The Whimsical Workshop Studio: Block Mania Blog Hop

Welcome back to our blog, just in time for our free Back to School block! This week we've got another great addition to the Block Mania Blog Hop - the Study Buddy block.

If you aren't familiar with the Block Mania Blog Hop, it's a monthly hop that features a group of the quilting industry's top designers. We each create a FREE 12" block that fits the month's theme and color palette, and then you get to follow along and collect them all for yourself.
This month's theme is "Back to School" and our "Study Buddy" block pattern and SVG File are available on our website.

So let's get started!

For this project, I used my Cricut maker to cut out the fabric for the applique shapes. If you don't have a Cricut, we do include the traditional instructions and templates in the downloadable pattern. However, if you're considering investing in a Cricut, we have an unboxing video on our YouTube channel.

Here are our fabrics laid out for this block. We used a combination of Basics from Benartex Fabrics, New Hues and Color Weave. Don't they compliment each other just perfectly? We think so! I love to mix basics in a project to add texture to the overall design. I recommend using Heat N Bond Featherlight for the fusible applique

Make sure to check out the Video Tutorial on how to make this block. We included lots of great tips on how to do the fusible applique, as well as some tips on using the Cricket Maker for cutting applique shapes. If you are doing the applique the traditional method, make sure to check out our video on Fusible Applique.

Now that all of our pieces are cut and ready to assemble, it's time to move to the iron! Here is a shot of this adorable owl coming to life. I am using an Appli-fuse mat to make easy work of this. Did you know we now have these available on our website? I recommend building the owl as one unit and the stacked books as a second unit on an appli-fuse sheet (applique pressing sheet) and then move the finished units to the pieced background. If you are interested in the the Appli-Fuse mat, check out my product review video here.

Now that we have our block assembled, it's time to pick our favorite Aurifil threads for the finishing stitch and move to the sewing machine. I recommend using 50 wt. or 40 wt. threads to for the edge stitches. I matched the thread colors to the fabrics to keep the image soft. I did use a darker brown to outline the owl so the wings would pop out from the body. Make sure to check out our Buckets of Fun video posted last month for tips on how to do this stitch.

Now our Study Buddy is ready you help you hit the books this fall!

We hope you have enjoyed following along with this month's free block. Make sure to visit our website, www.TheWhimsicalWorkshop.com for more whimsical patterns and subscribe to our YouTube channel for fun quilting tutorials.

PS Here are the links to last month's Buckets of Fun Free Block, SVG File, YouTube Video in case you missed it. You can check out the Blog post from July 7 for the complete list of designers who participated in that Blog Hop.

Here are the links to all the other fun back to school blocks on the Blog Hop. Make sure to stop by each to collect all your free blocks!

http://www.sliceofpiquilts.com/2020/08/back-to-school.html

https://poweredbyquilting.com/2020/08/04/quiltblockmania-back-to-school/

https://prettypiney.com/back-to-school

http://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2020/8/4/quilt-block-mania-august-is-back-to-school" https://alwaysexpectmoore.com/2020/08/stack-of-books-quilt-block.html

https://sewbrainy.com/blogs/news/pointy-pencil-block

https://www.duckcreekmountainquilting.com/blog/2020/7/19/back-to-school-bloghop-pythagoras-theorem"

http://www.quiltingroomwithmel.com/2020/08/pencil-quilt-block-back-to-school-quilt.html

https://orangeblossomquilt.com/blog/f/shermer-high-school-shermer-il-60062

https://www.seamstobesew.com/quilt-block-mania-for-august-starts-today/

https://www.quilted-diary.com/post/august-quilt-block-mania

http://charismascorner.com/?p=37325"

https://www.devotedquilter.com/2020/08/quilt-block-mania-basketball.html