Hold Onto Your Heart: Working On Part 4

This month it's all about the diamond clusters. The center diamond allows for embellishment - either a little posy or a memorial crucifix. It's also the perfect spot for a little broderie perse if you can find a sweet bloom small enough to fit nicely. As this quilt is such an heirloom endeavor, my own clusters will represent our parents who have gone on ahead of us to pass from this life into the next. I like acknowledging their place and memories in the applique scenes; particularly given that each scene represents a fruition of a stage of life.

The more I work on this quilt, the more attached I get to it. Of course, I could say the same things for all my quilts to some degree, but Hold Onto Your Heart definitely represents an intensity and beauty that I won't be repeating - it really is a once in a lifetime quilt.

I have turned the edges like I always do, I can't help it, I just love the look of turned applique shapes

My applique has grown a smidge. Just the tiniest amount. I am keeping a firm eye on this because for some reasons, the diamond clusters have a mind of their own. Although I have been careful, they WANT to grow! I can't explain it. 

Although I do have a new trick to fix this: when I cut the diamond shape out, I cut it right on the line (in fact, just a tiny bit inside the line) and I do mean TINY which makes my template the tiniest bit smaller than it should be. And my growing fabric (I think it's the bulk of the turned edges) fills this space perfectly, bring the shape to it's perfect and accurate size. Keep your eye on the size accuracy, these diamonds slot together so beautifully, you don't want them to be uneven. 

 So far I have made one cluster and have three to go..

    'Hold Onto Your Heart' is a paid BOM  

It's a breathtaking quilt full of meaningful symbols and beauty. The floral border is a triumph which offers an additional  pieced option - making it versatile for all skill levels. Perfect for lovers and enthusiasts of applique. 

 You can start this BOM today! 

Be sure to visit my Online Quilt Group on Facebook where progress images are being shown all the time. It's a massive inspiration and I warn you, it's addictive!