It's May 3rd, and I woke soooooo happy today.
Why?
The tropical summer in North Queensland has finally come to a close.
It actually feels like autumn. I actually slept with a sheet over me last night. My nose really, truly, actually tingled with a slight chill about 5am.
When Mr E and I got up to listen to Michael's podcast at 6.30am I actually had to put a thin cotton robe over my sleeveless pjs. I'm telling you, it was bliss.
And coffee tastes so much better on a cool morning, don't you agree?
The other nice thing about May is releasing my latest budget busting pattern bundle of designs due for retirement!
If you're new to my blog, I have a backlog of older Elefantz designs that I am gradually retiring over the course of 2014, so at the start of each month I bundle up a few for their last stroll down the catwalk before leaving the pattern stage forever.
This month I decided to bring together my 'trio of angels'...
In this pattern set you will find such sweetness to stitch!
But before we look at the photos of these designs let me show you how to use my
© 2010 Split Applique Technique to add that touch of elegance to regular blanket stitch applique - because two of the patterns in the May bundle feature it!
UPDATED: Go to THIS blog post for my step by step photo tutorial.
UPDATED: Go to THIS blog post for my step by step photo tutorial.
There are two parts to Split Applique. They stand alone, or can be used together.
Firstly, in normal blanket stitch applique, when fabrics overlap to create the appliqued picture, one applique shape will sit under the edge of another before being stitched down, but back in 2010 I got the idea of butting the applique pieces up against each other, without an overlap.
When you do this, the applique sits beautifully flat and you avoid having to stitch through layers.
See in the photo below I've completely blanket stitched around both wings, and the 'cut away' inside the heart using a single strand of thread, with no overlapping of fabric...
After I've completed the single strand applique I used two strands of cream thread to chain stitch 'in the ditch' between the appliqued wings and the heart, then around the rest of the heart. This accentuates the heart shape as though it's popping out of the block, and yet it's sitting lovely and flat and your fingers haven't had to punish themselves stitching through multiple layers of fabric and bonding medium.
This effect often softens a design, adding a subtle touch of elegance...
The second part of Split Applique is to cut away some of the fabric shape and fill it with embroidery...
A lot of my appliqued patterns feature the Split Applique finish, but you could try it with any patterns you have on hand - just cut away the extra allowance added to a shape for partially hiding an edge beneath another shape before fusing in place on your block, or cut away some of the whole shape to make a smaller number of shapes and fill the gaps with embroidery.
It's such an easy thing to try, and you might just love the results you achieve.
Now back to the May "trio of angels" bundle! Here's what you'll be able to make from this triple pattern set...
"Shabby Roses Angels Quilt"...
"Angels Bloom" wall hanging ...
(which would also be perfect as a cushion cover or quilt centre)...
...and the "Shabby Roses Angel" cushion.
The triple pattern set is available for one month only until May 31st, and then all three patterns will joyfully retire.
Purchase the May Bundle for $5 over HERE in my shop as an instant pdf download.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! I hope you get to stitch something pretty, cook something yummy, and find something to do that just makes you smile.
hugs
