Nancy Mahoney

I’m excited to be working on a new fusible applique project. The quilt will be in an upcoming magazine… so I can’t reveal the entire quilt, but I can share the project in-progress.

I start with making a plastic template of each shape. Since I need to trace each shape several times, I find it’s easier and faster to trace around a template. I place a couple pieces of blue tape on the “right” side of the template. Since asymmetrical shapes need to be reversed for fusible applique, I place the template right side down to trace the shapes and flip the template tape side up to trace the reverse of shapes as needed. For circles, I use a circle template that has a bunch of different sized-circles; this template can be purchased at any store that carries art supplies. I’m going to cut out the center of the fusible-web shapes, so my appliques will be soft. To save fusible web, I’m drawing my circles inside the other shapes.

Next, I use utility scissors to roughly cut out the shapes in small groups. Then I cut out the center of the shape, leaving about 1/8″ to 3/16″ of fusible web on the inside of the line. For these shapes, I also cut out the circles leaving fusible web on both sides of the traced line. I have a few more of these shapes to cut out… something I’ll do while watching TV.

In the mean time, the fusible-web leaf shapes have been cut and fused to the wrong side of the fabric. I’m using a wonderful green fabric from P&B Textiles’ Suede collection.

Finally, I cut out each leaf shape on the drawn line…. more TV watching work. This time, I use my Havel scissors that have blades with fine-teeth and are Teflon-coated so the fusible doesn’t stick to them. These scissors are perfect for cutting shapes from fused fabric. The leaf shapes on ready to be fused to the background and stitched in place.

Check out my book, Fast, Fusible Flower Quilts for complete fusible applique instructions. In this book, you’ll find 11 beautiful floral quilts featuring fusible applique.

For many years I’ve enjoyed shopping for antiques, and I love the thrill of finding objects to add to my different collections. As a quilter, I found it natural to collect vintage quilts. At first I was drawn to quilts made in the late 1800 and early 1900s; as I obtained more quilts, I started collecting quilts from the 1930s. I’m drawn to scrappy, traditional quilts, so it’s no surprise that those words describe many of the vintage quilts in my collection.  

Although not my first antique quilt, this Basket quilt is the only one I own that is dated and it’s probably the oldest one in my collection. Even though the quilt has some stains, it’s in remarkable good condition, and when I found it… I just had to have it.

This quilt is borderless, with red fabric on the back, and very thin batting. It’s hand quilted in a diagonal grid with red quilting thread. The basket handles were machine stitched.

In today’s terminology, the quilt would be considered a friendship quilt. Each block is signed in permanent ink.

In the upper-right corner is the inscription: ”Lizzie Walker from Sister Maggie, June 9, 1884.”

Wouldn’t you love to know Lizzie Walker’s story and how her quilt ended up in an antique shop in Seattle, Washington? Lizzie’s quilt is wonderfully graphic and very typical of quilts from that period.

A few years ago, I made an updated version of the block from Lizzie’s quilt for my small quilt “Spring Baskets.”

Over 125 years after Lizzie’s quilt was made, basket quilts are still among the best-loved patchwork designs.