Applique using the sewing machine

I very much enjoy hand applique, but somehow I found myself exploring machine applique over the past several months - there is so much versatility to this method, and lots of pizzazz and style can be added to your applique. I found that that these books were especially good for learning and discovering the wide choices available for machine applique -

Beth Ferrier - Invisible Applique by Machine - very good instructions on freezer paper applique, using a glue stick to turn the raw edges under
Anne Fahl - Coloring with Thread - inspirational - and do-able - thread painting on fusible applique
Janet Pitman - Applique, the Basics and Beyond - explores all kinds of applique including needleturn by hand and various methods of preparing pieces for machine applique
Sue Nickels and Pat Holly - Stitched Raw Edge Applique - these ladies have written book, with great patterns, that will inspire you to let your machine applique show and be part of the design

Here's a picture of two small examples I worked on from Anne Fahl's book -

And here's a picture of the first block of the month, Flower Pot, from the new Jan Patek b.o.m. I did turned edge on freezer paper, then did a small zig zag with a tan-gold thread - I'll use this everywhere on the quilt. I then decided to go ahead and use fusible applique for the star that is on top of the flower.

When it came to the applique for the "five cent fairy garden" - I decided to not do the method I talked about in an earlier post. All the ideas from the books listed above kept floating in my head - and I think I'll have fun stitching these appliques using some neat techniques. As it turned out quite "springy" looking, I think I'll put it away until the depths of winter when I'll really need the sunshine and bright colours it has.

I've remembered a basket wall hanging that I put away last spring, thinking it was too fall!! So now I"m going to find that one and see what needs to be finished.

Why I like...Quilt Block of the Month

I really enjoy subscribing to a mail-order quilt block of the month. There are many advantages, to me, and very few disadvantages - *if* you subscribe through a quilt shop that you know yourself, or have a recommendation from. The two quilt shops I have used so far have been extremely good with their blocks of the month; but, I have heard horror stories from some quilters about fabric shortages, lack of directions, fabric selections, and timely mailings.


Why I do like a block of the month?
- no puzzling over what fabrics to use
- sometimes the pattern is currently only available as a block of the month
- a little surprise each month to look forward to
- you don't have to store all the fabrics, and you don't have to worry about running short, when you need more border fabric a year after starting the quilt top
- if you don't like a fabric, you can substitute your own to put your own spin on the project
- each block or monthly mailing doesn't take long to make, as the fabric is cut into usable pieces, and you are just making what is in front of you - again, just those directions, just those fabrics - no decisions necessary! - just fun creating and sewing
- an easy to pay for way to make a quilt over a long period of time - after all, the quilt shop is choosing the fabrics, cutting them, sorting, and including directions - all you need to add is backing and batting - the costs may add up, but if you do only one or two of these a year the costs are worth it to me



What can be not-so-good about a block of the month?
- no puzzling over what fabrics to use - sometimes that *is* the best part of making a quilt - just planning it, even if you never sew it
- each block or monthly mailing includes fabric cut into usable pieces - what if I make a mistake and use up all the piece the wrong way? - I could include my own fabric, which I often do anyway, but the quilt shop will likely have another piece available
- your finished quilt will likely look like many many others out there - this has to be one of those quilts that you can't "make your own", too much - although you might be surprised at just how much fiddling you can do along the way!
-knowing that you have to continue paying for the quilt for a number of months


I have subscribed to two blocks of the month at Homestead Hearth. One is Jan Patek's girl gang 2008. This one is because the pattern for her Girl Gang quilts are usually only available as a b.o.m. , I like the interesting layout, and the design is not something I would usually do.


I'll have pics soon I hope of the first block, as soon as my camera is working or replaced.