Now my dilemma. I started prepping two more appliqué blocks, but I can't seem to get motivated to work on them. I'm having second thoughts on how much I like appliqué or how good I can do it. So, I've started considering that maybe I could make some of the appliqué blocks into stitchery blocks. I think I'm chickening out on the appliqué.
Last night I prepped a stitchery block. The border fabric in this block is special. A couple weeks ago I got an email from at Nancy at With Thread in Hand. She asked me for my snail mail address as she had something to send to me. You can imagine my delight when the package arrived and inside was a bag of scraps. Not just any old scraps, but scraps from Leanne herself! Nancy had won the scraps in a drawing Leanne had and she sent them to me! How sweet of Nancy! I'm so excited that I can use some Leanne's scraps in my own Butterfly Garden quilt.
So here's another question. Who would like to give me some appliqué lessons? I'm willing to travel for a weekend to get some lessons. My only constraint is I don't have my passport and traveling to another is probably too far a weekend. But, I'm willing to consider a trip somewhere in the U.S. I can justify a trip to the St. Louis area as DH has a friend who is in need of some male bonding time or just about anywhere else. Talk to me!Until later!
15 comments:
How sweet of Nancy to send you the scraps from her Leanne winning. Which part of the US are you in? I think Bren is closer to you than me, plus I've only just started myself. Have you considered doing it with buttonhole stitch?
You can also use raw edge applique if you aren't going to be washing it much. Or use the old fabric softener sheet way, where you back your applique with an old fabric softener sheet, slit a hole in the sheet, turn and applique.
Now, I AM in St Louis, but alas do not do applique....
I should have said, I DO fusible applique with Heat-n-bond lite and then use the sewing machine to do a nice blanket stitch. But you could do the blanket stitch by hand....
Paula, if ud like some advice, email me and ill share how i do it, and ill include some pics!! How sweet of Nancy to send those fabrics!!
What a special treat to have the fabrics for your quilt. Don't let applique get you down. Remember we are our own worst critics. And when you are so close to each and every stitch you can readily point out any perceived flaw. Try lots of different methods on for size and remember there is no right or perfect way. Then . . . . practice, practice, practice. Darn, that means making more quilts *s*
My friend Sheryl lives in the St. Louis area and she taught me how to applique. Vist her blog here: http://scrapsfromsheryl.blogspot.com/
She does excellent applique.
Don't give up on the applique Paula. It will be so worth it when you have the beautiful quilt all done.
No help from me as I'm a beginner at everything but if I know the quilting bloggers you will have someone helping you in no time at all.
What a lovely thing for Nancy to send you the special scraps.
Bloggers really are the best.
Margaret
I'm not that fabulous at applique myself...and the passport thing may be a problem!!
Love all your retreat efforts, Tracey
How nice to have some of Leanne's scraps to use in your own quilt, and nice of Nancy to send them, too. The thing about appliqué is that it takes practice. The more you do, the better you like it. There are a lot of ways of doing it, and you'll find the one you like best. Any good quilt shop should have a competent teacher for you. If you were to visit Phoenix while I'm here, I'd be happy to help, but it's a little far from you! Of course, we'll be in the low 70s by next week this time. =) And there are lots of golf courses here.
Hi, Paula! Chin up! Take a little break from the appliqué and figure out what you want. The suggestion of raw edge appliqué/buttonhole (machine or hanfd) are great options to the needle turn - try out different techniques and see what works for you! And Leanne gave green light to "muck around" with the blocks, so if you want to change something, she is nor going to growl about that that :o) I'll probably swap some of the stitchery blocks for pieced blocks... use different stitchery motives than in the pattern... Play and have fun! It is your quilt!
And how sweet of Nancy to share her winnings :o)
I would be very happy to give you applique lessons! Of course the catch is that it's a long trip out here to the opposite coast and back - not sure how much time would be left for the lessons themselves.
Did you look through all the applique tips I have posted on my blog? Look on the sidebar under tutorials. I know others - like Darlene - found them very helpful.
Since you like stitchery anyway - doing fusible applique with buttonhole stitch might be a good alternative - especially if you cut out the centers of the fusible so it isn't stiff.
Don't you remember this post? I tested out various ways to applique. I used this book by Elly Sienkiewicz Applique 12 Easy Ways. I highly recommend this book. You will probably find the way that feels best for you. Personally, I have found that I love to do needleturn when I do hand applique but when I do machine applique I like Sharon Schamber's technique that can be found in her book Piece-by-Piece. . Good luck!
If you decide to head here to MN, I can help you with your applique! You could visit family too! :O)
Seriously though, Jane at Sew Create It has a fab tutorial on her blog.
http://janeweston.blogspot.com/
I totally agree with those who say try all the different methods. Finding just the right method for YOU is the key to good applique. Sounds like you have enough help out there.
Paula, I just found your blog and am excited to find another blogging quilter in NH! I live in Nashua.
Anyway, I was just reading about your dilemma with the butterfly applique block and your questions about freezer paper etc and was going to leave a comment there saying that if you are ever in Nashua that you should pop on over and I could show you in person. Then I found this post asking for someone to teach you, and I'd love to show you the tricks we appliquers use!! So seriously, anytime you are are coming to Nashua, let me know and we can get together...and because you are already a quilter and tried applique, you will pick it up super fast.
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