Love with a Twist Graceful Glider Swan Balloon

Autumn is here in Adelaide

The weather here has finally, finally turned. Autumn in Adelaide always gives us some of our very best, most beautiful and serene days, and it’s my favourite time of year weather-wise. It’s calm, gentle and soothing. The gliding swan of the weather world, perfect outdoors weather.

Of course, Autumn weather in Adelaide can hiss and spit too, like an enraged swan. Paul and I deliberately chose Autumn for our wedding many years ago, only to cop weather so bad it nearly cancelled our reception. In our wedding photos I am visibly white from cold. At the church, my bridesmaids hid in the bathroom to extract heat out of the hand drier….. But today we are thinking nice Autumn weather and happy swans. 🙂

And speaking of happy swans, the second option for Block 2 of the Love with a Twist quilt along is finally here. It’s my version of a really classic animal balloon shape. The balloon swan. Keep reading to collect your swan 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 Swan Balloon Appliqué Block

Today’s balloon swan appliqué is the second option for Block 2 of the throw size versions of Love with a Twist. Of course, you will also need to collect Graceful Glider if you are making the full twin-size quilt. Block 2B sits directly to the right of Pretty Poodle/Dippy Dog on the throw quilt, and directly to the right of Kuddly Koala on the twin quilt. It is also totally interchangeable with the Kuddly Koala block.

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

The peaceful and serene swan balloon appliqué pattern can be downloaded here. Clicking on the balloon swan 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) Graceful Glider block:

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

• If you are making Block 2B 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 2B for the twin size quilt you will need a background fabric piece of 12.5″ x 14.5″. Again, this measurement does not include any trimming allowance.
• So, if you use a piece of fabric 13″ x 16″ or more, you will keep your options open and have a small trimming allowance 🙂

You will also need:

• one fabric for the swan’s body (approx. 10″ x 10″). My second swan 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 10″ 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 Swan 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 G1 and G3 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 G2 and G4.

Step 3

Finish the swan body with piece G5.

Step 4

Finally, add the last touch with the eye. That’s it – really fast and simple this time.

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

Step 5

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

Stitch your appliqué swan 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.

I’d love to have my eye on 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!