Little Bird + Dilly Bird {Penny Sampler}
Hurray! I've completed my February blocks for the 6-month Penny Sampler. Little Bird and Dilly Bird were the last of the applique blocks and the end of the applique module. At this point we've made a total of nine blocks that were purely applique, plus a few patchwork blocks for our Scandinavian-inspired sampler. I'm looking forward to starting the precise piecing module in March. It's nice that the applique blocks are so quick and adorable, but patchwork is still my first love!
Here is Dilly Bird. I used Freespirit Lavender for the background and Filigree by Anna Maria Horner in gray for her body. I love how the shapes of this print suggest feathers and birdie markings. Instead of the eye style suggested in the course, I opted for a tight cluster of French knots to form her eye. Alone she seems kind of plain, but placed in her spot in the quilt layout, my Dilly Bird is a nice foil for the busier blues.
Little Bird, I'm not so sure about. The bold royal blue background may not fit in with my quilt palette after all. Since I've already made the block, I'm going to keep it for now and just redo it later if another background color will improve the quilt. That decision will be easier when I have more blocks completed!
I do like how this version of the Filigree print forms Little Bird's body. And, I also enjoy how my caramel embroidery formed the feet and head feathers. I started making those accents in black, but they didn't show up well on royal blue. Tracing alongside my black sketch stitch with the caramel embroidery fixed things!
Here is a glance at the quilt as a whole, so far. I think I may take things out of order and sew the block I am designating with the blue window dressing print next. That block is part of the precise piecing module, but scheduled for April. I think I need to skip ahead to it though, so I can make sure that print is going to work. I'd hate to plan everything around it only to change my mind later!
Well that's all for now. How about you? I invite you to share some photos here of your Penny Sampler progress this month, wherever you are in the process!