Deborah Gale Tirico - Celebrate Wool Appliqu�

Publisher: Amy Marson Creative Director: Gailen Runge Acquisitions Editor: Roxane Cerda Managing Editor: Liz Aneloski Editor: Karla Menaugh Technical Editor: Helen Frost Cover/Book Designer: April Mostek Production Coordinator: Zinnia Heinzmann Production Editor: Alice Mace Nakanishi Illustrators: Deborah Gale Tirico and Kirstie L. Pettersen Photo Assistants: Rachel Holmes and Mai Yong Vang Cover photography by Lucy Glover of C&T Publishing, Inc. Instructional photography by Deborah Gale Tirico; style photography by Kelly Burgoyne and Lucy Glover and subject photography by Mai Yong Vang of C&T Publishing, Inc., unless otherwise noted Published by C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549 Dedication To my friend Helenemy stitching buddy, roomie, homie, and pal. Thanks for all the oohs and aahs to everything I have ever made. Your company on long road trips, consistent support of my creative work, and your friendship is a treasure.

Thank you, H! Acknowledgments To my son, Frankie, who helps me realize my dreams by taking videos, carrying bolts of wool to the studio, photographing my work, and paying attentionthank you, my son. To my husband, Frank, who dyes wool fabric, helps me with color consultation, packs my car, cooks for me, and loves me through all the ups and downs of this crazy businessthank you, my dear. To my mom, who appreciates my work more than anyone I know and has done so since I was a child. Thanks, Mommy! Foreword My sister can do anything! She became an accomplished ballerina, re-created Civil War clothing and accessories, ran a successful advertising agency, gracefully twirled through ballroom dancing, learned to play classical guitar, and designed and stitched gorgeous quilts and wallhangings. Through the years, she was driven to perfect one thing that incorporates her artistic flair and stitching talents. Its now reflected in the true art I see in her wool appliqu designs.

Deb has always been a creative person. She puts her heart into her creations, enabling us to appreciate her talents and artists touch in appliqu. I am both enamored and envious of the ease with which she creates beautiful art from wool and thread. In this new book, she shares some of her most creative decorative accessories. Her delicate stitches have brought out the beauty of the felted wool colors and the uniqueness of these designs will inspire you. Every stitch contributes to a beautiful creation that can be display with pride.

Deb has created accessories to hold tools for stitching, as well as covered boxes, coasters, wedding banners, and table decor. Enjoy leafing through this compilation of items and choose the one which you might bring to life and reinforce your love of stitching. Find delight in every stitch as you explore your own creative talent in the world of appliqu. Cynthia Arruda
Moorestown, New Jersey Introduction Appliqu is funthis is my mantra. For those who absolutely love to hold a needle and thread and have a romance with wool appliqu, this book is for you. If you love to choose thread colors, buy fabrics because they speak to you, and get more excitement giving a handmade wool item than making it, I assembled these projects for you.

Sewing accessories, covered boxes, and sweet candle mats are among the many projects in this book to appoint your home or gift to a friend. Also, many of the designs can be translated into different applications. For example, the Feathered Friends Table Mat can be reduced and stitched for the top of a sewing box. Use your own color sense to make these designs bright and electric or soft and muted, depending on what colors appeal to you. Some of the projects are perfect for using scraps from your stash. For each project, there is an indication for level of experience from beginner to advanced.

In many cases, the directions include strategies for stitching progressions to improved accuracy. Every word is deliberately focused on making the projects fun and the maker successful. In Refresh Me, you will find content on the techniques I use in condensed versions to refresh you on the processes outlined in my first two books. Finishing provides general instructions on how to complete your stitched appliqu to cover a box, as well as how to make twisted cord and how to finish a candle mat. Have fun and make the projects your own. Choose colors, threads, and embellishments that appeal to you and stitch the designs you like on the applications you want.

Experiment! Happy stitching! Deborah Gale TiricoHow to Use This Book Stitching Glossary At the end of the book is the illustrated Stitching Glossary. Please refer to it often. When I design, I often have a reference on embroidery stitches open to guide me in beginning a stitch that is in my memory but that I have not used lately. The projects do not include instructions on embroidery stitches, as I figure you can just flip to the glossary whenever you need some help. Full-Size Placement Guides You will find full-size placement guides at the ends of the chapters or on pullout. (Note that the full-size placement guide is not to be used for the pattern piece creation.) Pattern Piece Pages Patterns for the appliqu pieces follow each project. (Note that the full-size placement guide is not to be used for the pattern piece creation.) Pattern Piece Pages Patterns for the appliqu pieces follow each project.

Use these when making freezer-paper appliqu pieces. These patterns differ significantly from the pieces depicted on the full-size patterns because they include pieces that overlap and stack. If you use adhesive bond techniques, you need to reverse the patterns. Felted Wool Appliqu Mantras As an instructor as well as an author, I have a few mantras that I frequently use when I work. Adopt these maxims as your own and you will be rewarded with beautiful felted wool appliqu. EMBRACE THE BASTE Basting is the most important part of appliqu.

If you want accuracy in your design, you need to hold the pieces in place, as wool can shift quite easily in the warm hands of its maker. If you are someone who likes to skip basting or who considers it a pesky task that prevents you from getting right to the stitching part, I encourage you to learn to enjoy doing it. Throughout the book are many illustrations that demonstrate basting techniques. Although this may be a temporary stitch, it will be your most important stitch. So, embrace the baste! USE A FEATHERLIGHT TOUCH Use a light hand and a stab stitch motion to appliqu wool. With the stab stitch, stitches will be accurately placed, and you can carefully work around any frays.

Pull your thread gently until a small loop is left and slowly complete the stitch, allowing the thread to rest gently on the side of the appliqu pieces. Never pull tightly! Pulling the thread tightly will bunch up the work and make it less attractive. Often it is better to pull that extra last bit on the next needle up, as the thread will have more drag and thus more control. FOLLOW THE PLACEMENT GUIDE When the project instructions direct you to place appliqu pieces according to the placement guide, dont try to eyeball it for the sake of speed. If you dont plan to position the next pieces of your appliqu using a clear placement guide hinged to the top of your project, you will likely regret the shortcut. Use the full-size placement guides for accurate placement.