Friday, January 16, 2015

TGIF: A New Look and a New Skill

Like the new "look" for 52 Quilts? Thank you to Younger Son, 52 Quilts' tech editor!

Look what I learned to do this week! Yes, believe it or not, I hand-applique'd four blocks for the First Thursday Mystery at Ruth's Stitchery.


This isn't  the best close-up, but I'm quite pleased with my first applique project.


Sonya taught the "starch and press" method. It involves the "mini iron of doom" but I managed not to burn myself. She posted a tutorial on the Ruth's Stitchery You Tube channel. Go here to watch. It's actually much easier than I thought!

Do you applique'? What's your favorite method?

From the desk of your auntmartisignature

14 comments:

  1. I love your new header, very smart and pretty. Great work on the applique. When I applique I tend use the starch and press method but avoid the needle turn method as I find it rather tedious.

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  2. Well - thats a surprise - we don't see too much hand sewing from you - apart from an occasional binding on a quilt...I find hand sewing more relaxing than machine work and great for TV watching (or listening in my case). I must watch that - am about to start a new project and it might be hand appliqued...might...time is in short supply

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  3. Your first applique? I love applique. I do a freezer-paper finger-press method that is sort of needle turn (but a bit cheaty). I explained it in a post on my blog.

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  4. I have always done machine applique with fusible web and finished with satin stitch around the edges. I was doing applique well before I wandered into quilting as my sister in law gave me a great book on it and I made all sorts of things for the kids when they were small. Made home made windcheaters and tracksuit pants look more interesting and great for fixing holes in the knees too! I have to say I just love the new look for the blog, so fresh and modern - great work from the tech editor there!

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  5. I like starch and press around a template. I only recently learned it after my friend Karen at Faeries and fibres told me about it. I am surprisingly "hooked" on appliqué, but then I prefer to hand sew than machine anytime!
    HAving said that, better get to my sewing room and tackle than UFO!

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  6. Love the new look of the website!! It's somehow modern, vintage, and chic all at the same time! Applique? I mostly do raw edge, but I prefer the starch and press to regular needle turn. I do most of mine by hand, but I have begun exploring the world of machine applique.

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  7. Congratulations on both your new header and learning to applique! I use a freezer paper method of applique and love doing the actual applique, not so much all of the prep work.

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  8. Just found your lovely blog and look forward to trying out some new quilting techniques!

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  9. Funny you should ask. This past year I have been trying all different kinds of applique and am leaning toward the raw edge applique with a machine, but the starch and press is coming in a close second. I think it depends, for me at least, on the project. I invite you to link to WIPs Be Gone so we can follow you on this project's process. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. They look wonderful. I have never tried hand applique.

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  11. Your new look is beautiful! Your son's got your creative eye! I really like your applique, too. I love applique; did two machine applique squares today!

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  12. The new design is wonderful, Marti! It's so clean, simple, very easy to read and all with the same great content as before. Good job, Younger Son.

    Years ago I did some hand appliqueing. It always came out good, but I just don't have the patience. For a long time now, I'll only do machine applique with the buttonhole/blanket stitch. I've done invisible machine applique. That's good, too, but too fiddly.

    P.S. The box arrived! Will be sending an email, hopefully, today.

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  13. I love the new design - so colorful! And to answer your question, no, I don't applique. At least I haven't in awhile.

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  14. I really like the new look. I, too, have a built-in tech support with my son, although now he lives about 8 miles away. Your appliqué is lovely. I have always liked hand work, but the older I get (I'm officially old now; I qualify for Medicare. Yikes!) the harder it is to do that.

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