Love with a Twist Kuddly Koala Balloon

Welcome to March!

Let’s begin March with a ‘Bang”! At least, we probably would if this was a real balloon koala. It is so hot here today that balloons taken outside would not last very long at all. Luckily, March’s first balloon animal for the Love with a Twist quilt along is of the more permanent variety and totally chilled. “Kuddly Koala” is not going anywhere, having found the perfect spot to hang out on my Love with a Twist quilts.

Also impatient as he is cute, Kuddly Koala introduced himself early on Tuesday. But now we have the free download ready to go, so let’s have a proper look at this appliqué. Keep reading to collect your koala 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 Koala Balloon Appliqué Block

Today’s koala balloon appliqué is one option for Block 2 of the throw size versions of Love with a Twist. Of course, you will also need to collect Kuddly Koala if you are making the full twin-size quilt. Block 2A sits directly to the right of Pretty Poodle/Dippy Dog on the throw quilt, and in the bottom left hand corner of the twin quilt. It will be interchangeable with Block 2B, a balloon swan.

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 Kuddly Koala is Block 2A of Love with a Twist, and our fifth download to date. It can be interchanged with Block 2B, which will be a swan balloon.
• We have already had the Dippy Dog and Pretty Poodle blocks in January. And the Lasting Love and Pretty Pig in February.
• 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 Kuddly Koala pdf pattern here

This tree-hugging marsupial and iconic Australian can be downloaded here. Clicking on the koala appliqué picture directly below will download in a new tab. Using the 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) Kuddly Koala block:

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

• If you are making Block 2A for the throw size quit you will need a background fabric piece of 12.5″ x 15.5″. This measurement does not include any trimming allowance.
• To make Block 2A for the twin size quilt you will need a background fabric piece of 14″ x 14.5″. Again, this measurement does not include any trimming allowance.
• So, if you use a piece of fabric 14.5″ x 16″ or more, you will keep your options open and have a small trimming allowance 🙂

You will also need:

• one main fabric for the koala’s body (approx. 10″ x 14″). And a second coordinating fabric for the branch (approx. 8″ x 3″). My second koala was made from Island Batik fabrics from the Ditty collection, given to me by Island Batik.
• scraps of white and black fabrics for the eyes and nose
• fusible paper-backed fabric adhesive , approx 10″ x 18″
• 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 Koala Balloon 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 2-page layout diagram supplied and cover with an ironing sheet/non-stick paper. Position appliqué pieces K1, K3, K4 and K5 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 K2, K6 and K7.

Step 3

Add K8 to finish filling in the body.

Step 4

Next add the lower leg, K9 and begin the face with piece K11.

Step 5

Time to add K12.

Step 6

Place pieces K10 and K13.

Step 7

Lastly, finish off all the facial features. Add the ears (K15 and K16) and the nose (K14). Add the final touches with the eyes.

Use tracing paper to mark the positions of the eyes as described in the tutorial for the balloon poodle (step 6) if you need help getting them into place. Also mark the embroidery details for the ears and the mouth with pencil or other removable fabric marker.

Step 10

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

Stitch your appliqué koala down using your favourite method. The sample I have shown uses 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.

Can you resist this face? I thought not!

That’s good, because he would really love to see any Love with a Twist blocks you have made so far.

Terri sent me a picture of her Pretty Poodle through email and made my day. I hope her orange version makes you smile too.

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! In the meantime I will be right here, working on Block 2B – the swan.

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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!

P.S. Joining in when I can at these fabulous linky parties: Midweek Makers, Main Crush Monday, BOMs Away, Wait Loss Wednesday, Needle and Thread Thursday, Friday Foto Fun, Finished or Not Friday, Whoop Whoop Fridays, TGIFF, UFO Busting, What I made Monday, Moving it Forward Monday, Show and Tell Monday, Modern Patch Monday, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, To-do Tuesday.

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