Love with a Twist: Articulate Avian

The Soul of the Party at Love with a Twist…..

You know that intolerable squeaky noise that balloons make when they are twisted and folded into shapes? Well, did you know, that’s actually the trapped soul of a departed parrot? The screeching balloon is passing on the parrot’s desire to party one last time before he heads off to wreak havoc in the afterlife. True! 😀 So, today we shall give the parrot soul a party-balloon body – perhaps that will satisfy him and he will leave after the cake without torturing us any further. One can only hope!

In October, we are onto our last two standard Blocks for the Love with a Twist quilt along – Blocks 9A and 9B. Today we have the free pattern for Block 9A. Read on to collect your parrot balloon pattern and enjoy Snowball the partying Cockatoo’s funky dance moves on Youtube if you wish. Happy weekend everyone!

Parrots love to Paaaaar-tay!

For a moment of pure joy and lack of self-consciousness in music appreciation, check this out. An oldie, but a goodie!

Then read on to get your parrot balloon appliqué pattern and do your own happy dance.

About the Love with a Twist Balloon Parrot Appliqué Block

Today’s Articulate Avian balloon appliqué is the first option for Block 9 of the throw size versions of Love with a Twist. Of course, you will also need to collect our prissy parrot pattern if you are making the full twin-size quilt. Block 9A sits in the bottom left corner of the Throw quilt, and pretty much right in the centre of the Twin quilt. Parrots always need to be the centre of attention!

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 Articulate Avian is Block 9A of Love with a Twist, and our twenty-second download to date. Block 9A can be interchanged with Block 9B, which will be a seahorse.
• 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. The Qwazy Quacker duck and Jolly Jumper frog in June. The Wonder Wader flamingo and two Nifty Neck giraffes in July. The Magic Monkey and the Omniscient Owl in August. And the Excellent Elephants and the Classy Croc in September.
• 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 Articulate Avian balloon parrot pdf pattern here

The balloon parrot on a perch appliqué pattern can be downloaded here. Clicking on the balloon parrot 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) Articulate Avian block:

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

• If you are making Block 9A for the throw size quit you will need a background fabric piece of 14″ x 21″. This measurement does not include any trimming allowance.
• To make Block 9A for the twin size quilt you will need a background fabric piece of 14″ x 20″. Again, this measurement does not include any trimming allowance.
• So, if you use a piece of fabric 15″ x 22″ or larger, you will keep your options open and have a small trimming allowance 🙂

You will also need:

• two main fabrics for the parrot’s wings and tail (10″ x 7″) and beak/legs (7″ x 8″), and another for his perch, approx. 10″ x 7″. You will also nee fabric scraps for the parrot’s crest (6″ x 7″) and his tummy (4″ x 5″). My parrot 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 and nostril.
• fusible paper-backed fabric adhesive , approx. 18″ x 14″
• 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 Articulate Avian Balloon Parrot 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 A1, A2, A3 and A6 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

Likewise, add pieces A4, A5, and A7.

Step 3

Add more perch with piece A10 and talon A8.

Step 4

Next, place down pieces A11, A12 and A15.

Step 5

Finish off the perch with pieces A13 and A14. And add the body with piece A16 and another talon A9.

Step 6

Leg piece A17 goes on next.

Step 7

Next, position piece A18 and add the last talon A19.

Step 8

Add the beak (A22) and the last of the leg pieces A20.

Step 9

Time for the wing, A21.

Step 10

Add the head piece A23.

Step 11

Start the eye and the crest (A24).

Step 12

Finish the eye, place the nostril and add piece A25 to the crest.

Step 13

Add the last crest piece A26, and taa dah, all done! Ready to party!

Step 14

Give your appliqué a thorough pressing. Decide where you want your bird to sit on your block and trim off the excess perch accordingly. Fuse your trimmed collage to your background fabric. If you are making the twin quilt you will likely need to trim off some perch like this.

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If you are making the twin quilt then you will be able to position your parrot like this and will only take a sliver off the perch stand to make the fit perfect..

Then stitch your appliqué parrot 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.

Party on!

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.

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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!

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! And if you’d like to road test my newest patterns, I am always on the hunt for keen pattern testers.