If you're a reader of Australia's favourite craft magazine Homespun you may have noticed that I have a design in the January issue...
No surprise either that my new design features both a love for home and a blessing as well because these are two things that matter very much to me.
"Bless Our Home" has been kept safely under wraps since I completed it about 9 months ago so it's wonderful that I can now 'spill the beans' and break secrecy to show you...
If you plan on making "Bless Our Home" perhaps you'd like to follow a few of my suggestions on preparing your block for those little pieces of applique?
First of all, trace the design onto your background fabric but do NOT trace the applique sections.
Trace the reverse applique shapes onto the smooth side of some Vliesofix or your preferred fusible applique paper, leaving a 1/2" space between each shape.
Cut out each shape, keeping a 1/4" buffer outside the traced lines.
Choose the fabric scraps you'll use for each of the applique sections and fuse the shapes, rough side down, onto the wrong side of your fabrics with a warm, dry iron.
Cut out each shape along the traced lines.
I use a very sharp pair of small scissors when cutting applique pieces because they allow me to get around tiny corners with ease and accuracy.
For the door (which has a window) cut away that opening first, and the outside edges of the door last...
Peel the fusible paper away from your fabric shapes.
Position the shapes onto your stitchery fabric one at a time and gently press down on the shape with a warm, dry iron.
Blanket stitch around all the applique shapes with a single strand of thread before you begin the embroidery.
But the best advice I can give you?
Don't rush, enjoy the process, and breathe gently as you go.
I gifted this version of "Bless Our Home" to a lovely lady so I'm going to stitch it again for myself.
2022 Update:
hugs
