Do we really do enough practising when learning a new sewing skill or revisiting an old one? If you're like me the answer is "No"- I just want to get straight on and make the quilt, cushion, .......... whatever! But saying to yourself that you're just practising really takes the pressure off getting it right first time - you know you'll get there in the end - you only need to keep ..... practising. :)
So at Flowerpatch Quilters meeting last Thursday we PRACTISED reverse applique by sewing this heart within a ring.
* We had a 6" square of calico for the top fabric and a 5½" square of coloured fabric beneath.
* We traced the design onto the calico using a Frixion or other erasable marker, or a very sharp pencil, shading in the pattern where the coloured fabric will show. This is handy to do if your design is a bit complicated as you don't want to be cutting in the wrong area.
* We made a small snip with sharp pointy scissors in the shaded areas. This makes it less likely that you'll cut through both layers when you put the fabrics together.
* After putting the calico on top of the coloured fabric, making sure that the design was within the latter's edges, we tacked around the shaded areas leaving space for turning under the edge of the calico.
* We cut through just the calico in the shaded areas leaving a scant ¼" of calico to turn under.
* We cut small snips into the inner curves almost to the line - more snips for tighter curves.
Now I know you'll have your own way of tackling the sewing - as we did at the meeting, but this is how I approach it.
Start with the outer circle and fold under a small section of calico until the line is on the fold and hold it in place with your thumb. Using thread that matches the calico in colour, and with a knot in the end, bring the needle up from the back, just catching the fold.
Put the needle back down through the coloured fabric only and right next to where you came up.
Bring the needle back up a little way along the fold and through the edge of the fold. .............. repeat.
Just concentrate on the bit of edge that you're working on, trying to keep the drawn line on the fold. Don't worry about what might be coming up next!
For the HEART - snip the curves and then start you're sewing along a straightish edge.
At the bottom point you'll need to snip right to the line. Sew to this point then do a couple of stitches in place. Don't try and sort out the next fold until you've done this.
Similarly at the top point - sew to it, do a stitch in place, then sort out the next fold.
When all is done you carefully cut away the excess fabric on the back.
And this is the design simply quilted.
Here is a link to a printer friendly one page PDF of instructions
Practising Reverse Applique
Well, I'm off to do some more PRACTISING - after seeing those close up pics of my stitches I think I need it! - Anita x
Next Flowerpatch meeting is on 11th October when we will have a talk by Trudy Sherwood about the charity Guide dogs for the Blind and also a show and tell by our committee. It's the AGM and "Painters" of Liskeard will be joining us. Another interesting and busy evening!
There was a fire at my local church in Egloskerry a few months ago and, although not massive, it caused extensive damage to the interior. To celebrate the recent re-opening, church wardens Pam and Denise organised a Church Mouse Festival encouraging local people to make as many craft mice as possible. My patchwork friends and I made "Mouse in a Cup" mats amongst other things.
These were made by tracing the design on the fabric back, then with the mouse fabric on the front we sewed around the mouse shape with straight stitch. Then we cut away the excess fabric and sewed the raw edges with zigzag, this time sewing from the front.
This is a link to detailed instructions and the pattern as a one page printer-friendly PDF.
Mouse in a Cup
It was a lovely festival and these are some of the cute mice on display:
Pam's Harvest Mice
and her mouse in a teapot
Dawn's Choirmaster and Choir
Rebecca's cute boy and girl mice
I'm not sure who made these lovely carol singers
and this sweet pair are by the vicar and his wife - Geoffrey and Rosemary
I only regret that I didn't realise until too late that I hadn't taken photos of Denise's human-size Vicar mouse in the pulpit and her wedding couple - you'd have loved to have seen them, too!
So much talent in one small village!
Happy crafting - Anita x
Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts - Finish it up Friday
These are some of the beautiful and varied quilts in Flowerpatch Quilters recent exhibition. I only wish that I could show you more, but there were so many entries this year that it made taking good photos difficult. These are simply the photos that turned out OKish.
Starting with a few smaller items:
All at Sea - a cushion by Iris L
and Iris's Little Houses
Another cushion - this is Tina's Round my Garden - I Wish!
Dawn was really inspired by the Twinchies we made at Christmas and these are:
2018 - Year of the Twinchies
and Songs of the Seventies
I hope you can see this well enough to have a go at naming them!
Getting a bit larger with two wall quilts by Teresa:
British Seaside
and Chateau Hexagon
This latter is a Lynette Anderson pattern and the embroidery is exquisite.
This is a primitive style wool quilt by Sue M. called Two Birds in the Garden
And in total contrast Homage to Escher by Iris M.
Pauline C. and Toni collaborated on this next wall quilt - it is called Here we Go Around the Round House and it is inspired by a Charles Causley poem.
Continuing with a local theme we have Liz B's Cornwall
These next two were originally made for an exhibition called Through the Window which was at Cowslip Workshops last year
Pippa made Sunrise Over the Misty Tamar Valley
and Dy, Lois, Melody, Karen, Annie and Monica D combined their efforts to make this delightful garden scene. It represents the garden of Windmill Patchworks where the idea for Flowerpatch Quilters was born.
These next four quilts are full of interest - I would never tire looking at them.
Firstly Karen's Shades of India
Jane's Summer Circus
Chris G's Heart of the Home
and Elizabeth S's Summer in a Quilt
The applique/embroidery blocks in this quilt are so cute
Gradually getting a bit larger now - this is Iris L's Green Daisies
Melody's wool applique quilt Beauty All Round
Pauline C's Wedding by the Sea
and Liz B's door curtain My House
It was impossible to get far enough away to do the larger quilts justice with my camera so this is just a small taste of what was on offer:
Margaret had a flying geese year with her two very different quilts
Jennifer's Guy's Compass Quilt was very large and intricately pieced
and this is Jo C's Scandinavian Ice Flowers
Of course one of the large quilts was our charity quilt Over the Rainbow and we were all so pleased that it was won by Ellen, one of our members.
I've written about this quilt in a previous post. It was beautifully quilted with a hand-guided daisy pattern by Sandy Chandler.
Below was probably the most unusual item in the exhibition - Annie made this headboard for her brother who is an avid Alice Cooper fan!! It certainly surprised a few visitors.
Finally I want to say a big "thank you" to Maggie, Janet and Jane for their wonderful flower arrangements that complimented the quilts so well. These are just a few of them.
Another Flowerpatch year starts on 13th September when we will have a mini workshop on reverse applique. Please bring along a sewing kit to include sharp scissors and a Frixion pen or sharp pencil.
Happy stitching - Anita x
