The Desperate Housewife’s Quilt

Do you know about the Desperate Housewife’s Quilt?  If not, you should!  Jane (quiltjane) has published nearly 100 8″ block designs – half of them her own design and half of them by guest bloggers.  Today, I am so excited to be one of her guest bloggers!  Check out some of the other blocks on the Desperate Housewife page on Jane‘s blog or in Flickr groups here and here.

My block is called Pebble Path.  These organic pebbles were such fun to make!  I hand appliqued my block, but it would be easy to adjust the block for machine applique if you prefer.  Here goes:
Pebble Path 8” block
Materials:
8½”
square of background fabric
8-16 small grey scraps for pebbles
Removable marking pencil
Thread to match pebbles
1⅜”
circle template
1.   Make a small dot
2¼” and 4¼” from the top on
the left side of the block and 4¼”
and 6 1/4″ on the right side of the block. 
These are the guides for your path.
2.   Using a
removable marking pencil, draw a gentle curve between the 2¼” mark on the left
side and the 4¼”
mark on the right side.  Repeat for the 4¼” mark on the left
side and the 6¼”
mark on the right side.  (Note:  if you aren’t confident in your drawing
abilities, draw curves on a sheet of plain paper until you draw one you like.  Cut along the drawn line and use it as a
guide to draw onto your block).
3.   Using your
circle template, mark 16 1⅜”
circles on the wrong side of the pebble scraps. 
Cut out the circles roughly on the drawn line.  Note that you will NOT be trying to appliqué
beautifully round pebbles J.
4.   Arrange your
pebbles along your path until you are pleased with the fabric mix.  Pin the pebbles roughly in place – they may
need to be moved a bit as you stitch them down.
5.   Using needle
turn appliqué*, turn under approximately 3/16″
and appliqué the pebbles in place.  DO
NOT make them perfectly round.  Give them
bumps and straight spots like real pebbles have.
6.   Where the
pebbles overlap other pebbles and the edge of the path, trim the pebble to the
right shape.
7.   Leave 1/16 to ⅛” between your
pebbles.
      That’s all there is to it!

If you want to make more of these blocks, here are a couple
of options.  Both of these use some
blocks like the one above and some mirror image blocks.  Just turning the block won’t get this
design.  Making a mirror image block is
simple – all you have to do is move your path so that the left side
measurements are on the right side and vice versa – so the path goes from lower left to upper right.  Doesn’t it make a great border if you fill in
the corners?
*This block can be made just as easily using fusible
web machine appliqué.  Draw 1″
circles on the paper side of the fusible web. 
Cut them out leaving some room around the shape.  Apply the fusible to the back of your pebble
fabrics.  Cut out your pebbles with some
flatter sides and bumps.  Layout on your
path, trimming the edge of the pebble at the edge of the path as needed and
stitch down.  Wouldn’t a blanket stitch
give a nice texture to your pebbles?  
I hope you have fun with this block!  Thanks, Jane, for providing a source of endless inspiration!
3 Comments
  • cinzia
    Posted at 18:54h, 25 May Reply

    Your appliqué work is so lovely!

  • Natalie
    Posted at 12:48h, 25 May Reply

    Very cool! I love the organic look of the pebbles. This makes me want to learn how to applique!

  • Ethne
    Posted at 11:00h, 25 May Reply

    What a fun block and a great idea to give quilt options

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