by Sandra | June 18th, 2010
Any design can look good on paper, but will it work when put to needle and thread? This is what I have to work out before I let it out to you. Since I actually DO hand applique, I know what will work and what has to be adjusted so that it actually will work with HAND applique. Enough emphasis for you?
Before I begin, I create the pattern (obviously), a numbering guide and the freezer paper templates. These all have to coordinate and work in tandem with each other perfectly. The numbering must be correct and the freezer paper templates fit back together correctly and accurately. I work from the same materials as I give to you in workshop kits etc. If I have an issue, you are going to have an issue and we can’t have that now can we?
Many times I do adjust pieces or areas in a design I know will be a stretch for most applique-rs and myself included. I also make notes of what can be made even easier if the person so chooses that option.
I have found that most of my students want a challenge (YEAH!) and don’t want the easy option, but instead they go for the difficulty to raise their skill level. I design the original at that higher level, but will also build in a few easier (intermediate) alternatives if someone wants an “out”. There are not many of these though.
There are always corrections, testing and then re-testing those changes to make sure they are fixed. Immediately going back to the computer to record the changes as I work is also important. If I wait until the end of the whole process, the issues are no longer fresh and I can make unfortunate mistakes due to bad note taking or memory. Then you find them and that is definitely NOT a good thing!
With a pattern like the Goldfinch block, there are smaller pieces and this is where I usually make sure they are do-able. Sure some may drop their jaw and whine, but I know you can do it, riiiiiiiiiiight? You just have to leave that secure coddling of larger pieces behind you and venture forward. However, sometimes there are some pieces that are just too much of a pain in the bu*t and need some alteration so they can be do-able without too many screams or fits, even by me.
All of the petals of the first flower have been completed and all numbering checked and corrected. Now to move on to the Goldfinch.
I had a massive headache yesterday so I am behind in responding to email etc., I will catch up and I haven’t forgotten you!
Everyone have a nice weekend.
I cannot believe we get to see the beautiful flower so soon! I am so grateful that you are sharing your artistic talent, and encouraging the art of hand applique. This is so inspiring!
Hope you are over the headache and have a great weekend.
Sandra,
That flower is beautiful! I am newbie on hand applique… I am just wondering if you would be willing to share exactly how you position your pieces on the background fabric to where the pieces are exactly where they are supposed to be. I find that it’s a bit hard for me to do that with the pieces cut with seam allowances.
Wow that flower just pops! I am so excited and can’t wait to see the block as it comes to life. Thank you so much for sharing your design process, so fascinating to me.
YOU ARE A SPEEDY APPLIQUER!! It would take me a week to do that much appique!
Denise & Frances,
It took two days to do the one flower and that was on and off while I did the other things I need to do in my life. Small pieces take less time.
Wendy,
We have “talked”.
You are welcome Eva!
I love seeing the line drawing come to life too. I never get tired of this process.
Sandra,
Your first sentence is a horrendous error! “Any design can look good on paper”. Perhaps it should be “if you’re lucky and talented your designs CAN look good on paper…”
Love the purple fabric. Thanks for sharing your progress!
How are Jason’s pumpkins growing? Hope your headache is gone for good!
WOW!!!
Wow ! That flower is gorgeous.
Thank you for this valuable lesson about drawn art having to work with hand applique. I learned this lesson a few years ago the hard way.
Could you share about what you and Wendy “talked” please?! I have the same concerns… I love the photo of the flower under construction here – you can see how each piece “ends” in the middle, not appliqued, waiting for the piece that will cover them – the same as the piece that the bird’s head will overlap. How on earth do you figure out which piece to start with tho?!
And the petal that is underneath the complete petal that lays on top of it (at about the 2:00 position on the flower) – is the underneath petal a whole piece of fabric, or did you actually remove the area where the top petal overlapped? (Did that make sense?!) I guess I’m wondering if there is ever a time when the pieces are SO small that you would forgo the puzzle-piece aspect of the layering…
Michele,
I have created another tab at the top “Applique Tutorials” that has the info I have provided to Wendy and others. Look at the “Basic Layered Applique” PDF and see if that answers your questions.
I start with the piece(s) that are the furthest back and work to the “front”.
Sara,
I learned the hard way too.
Melanie–LOL
At first I thought OH NO! what mistake did I make? I tend to panic before I read further. LOL
With all of the rain we have had, the pumpkin progress has been dismal or not at all. We replanted some of the seeds that failed (rotted) and have our fingers crossed.
He does have a good strawberry crop going though!