by Sandra | March 19th, 2010
I have now moved on to the outer border of the center and am creating the maze of branches. In an earlier post I illustrated via photos an applique technique I use that insures exact placement of applique pieces after stitching is completed.
The branches in this design is another example of where this technique comes in very handy. You can see in the above picture where I have positioned the branches and they have yet to have the seam allowance trimmed. I will trim as I stitch and the placement will NOT move.
As you can see from the pattern, I have a mass of branches that connect up with many applique pieces and they must match up perfectly or I have some major problems on my hands. I think this is the hardest thing to do in hand applique with TRUE intricate applique. If one branch is off it is like the domino effect throughout the rest of the pieces. It is not pretty.
Now wouldn't this be a nasty problem if the branches did not line up? I don't even want to think about it--yikes!
I use the “cut as you go” technique because the branches won’t move out of place even the slightest bit. They are easily positioned under the vinyl and appliqued down before they can squirm out of placement even a smidge. No misbehavin’ going on here.
These branches are exactly lined up and ready for the next “layer” of applique. I know they are right and frustration will not be my constant companion later on.
I use this method a lot . I have also used the method where you mark the backround and the applique,on skinny branches and vines . . Have you ever done it that way . I always feel safer when I do, but I must confess , laziness takes over most of the time and I just mark the applue.
I’ts looking great . I love you fabric choices !
Sandra, is it a bit tedious and boring at this stage? A necessary evil I guess.
You have such amazing details that the branches have to be placed exactly, otherwise everything would be off, a truly “hair pulling” disaster!!!! I like the cut as you go too, you cannot beat it for accuracy. Once the branches are done, then it is on to the really fun pieces, like that mouse. This quilt really is going to be spectacular, Jason will have a real masterpiece to treasure.
Sandra, did you use the vinyl overlay method here? If so, that must be a large and somewhat unwieldy piece of vinyl…
It going to be fascinating to watch this current part of the design (the vines, flower, mice and birds surrounding the center image) develop. An amazing piece of work. Takes my breath away.
ops. I meant “it’s going to be fascinating…”
Melanie, If these branches were solid colors without much variation, it would be like walking through mud with me (yes, tedious). However, because this particular batik has so many subtle changes of color, I do find it fascinating to see the highlights and shadows revealed as each one is completed. In essence, each branch really is unique and I can see the tangle of branches coming to life.
Trust me Denise, he is looking over my shoulder at least once a day giving me directions on HIS quilt.
Yep, Frances one big and unwieldly piece of vinyl. It is really isn’t too bad if I pull out the old card table to support it when I am placing more pieces. Once I get the branches right, I can then create a vinyl overlay for each of the four sections that will be much easier to work with since they will be a much more manageable size.
For a large quilt like this with a complex design, it is not uncommon to create more overlays as I work.
Hey Boop,
No I never mark the background. I used to in the beginning when I was figuring things out. However, I found quickly that things don’t always line up like they are supposed to and oops, those lines from mismatching I can’t remove later from the background. Also it limits my background choices and size to what I can fit on a light table to trace. Need I bring up your point about adding more time and fussiness to the process? LOL.
You know what would be a dream tool? A huge printer that had washable ink, Freezer paper any size that ironed to the back of the fabric so you could run it through the massive printer and print the applique lines directly to the background—-perfectly. No having to deal with vinyl, or anything else. Just slap the piece perfectly in place and voila—applique perfection! Just think, long background fabric borders for applique printed out at any length perfectly marked and ready. one can dream right?
Sandra, your workshop is now listed at Empty Spools:
http://www.emptyspoolsseminars.com/Teachers2011.html
You’ll be there with Diane!
Wow. It looks like a herd of worms! How do you keep the vinyl in place and all lined up with the fabric piece every time you do the placements of all the small pieces?
About your class at Asilomar – will sewing machines be required?
Michele, No machines are needed at Asilomar for my class. A nice retreat by the beach with handwork.
I create several “hash” marks along the edges of my vinyl that match up to identical hash marks on the background edges. This way when the vinyl gets unwieldly and/or stretches from use, I am still able to line up again as I add my applique pieces down the road.
I don’t use stabilizer on the back of my embroidery. It adds another layer I don’t want and if I choose not to wash my quilt for years, even the washable dissolvable stuff is not an option. It really isn’t needed. Because machine embroidery is so dense and heavy, it is necessary for that. It is not necessary for handwork unless you are working with a fine lightweight batiste and fabrics of that sort.
I use a hoop for proper tension as I am stitching. And although it may appear a tad bit wrinkly after the hoop is removed, it all flattens out nicely during the machine quilting stage or with a quick touch of the iron.
My hand is all better now thanks for asking!
Congrats on the new job!
Thanks for the heads up Frances. Yes, I can send everyone over on walk around day to Diane’s classroom to see how machine quilting is really done right.
Ahhh! That is a dream …… Sandra and Diane at call in adjoining classrooms ….. add Jinny B and Pam holland and it would be quilting heaven!
Judy B
Wow – this is getting better and better, Sandra! I hope you are entering this quilt in a big quilt show….
Do you ever leave the ends of the branches a wee bit longer – just in case ? Maybe this was mentioned before – do you recommend a certain type of vinyl ?
Ivory Spring,
I haven’t decided yet if I will enter it in a show. It depends on Jason since he is my task master and owner of this one. LOL
Thanks for the high praise Judy!!!
Sara,
Sometimes I do and that is perfectly OK as an insurance policy. Anywhere from a 1/16th” – 1/8th” depending on scale and what the piece is laying under eventually.
The vinyl I use is that clear upholstery vinyl used by many a grandmother to cover her good furniture (yikes) and I use the 12 GA or 16 GA. It comes on the large upholstery rolls here in the states at Joann’s Fabrics and can be cut by yardage. Online it looks as though they only sell it by the large bolt roll.
The thinner (4-10 GA) is too thin and stretches easily and is hard to work with.