Machine Sewing Apple Core Quilt…With I Spy Fabric

Hi everyone! I sewed this I Spy quilt last month and wanted to share the tutorial on how to machine sew the apple core block. First, if you are new to quilting, I Spy fabric is novelty fabric that has cute little things on it that kids love to look for or spy for…"I spy a kitty", "I spy a raspberry".

The apple core block is an old pattern (I think from the 1930's) that was traced, cut out by hand, then hand sewn! However, with the invention of rotary cutting and the plastic templates or the Accuquilt Die Cutter, it is very easy to cut them out and machine sew them together! The apple core is a one-patch quilt, meaning one shape used throughout the whole quilt. A charm quilt is a one patch quilt, but sewn with many different fabrics without using the same fabric twice.

Here is the baby or children's nap time quilt I started…it's just a quilt top right now, because I will add to it as I buy more fabrics.

Easy to put together and makes a great baby gift…

I love collecting novelty or I Spy fabrics. Just buy 1/4 or 1/2 yard pieces and that will really start your stash!

You can find an apple core pattern on line and cut it out of cardboard, trace it onto your fabric, then cut it out.

You can also use a plastic template like this one and use a rotary cutter to cut it out. One tip with the curve of a small template…use the smallest rotary cutter blade to cut into the curves.

The thicker plastic templates have a thickness to guide the rotary blade up against.

Here's my favorite...the apple core die cutter from Accuquilt. Fast, easy and accurate!

The best part about this die is the points that are cut with the pattern, so you can match the centers of each piece.

This die is large too (7" x 5.5"), so you can make a good size quilt quickly.

Cut fabric into rectangles just to cover the apple core.

 You can stack 6-8 pieces at one time.

The Accuquilt machine is very simple to use.

Just place the die with the fabric on it.

Cover with the cutting mat.

Roll it through with the hand roller.

Quick and easy!!

Now, arrange the pieces according to color, so same colors are not too close together.

To piece the apple cores together, one will be horizontal and one will be vertical.

Lay one on top of the other, right sides together.

First match the center point and pin.

The add a pin at the end and then ease in the fabric between the center and then end.

Do the same for the other side.

Sew with 1/4 inch seam allowance. The best tip is to have the fabric that is somewhat gathered, up on top, so you can adjust and watch for fabric pinches.

I know this is a "sewing sin" to go over the pins, but I moved slowly to keep the fabric in place. You can remove the pins before you go over them.

Ease your way around.

Back stitch at the end to secure.

Done.

It eases in so well, you don't have to snip the seams. Just iron open.

Definitely iron the seams consistently throughout.

I ironed all the seams towards the vertical apple core.

Here are 2 rows upside down to show the seams towards the vertical core.

One seam will be to the left and one seam will be to the right when you match then and are sewing the rows together.

Now we will sew the rows together.

Place rows right sides together.

This is what it looks like, but you have to pin at critical points before pinning the rest.

First, pin the end to match, then pin the seams, then pin the center triangle point..

Then ease in all the fabric in between.

Pin the whole row and sew with a 1/4 inch seam.

Iron open and continuing add each row.

If you pin the seams, they will match perfectly at the intersections.

Because the apple cores alternate when sewing the rows, the gathered parts are not always on the top, as I mentioned before.

This might happen to you…a pinched seam or pleat. Underneath, your fabric might get caught into the seam and it won't lay flat.

Seam ripper to the rescue.

Release the pleat and re-sew that one little section.

Iron flat.

This quilt comes together quickly and you can always make it larger by adding rows as you collect your different fabrics.

The quilt makes a great baby floor quilt, but when they are toddlers, it makes a great game quilt. It helps them to recognizes all the fun items on each apple core.

Children can not only identify the soccer balls or the birds, it's also a learning quilt for their colors and letters.

Hope you like it...Happy sewing!!

~Karen~