Bramble Blooms II Update - Bias Vines and Wild Roses

On my last Bramble Blooms post I said:

"Ok. So, I've never added an applique border let alone an improv appliqued  border. So, I've never made a bias vine or bias binding for anything.  I know it is recommended that the applique be done before it is added to the quilt; however, I don't think I can do that so I've gone and added the border - that lime green, pink and white floral. I'm thinking I will applique some vining roses going around the corners. That means I will make some bias vines for the first time and add some needle turned rose leaves. And then, I hope to add some ruched roses if I can remember how to make them from those days long ago when I used to do quite a bit of crazy quilting.  If my ruched roses don't turn out then I might try some broderie perse roses.   So, if I get as far as rambling roses in my corners then I might add some butterflies to the rest of the border. Or not. "

Since that post a week ago I have made some bias vine for the first time ever following Audrey's (Quilt Folk) instructions. It's a little wider than I wanted but it will do for now because I made a lot of it. I wasn't sure how much vine I needed. 

Then I made some templates for leaves and wild roses and did some needle turn applique after I laid all my pieces out and pinned them to one corner of the quilt. I made one ruched rose but didn't like how it looked so didn't use my original plan. I was thinking of adding broderie perse roses but when I looked at appropriate fabrics I didn't want to cut out a few roses from any fabric.  This is an improv learn-and-try-new-things kind of quilt so I might make a few mistakes or end up with something I'm not quite in love with but I will be wiser I guess. 

Now I have three more corners to go! 

I have to say that cutting bias strips/making bias vines or binding is a whole lot easier than I imagined. I was always afraid to try cutting a piece of fabric on the bias for fear I would waste a piece of fabric and end up with a mess.  And now that I kind of know what I'm doing I have also been able to move another  really old UFO forward. More on that later...maybe tomorrow. 

And sew on...

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CELEBRATE! (My word of the year)

Nov. 6 - Hand stitching in the evenings.