Kathy Doughty - Organic Appliqu�: Creative Hand-Stitching Ideas and Techniques

Publisher: Amy Marson

Creative Director: Gailen Runge

Acquisitions Editor: Roxane Cerda

Managing Editor: Liz Aneloski

Editor: Karla Menaugh

Technical Editors: Alison M. Schmidt and Debbie Rodgers

Cover/Book Designer: April Mostek

Production Coordinator: Zinnia Heinzmann

Production Editor: Jennifer Warren

Illustrator: Aliza Shalit

Photo Assistant: Rachel Holmes

Cover photography by John Doughty of Spy Photography

Photography by John Doughty of Spy Photography unless otherwise noted

Published by Stash Books, an imprint of C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549

Any aspiring quiltmaker should count themselves fortunate to have such an inspiring soul to guide and encourage them as Kathy Doughty.

Kaffe Fassett

Kathy Doughtys fearless use of pattern and design are truly original, inspiring, and accessible to all levels to just have a go and play. If youre blessed to visit her shop, Material Obsession in Sydney, youd understand more of her world and meet her amazing team, too. I learned so much as a textile artist by seeing how uniquely daring Kathy is to use all different patterns and colors that balance out in combinations that just seem to work and make me smile big time. If I were to give Kathy a name, it would be Miss Motivator for sure.

Brandon Mably, textile artist,
Kaffe Fassett Studio

preface

Be Brave

Life is full of surprising gifts. Ultimately, it is the things we dont see coming that excite us the most emotionally, visually, or creatively. I have learned over the years to be open to these moments and to use the concept in my creative life.

On a teaching trip to the United States, John and I stopped to hike in Joshua Tree National Park. He is far more adventurous than I am and had me climbing all over the boulders before I knew what was happening. At one point, I found myself literally between a rock and a hard place, stuck on the side of a boulder and unable to move my hands or feet for fear of falling backward off the rock. I thought to myself, This is it Ill have to stay here until I die. Of course that didnt happen. With Johns encouragement, I carefully progressed to the top (and, I admit, a few expletives were muttered). But I made it and felt a surge of joy that I had overcome my fear and accomplished something. This was an important moment, and the lesson applies to my creative process, as well!

On a day-to-day basis, busy is my middle name. Although I resent that I always have a million things to do, I have come to the conclusion that there is no other way for me to live. Busy is it. Every day is full to bursting. I am often asked how I do it all. It takes a certain amount of discipline to stay focused during the busy times and productive during the slow times. Thing is, this is what I love to do, so not doing itany part of itis unimaginable. So here I sit with a long list of things to do but stealing time from the to-do list to compose my sixth book the first one about appliqu. Its been a long time coming.

Rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park made me realize overcoming my fears was rewarding.

I enjoy many roles in the quilting world, including author, designer, teacher retailer. These roles offer me the opportunity to learn at warp speed, to travel the world, and to focus on what I love to do most: design. Designing is a creative leap of faith. We find ourselves in new places all the time and must decide how to move forward. Although I love what I do, it isnt always glamorous (if it ever is!).

I am curious about how often people use the word brave to describe my use of fabric. I can freely admit that I, too, find myself afraid, but I continually ask myself, Afraid of what? To be creative we must explore the unfamiliar. Facing the fear and moving ahead toward constructive analysis of creative or technical abilities is part of the process. The trick is to be present in the momentto see, to hear thoughts, and to feel when we are makingand in so doing we learn by doing.

I recently found myself hand quilting to a deadline in extreme heat. Despite soaring temperatures, I made myself comfortable with plenty of water and a fan. As my fingers moved the needle through the layers of my quilt, it occurred to me that the quilt had been in progress for a long time in stolen moments. My thoughts streamed through life events that had corresponded with the first sketch, then a pile of fabric, a few cut shapes, and several different backgrounds. It evolved over time, taking on many shapes. The projects that evolve over time from the first whisper of an idea to a finished project are the ones I find the most rewarding.

Soul-searching is the essence of every class!

I rejoice in the use of symbols, patterns, colors, and techniques to make textile creations that share my perspective. As a collective, quilters share all the time. We bond by sharing patterns, ideas, conversation, and precious time as we make our treasures. After family, being a quilter defines most of my life. I am a quilter. Organic Appliqu is all about capturing this personal essence to be shared in quilts with pride, using thread to document our moment in time, and doing it with simple techniques. Allow yourself to make choices, to experiment, and to make mistakes. You know in your heart if you hold yourself back. Artistic expression is subjective, so if you like it, it is right. Trust your vision so you can show your own hand in your work.

Does this sound scary? If so, have a try and see what happens. Of course, I wont be offended if you make them as you see them!

introduction

Developing Your Voice

I was a late arrival to the sewing party. At first, I just wanted to make as many quilts as possible and fast! Owning a patchwork shop meant that I was exposed to so many different skills, including appliqu. I enjoyed the possibilities of appliqu but doubted that I had the ability to achieve satisfactory results. My fingers seemed to be all thumbs, and as a result my work was sloppy. It seemed as though appliqu was for those who grew up at their grandmothers knee, learning the tricks and tips that made one a perfectionist. I gave up on appliqu, believing that I just didnt have the patience or skill to accomplish this particular technique. I thought it was all about being perfect, and perfect just isnt my thing.

Time passes, and we learn as we go. Over the years, I picked up a few tips. Probably the most important was from Suzanne Cody, who said, Appliqu is all about the preparation. Simply stated, this is the truth. Preparation was something I generally avoided. Always in a hurry, preparation slowed me down until I realized that it was actually part of the creative process. A little time in preparation meant better results, and better results meant my confidence grew.