Moon Trees

My latest obsession is stitching these panels that feature trees in front of a moon. It’s a further exploration of my Freehand Rainbow Applique which I started 3 years ago now.

The idea behind that was to cut and stitch simple shapes with the least fuss possible. No templates, no instructions, just some fabric and time to play. Since then I used the same technique to create Haloes and then trialed a few other shapes that didn’t work quite as well.

I’m always on the look out for new shapes that could work for this technique and while musing possiblities I wondered about turning the rainbows upside down and giving them a stalk. This would look quite like a tree and then maybe I could cut into the rainbow part for branches?

But that wouldn’t be enough as the rainbows and haloes worked so well because I layered at least two different fabrics. So what about two trees with a moon behind?!

I tried this for the first time with two very simple small squares back in November. The first is on left of the image below left. It’s a bit chunky and the moon is a bit too big. So I tried again and I really liked the one on the right, definite potential! In fact I realised straight away this could be a lovely hand stitching class and so I will be teaching it at the Scottish Quilting Show in Glasgow next month (more on this below)!

But first more Moon Tree experimentation with two more. I had started these first few as 6″ squares with the idea to make a 9-patch cushion similar to the Freehand Rainbows and Haloes. But I realised this idea needed to break free from that small frame. I made one of the originals in to a coaster for a class sample and then started to increase the background size.

This next panel is a landscape format with room for five trees. This is still one of my favourites so far!

Next I went for a large square and closely layered ghostly trees on a dark background. Every time I made one I got new ideas for the next one.

I tried piecing a curved background first to suggest a sunset (inspired by winter walks in the countryside around me).

Next up a very large single tree. This was my most satisfying experiment yet and luckily I remembered to take a photo during the process.

Each moon tree panel begins with the moon. For this I use a paper circle template (I have many lying around from previous projects), gather stitching the fabric around it before pressing and removing it. Once stitched down I layer the trees. The trees are cut free hand using a rotary cutter. They are basically an upside down funnel. Sometimes I cut a lower outer branch at this stage too but always with a rotary cutter on my board.

Once pinned to the background I stitch both the outer edges of the first tree to begin with.

I usually pinch the seam allowance first (scant quarter inch) then just turn the edges under with my needle as I go and I always use Aurifil 80wt thread (in a matching colour or with #2600 Dove Grey).

Now it’s time for the exciting bit (or scary depending on your temperament!) I begin to cut into the top of the tree to make the branches with small scissors. I don’t ever draw this (or anything on these panels) I just ‘draw’ the branches with my scissors. I find this so stimulating and satisfying to do. Each tree is a new adventure and I just love this part of cutting into the fabric to make the branches and seeing what sort of tree will emerge. It’s the part that has me hooked the most about this.

I cut a small amount – a branch or two – before stitching the edges and then cutting some more. This way the delicate strips are protected and the whole thing feels easier to handle. Hopefully the image above of the large tree in progress helps illustrate my process.

Since this very large one I have gone even bigger with this double tree panel measuring 14″ x 18″. These large trees have given me two separate ideas for future projects that I hope to explore soon.

I few panels in I decided that this could be a large quilt so I have restricted my colour palette (and actually rejected the earlier orange trees) so it will hang together. I will jigsaw these together with extra filler strips when I have finally made enough. I am loving this so much that I think a very large quilt is in the works!

One more process has to happen before the panel is complete – the embellished edge. Most of you will know that I love to add embroidered embellishment to my applique using a range of stitches. But for these trees I decided to keep it very simple with an inner outline of running stitch.

After initially using my favourite Aurifil 12wt wool I decided to branch out (no pun intended!) and try their new Aurifil 8wt. This thread is now available in 45 shades (within a few different collections) and I am lucky enough to have all of them in my stash! It’s just a bit thicker than the 12wt and I really like the extra emphasis you get for the stitched outline. I just love a running stitch, that extra texture really adds to the look and it’s so soothing to stitch.

My plan is to use the 8wt inside all the trees but leave stitching around the trees for actual hand quilting when the quilt is finished. I plan to switch back to 12wt wool for this (why? Because I love mixing textures!).

I just had a weeks holiday in Tenerife and made another batch. Here they all are together on my design wall. They are just thrown up here with no thought to composition. I know that when the time comes to put these together I will be ‘dancing with the wall’ (as Irene Roderick says) for a long time to create the quilt.

This is proving to be a really tough time for the world with so much uncertainty and scary news. It’s hard to stay hopeful for the future right now. I find stitching these trees is helping me more than anything else. I feel I am honouring nature with every piece (both trees and the moon!) and feel soothed by every stitch.

If you are local to me you can book a place on my Moon Tree Applique class at the Scottish Quilting Show in early March. I am also teaching the original Freehand Rainbow class too. More info here. You can also take a class with the awesome Carolina Oneto whose work will be exhibited at the show. Don’t miss this chance to take a workshop with such a prestigious international quilter!

And even if you can’t make a workshop do come for a visit, I will have my usual small exhibition space and shop.

One more piece of news. Things are tricky on social media right now. My main platform has been Instagram for a long time and I have built up a huge audience there. However with all the carry on at Meta recently I don’t feel comfortable relying on this for so much of my communication.

So I have joined Substack and this will be my first post there later today. Substack is basically a blogging platform that also works like an email newsletter. I currently have this blog and a separate provider for email newsletters. Both of these are rather clunky to use. Substack could replace both and may make my life easier. BUT I have no plans for this right now. Instead I am going to give it a soft try before committing to any big changes.

I actually have no plans to get rid of this blog as it is such a precious archive resource (going back over 15 years!). It will be easy enough to post here and then copy to a Substack post. But I do like the idea of more blog post type newsletters.

Currently I use newsletters to tell subscribers about events, online teaching and website promotions – basically to sell things! I like the idea of combining sales news with blog posts and would like to make this more structured, for instance once or twice a month.

The reason for all of this is to build other methods of communication with my audience that I have more control over (just in case Meta gets even worse) and to offer more to you all in the process. So lets just give this a try for now…

If you are a subscriber to my newsletter you will be receiving this post in a Substack email (when I have worked out how to do it!). If you don’t want to receive these do please feel free to unsubscribe when it arrives. You will still receive my regular newsletter with all my regular news and you can still just visit my blog for new posts and basically nothing will change (no one likes change, right?!). If you don’t receive the substack email and want it then you can sign up using the widget at the top of this page.

I hope all of this has not been too confusing for you. I am attempting to inch my way towards some changes without fully committing to anything! Please do feel free to share any thoughts below!