Mandy Murray - Applique the Sew Quirky Way: Fresh designs for quick and easy applique

MANDY MURRAY

As you flip through the colourful pages of this book, my hope is that the quirky designs stop you in your tracks and cause your face to light up with a huge smile. I hope your mind starts to tick with all the creative possibilities. Imagine all the projects you could make for yourself or those you love, and know that you are treating yourself to sewing just for fun, for you!

This book is loaded with 12 appliqu patterns plus 12 projects that you can add the patterns to. Youll find instructions to create a cork bag, clutch, floor cushion, placemats, apron, insulated bag, circle tote and numerous wall-art pieces. All this, along with techniques to apply my appliqu designs to pre-made items too! You can mix and match the appliqus and projects to create your own combos. With all the possibilities appliqu possesses, youre only limited by your imagination.

My technique is a fused raw edge appliqu, with the edges of the fabric secured with gorgeous decorative machine stitches. The shapes that form my designs are layered on top of each other to build up a modern and unique take on a traditional technique. In this book youll learn my methods for preparing, cutting and fusing appliqu together using an appliqu mat.

I must warn you here, my friends appliqu is highly addictive. I take no responsibility for lack of housework or avoiding a night out on the town. I will insist that appliqu enhances your originality, inspiring you to be an artist with fabric and thread. I hope my words within the pages of this book give you confidence to continue to grow your skills in many aspects of the design process.

So, sit in a happy place, grab a cuppa and let me take you on a journey through my magical world of appliqu. Explore the many forms of this technique, discover my favourite supplies that will give you a fab finish, and enjoy every element in between! Youll learn how valuable stabilizers are, experiment with different feet for your sewing machine, and find that these often overlooked aspects of sewing can be surprisingly fun. I encourage you to trust your instincts with colour, rummage through your rainbow of scrap fabrics and turn them into textile art through my appliqu designs. This book is all about filling your soul with every feeling you enjoy about sewing.

Do you have built-in decorative stitches on your sewing machine and wonder what the heck to do with them? Im here to help you see their value too! Ill inspire you to try them out in your appliqu, as they play a mega role in my style of sewing. There is nothing quite like seeing decorative stitches flow out from behind your needle, with shiny threads enhancing the design. This is my favourite part of the process, and I can get quite lost in the joy of stitching. This is why I love appliqu so much and I hope that I inspire you to sew for no other reason than your own mental and creative wellbeing to sew for FUN and EXPRESSION. Now that is a rad reason to sew, dont you think?

Whether this is your first time encountering the wonderful world of appliqu or youve had experience with this technique, youll find projects in this book youll love! Feel free to start at any project that makes you smile the brightest, and refer back to the technique section in the front of this book. Enjoy, my lovelies, its a pleasure to inspire you!

Appliqu gives you the option to keep it simple, requiring few supplies, or it has the power to explode your creativity like a party popper! Its adaptable for different styles and tastes, but most importantly it is loads of fun. Below, youll find a list of necessary supplies along with fabrics and trims I think youll enjoy working with. Check out the Suppliers list for details of how to get hold of some of the products I recommend.

Appliqu mat

If youve never used an appliqu mat before, youll find my techniques a game changer! This is a MUST and youll use it for every project in this book. There are many different appliqu mats on the market. Youll find Teflon and silicone versions, or check out the Sew Quirky appliqu mat(see ).

Sewing machine

Of course! My sewing machine is my bestie when it comes to my style of appliqu. I absolutely love incorporating decorative stitches into my projects, especially to add texture and interest to my appliqu. The possibilities are endless when it comes to a sewing machine loaded with features and stitches. Please dont be discouraged if you have limited stitches on your machine. Youll find suggestions on how to make the most of simple stitches in theand you can definitely apply your skills to my appliqu designs.

Machine needles

Topstitch needles are my favourite to use in my sewing machine. I recommend a size 80/12. Learn more about topstitch needles in

Open toe presser foot

This foot provides a clear view of the stitching area and makes stitching appliqu SEW much easier! It is an absolute MUST! Learn more in

Teflon,in and zipper feet

These feet make techniques in this book a smooth and simple experience(see ).Once you get the hang of these feet, you wont be able to live without them!

Iron + ironing surface

A mini iron is wonderful to use for appliqu, and having a portable ironing surface is great for moving around your sewing space.

Scissors

Small, sharp and pointy ones are perfect for cutting out your appliqu. A small round-tipped pair of scissors is vital for my appliqud zipper technique.

Adhesives

When working with unusual materials such as vinyl, which cant be ironed from the top, an acid-free glue stick and double-sided tape come in super handy. Fray stop is a solvent-based, anti-fray adhesive that is great for preventing you guessed it, fraying!

Rotary cutter, ruler and mat

I love using these tools for cutting precisely. Ensure you know how to use your rotary cutter safely.

Quilting clips

Whats all the fuss about? Well, my friends, these clips are awesome for holding layers of fabric together effortlessly. The main reason I enjoy using them is that they wont mark your fabrics, which is particularly helpful when sewing vinyls and corks. Avoid using pins with these materials, as they leave permanent holes.

Fabric

Start with your pile of scrap cotton fabrics. Appliqu is a wonderful technique to make use of even the smallest piece of scrap fabric. It is not only resourceful but cost effective too! If youre looking to build your fabric stash, pre-cuts are a great option. Look out for unique and quirky novelty prints, as they are loads of fun to fussy cut