Love with a Twist: Wonder Wader

It’s that time again!

My monthly Ambassador challenges are done. Various minor and secret projects are plugging along according to schedule. So my thoughts are free to turn once again to our Love with a Twist sew along. 😀 Yay! I’ve had so much fun with these to date. How are your blocks going?

This month we are standing tall and tackling Block 3. The first option for Block 3 is a lofty Flamingo, in a few days we will have an even loftier giraffe. A balloon animal quilt would not be complete without the option of a giraffe, don’t you think? Quite so! But, Wonder Wader, the flamingo is first. Keep reading to collect your flamingo balloon pdf pattern and find out all the details for making the most of the next block of the Love with a Twist quilt along.

About the Love with a Twist Flamingo Balloon Appliqué Block

Today’s Flamingo balloon (Wonder Wader) appliqué is the first option for Block 3 of the throw size versions of Love with a Twist. Of course, you will also need to collect Wonder Wader if you are making the full twin-size quilt. Block 3A sits in the top right hand corner on the throw quilt, and halfway down on the right edge of the twin quilt.

Things to remember as you sew along with Love with a Twist

• There are two throw versions of this quilt, which can be re-mixed into a twin size quilt. The instructions to cut and construct the throw quilts can be found here and for the twin quilt, here.
• Today’s Wonder Wader is Block 3A of Love with a Twist, and our fourteenth download to date. It can be interchanged with Block 3B when it arrives, which will be a giraffe.
• We have also already had the Dippy Dog and Pretty Poodle blocks in January. The Lasting Love and Pretty Pig in February. The Kuddly Koala and Graceful Glider swan in March. The Toddling Turtle and Bonny Butterfly in April. The Responsible Rabbit bonus, the Rascally Rabbit and the Fabulous Fish blocks in May. And the Qwazy Quacker duck and Jolly Jumper frog in June.
• The appliqué templates provided are drawn in red lines and black lines. If you are doing raw-edge appliqué, ignore the line colours and simply work with the shapes supplied. If you want to do turned-edge appliqué, you will need to add a seam allowance to the black edges only. The red edges are where the shapes overlap and extra fabric allowance has already been added.

Download your Wonder Wader flamingo balloon pdf pattern here

The upstanding Flamingo balloon appliqué pattern can be downloaded here. Clicking on the balloon flamingo appliqué picture directly below will download in a new tab. Using the red button will open the pdf right here under your nose.

**** It is really important that you print this pdf at 100%, otherwise your pattern pieces will be the wrong size for the quilt blocks. Turn off any “fit to page” options in your printer dialog and ensure that the printout size is set to 100%. There are check boxes supplied in the document. If your printout is successful, these will measure 1″ square. The document is designed to fit on US Letter and A4 paper. ****

What you will need to make the (raw-edge appliqué) Wonder Wader balloon flamingo block:

If you have not pre-constructed your quilt top, you will need background fabric for your appliqué:

• If you are making Block 3A for the throw size quit you will need a background fabric piece of 13″ x 26″. This measurement does not include any trimming allowance.
• To make Block 3A for the twin size quilt you will need a background fabric piece of 14″ x 24.5″. Again, this measurement does not include any trimming allowance.
• So, if you use a piece of fabric 15″ x 27″ or larger, you will keep your options open and have a small trimming allowance 🙂

You will also need:

• one main fabric for the flamingo’s body, approx. 10.5″ x 10.5″, and a second fabric for the legs and beak (9″ x 6″). My first flamingo was made from Island Batik fabrics from the Ditty collection, given to me by Island Batik.
• scraps of white and black fabrics for the eye
• fusible paper-backed fabric adhesive , approx. 20″ x 10″
• thin batting for trapunto or your favourite stabiliser for stitching (optional)
• general tools and notions: sewing machine, iron etc, teflon ironing sheet or non-stick paper, small sharp scissors, pencil, quilting pins, grease-proof/tracing paper, machine embroidery or sewing threads for appliqué and embroidery

How to put together the Balloon Flamingo Appliqué

Trace your appliqué shapes directly onto the backing paper of your fusible adhesive. Fuse the shapes to the back of your fabric, according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Then cut out each shape and remove the backing papers. They go together as follows:

Step 1

Assemble the 3-page layout diagram supplied and cover with an ironing sheet/non-stick paper. Position appliqué pieces W1 to W4 in place and secure them temporarily by touching them briefly with the tip of a hot iron (or tack down with a small appliqué iron).

Step 2

Add pieces W5, W6 and the long leg piece, W7.

Step 3

Add pieces W8, W11 and W12.

Step 4

Next, add pieces W9, W14, W15 and the head W10.

Step 5

Add pieces W16 and W13.

Piece W13 overlays the head piece W10, as shown in the photo below. If you’d rather simply draw or stitch in this detail, you could leave W13 off.

Step 6

Finish off the flamingo with pieces W17 and W18.

Step 7

For the final touch and instant personality, add the eye.

Use tracing paper to mark the position of the eye as described in the tutorial for the balloon poodle (step 6) if you need help getting it into place.

Step 8

Give your appliqué a thorough pressing and transfer to your background fabric.

Stitch your appliqué flamingo down using your favourite method. The samples I have shown use free-motion straight stitching over a low-loft polyester batting. I layer my appliqué over the polyester batting and secure with quilting pins. Then I stitch around my shapes 5-6 times to secure them thoroughly. And finish by removing the excess batting with curved blade scissors/snips.

All done! Here’s to looking at you!

Have you started your Love with a Twist quilt yet?

Share your Love with a Twist blocks with me! You can fill the Chameleon and me with joy by sharing your Love with a Twist blocks via email, or on Instagram (mention @cleverchameleon or tag #lovewithatwistquilt). Or by posting on my Clever Chameleon Facebook page. Or by adding your beautiful work to the Chameleon’s Colour & Inspiration party right here on any Tuesday.

Hope to hear from you soon!

---

The Chameleon turns rainbow with pleasure when he hears from you. I am more reserved, so I will respond in gratitude by email instead. Now that it’s your turn…. Scroll right to the end, leave me a comment and tell me, what do you think? Thanks for connecting!

Would you like to keep in touch with Clever Chameleon and the fun quilty ideas I design as well as find all over the internet? You can follow directly for email updates, or through Bloglovin’, Pinterest, IG or FB. All your follow options can be found here. Don’t forget to link up all your current quilting projects on Tuesdays at our Colour & Inspiration Linky parties!