TA-DOT

TA-DOT! quilt pattern designed by Mabeth Oxenreider
as seen in American Patchwork & Quilting April 2013










This quilt caught my eye as a creative summer project. The 55" x 55" quilt is designed as 25 blocks, each created using reverse applique. The circle insets are scrappy strip sets, an opportunity to experiment with gentle curved seaming and embellishing.

I chose two tones of orange for the background and a multi color dot for the focus fabric. The focus fabric will be included in each of the blocks.

I raided my stash for brights that co-ordinate with the focus fabric.

I even included a few pieced small blocks.

The striped fabric will be used as the inner border and binding. I may use it in the circle strip sets too.

I'll use a selection of embellishments, including Hot Ribbon, cording, ribbon, lace, and various trims.

I traced the circle pattern onto sew-in lightweight interfacing (non fusible).

The embellished strip set should be large enough to extend beyond the circle by at least 1/4".

Pin the interfacing to the right side of the background fabric ... and stitch around the drawn line.

Reduce your machine's pressure-foot pressure so you can sew the  circle without stopping and repositioning the block. 

... then cut out the circle 3/8" inside the stitched line ...

... clip seam allowance and turn interfacing to wrong side of fabric. Press carefully.

Align the background block on top of the embellished strip set. To frame the block square, mount to a sturdy square of cardboard and secure with clips. Pin in place.

Remove from cardboard. Sew along circle edge with a narrow zigzag or blind-hem stitch.

Trim excess interfacing and strip set on wrong side, leaving at least 1/4" seam allowance.

                        Have fun, be creative!

After the 25 strip set blocks are created and joined, it is time for the reverse-applique cornerstones. Well, good luck with that! I made several attempts to sew perfectly round and half-round insets. Either the insets puckered or the circle stretched out of shape. I tried pinning, glueing, basting-all to no avail. The zigzag stitch around the circle edge turned out uneven  and looked sloppy. So instead I made the cornerstones as half-square triangles (like in a snowball block) and I'm pleased with the result.

What to do with those 25 circles you cut out? I backed each with the leftover focus fabric and created an Orange Peel table topper.