Publishing C. - Sweet & Simple Wool Appliqué: 15 Folk Art Projects to Stitch

PUBLISHER: Amy Marson CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Gailen Runge PROJECT EDITOR: Alice Mace Nakanishi DEVELOPMENTAL EDITORS: Jenifer Dick, Edie McGinnis, Kimber Mitchell, and Deb Rowden TECHNICAL EDITORS: Mary Atherton, Christina DeArmond, Kathe Dougherty, and Jane Miller COVER/BOOK DESIGNER: April Mostek PRODUCTION COORDINATORS: Joe Edge and Zinnia Heinzmann PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Jeanie German ILLUSTRATORS: Lon Eric Craven and Eric Sears PHOTOGRAPHY BY Aaron T. Leimkuehler and Natalie Turley Published by C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549 APPLIQU BASICSby Rene PlainsI love handwork because I find it so relaxing, and hand appliqu is one of my favorites. If you are new to this technique, here are some guidelines to help you get started as well as some other appliqu techniques used in this books projects. Needle-Turn Appliqu Draw your design on the dull side of a piece of freezer paper (such as Quilters Freezer Paper Sheets by C&T Publishing). Many quilt shops carry freezer paper.

Its not just for grocery stores anymore! Cut out the drawn design on freezer paper directly on the line. Iron the shiny side of the freezer paper to the right side of the fabric being appliqud. Be sure to leave at least a fabric beyond the edge of the design for a seam allowance to turn under. With a pencil, trace the design onto the fabric. For dark fabrics, use a white chalk pencil. To prevent the fabric from slipping, place the fabric on top of a piece of sandpaper.

You can easily make your own sandpaper board by gluing a piece of sandpaper on to a piece of Masonite. Cut out the appliqu pieces, adding a seam allowance. If the piece has curves, clip the inside corners. Fig. A Fig. A Place and pin the appliqu pieces on the background fabric.

Fold the seam allowance toward the back of the appliqu piece, tucking it under and creasing the design on the drawn line. Using a very small stitch, sew the appliqu piece to the background fabric. Start stitching from the wrong side of the fabric, coming up through the very edge in the fold of the appliqu. Then go back down through the background fabric right under the fold to create invisible appliqu stitches. Fig. B Fig.

BReverse Appliqu This method works great for windows and other openings that are perceived to appear behind another appliqud object. Draw the necessary shape on the appliqu piece that lays on top of the background fabric and carefully cut a slit in the center of it. We used a rectangle for our example. Fig. C Fig. Fig. Fig.

D Fig. D Clip the seam allowance, particularly around curves and corners. Then tuck the seam allowance under and youre ready to stitch! Fig. E Fig. E Wool Appliqu Appliquing with wool is easy because you dont need to turn under the edges as you stitch. Here is a quick and easy appliqu method when working with this fun material.

Draw your design on freezer paper to make a template. Cut out the templates directly on the drawn line, then iron them to the wool. Cut out the wool appliqu pieces. Pin or baste the wool appliqu pieces to the background fabric. It is also easy to hold them in place with tiny bits of Roxanne Glue-Baste-It. Stitch the appliqu pieces in place.

I use a primitive stitch, which resembles a buttonhole stitchonly it is much faster. Embroidery Stitch Guide The projects in this book use a variety of hand stitches to achieve a folk art feel. Here are the ones that you will need to know. Method A completes each X as you go. Method B works a full row of half-stitches ( / ), then stitches back over the first half-stitches with a ( \ ) to complete the Xs. Note: It is important to cross all the top threads in the same direction (either all \ or all /).

It doesnt matter which of those directions you opt for, but be consistent once you pick one or your stitches will have an uneven color. Pinkeeps
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PincushionsBIRD ON A VINE PINKEEPStitched by Rene PlainsI really enjoyed making this small pinkeep. The wool berries, leaves, and vines were especially fun to appliqu. I used toothpick-turn appliqu for the bird and wing. I learned this great appliqu method from my late friend, Laurene Sinema. It uses a round toothpick rather than a needle to turn under the seam allowance.

Before you start appliquing, moisten the toothpick by placing it between your lips. That bit of moisture gives the wooden toothpick a little extra roughness, which makes it easier to turn the fabric under as you stitch. Give it a try. I think you will like it! MATERIALS FabricsLinen: 1 fat quarter for pinkeep body Cotton: Brown/black checks and brown print for bird and wing appliqu Wool: Assorted greens and red for vine, leaves, and berries appliqu Other materialsSmall bead: 4 mm (approx.) for birds eye Small button: For scissor tab Polyester fiberfillCrushed walnut shells (Available at pet stores) Embroidery floss: Dark brown Cardboard: For interior base CUTTING Make templates from the Bird on a Vine Pinkeep patterns and cut pieces as indicated. Linen Cut 1 rectangle 5 13. Cut 2 circles from circle pattern.

Cut 1 piece from scissor tab pattern. Cardboard Cut 1 circle slightly smaller than the circle pattern. Cotton and wool Cut pieces from appliqu pattern (as directed in pattern). Finished pinkeep: Approx. 4 4 Sewing Make a template from the Bird on a Vine Pinkeep pattern to use as a placement guide. Appliqu the pieces to the linen pinkeep body.

I used a primitive stitch on the wool pieces and needle-turn appliqu for the bird and wings. Add the bead for the birds eye. The small wool berries can be punched quickly with a Fiskars Circle Hand Punch. (My friend, Sue Spargo, shared this great technique with me.) Another easy way to cut small wool berries is to cut a strip from wool with a rotary cutter. From that strip, cut squares and then round the corners by trimming them with scissors. Fig. Fig.

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