucked the grey fabric under the folded fabric. I did that because the words are printed so low on the selvedge that any fabric laying over it would cover the text. Any stitches used will also cover up the text, but less so.

2015-04-01 21.04.14

Here is an example of this block as I moved the other direction and covered up the black and white that is the starting selvedge.

2015-04-01 21.04.54

Here is this fabric lifted up to show the seam allowance.

2015-04-01 21.05.02

And that same fabric tucked under the fabric.

2015-04-01 21.05.21

Overall I think these are simple blocks to make. Here are the three that I made, this shows the look I am going for when these are finished!

2015-04-01 22.12.25

For my bee block, I am fine with a decorative stitch as long as it catches the fabric well. I’ve used a wider variety of decorative stitches when I make a pincushion with selvedges and I am unsure as to how well they would hold up in a quilt that could potentially be washed regularly, but I am not against something that you think looks good.

I am also fine with not using white or neutral thread, I used a bright turquoise in the block I shared here, any thread that goes with the fabrics is fine with me.

I prefer that a piece of selvedge that shows the text or the color circles to be shown.

Working with selvedges can feel a bit fussy because sometimes they aren’t totally straight, usually this happens with solids versus print fabrics. I tend to use smaller pieces of these in a corner instead of one of the center pieces as they are too wavy to control. The smaller piece can be straight.

The foundation fabric can be used as a guide to trim the block.

Filed Under: Sewing/Quilting

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Us on InstagramFollow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on iTunesFollow Us on E-mailFollow Us on Flickr

Me Being Crafty Weekly Newsletter

Sign up for the weekly newsletter for news about the Me Being Crafty podcast, products we offer, and exciting stuff we are doing.
* = required field

Instagram

  • We left the cool rain and returned to the harmattan
  • This coffee was so good brothersewingmachine stickersonsewingmachine coffeeandsewing sewallday
  • Holiday vacation always calls for nerf fights at 10pm
  • Happy NYE! When in France get the French Mom haircut
  • Happy valentinesday2019!  So glad I ordered early cupcakeboutiquegh shop
  • Thanks to an early galette des rois JW found the
  • When dogs are big babies
thread art online quilting class at craftsy.com

Recent Posts

  • Scrap Quilt
  • Accra, Ghana
  • The Trouble with Podcasting in Italy
  • Seven Tips for Traveling Europe with Kids
  • A Surprise Trip to Athens
  • After Two Weeks
  • Year of Yes
  • Amalfi Coast and Sorrento USO Tour
  • Creative Live’s Surface Pattern Class
  • Weekend Adventures
  • From the US to Europe

Categories

Recent Pins.

Follow Me on Pinterest
Followed by 468 people.
?

Pinterest Badge by Skipser

Affiliate Disclosure

I make recommendations for books, supplies, music, movies, and other products and in many cases the pink provided is an affiliate link. This means I may profit when you take action on anything I recommend.

Copyright © 2019 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in