My "Homespun" project & a tutorial...

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: 

The pattern is now available HERE

hugs

Applique, with a practice pattern...

I love adding pops of applique through my stitcheries. 

In fact that's what I love most about this year's BOM "Gentle Domesticity"! All my favourite scraps of fabric are finding themselves a pretty place to show off...

I don't throw away any fabric cut-offs that are 2" square or larger, but store them in two plastic containers which become treasure troves of sweetness, perfect for applique or making hexies.

Over the weekend I began two new designs for The Stitchery Club in September. The theme next month is "Picking Flowers" and most of the stitcheries will feature applique. Want to see?

A floral orphan charm square became a hooded cloak, whilst narrow strips of aqua gingham and pink roses married as a trim and peek-a-boo dress...

The next day I gathered larger pieces of fabric, two teal and two pink. 

When creating a design which will be displayed in a larger project it's time to dig into my fat eighths or fat quarters...

Yesterday and today I've spent time completing these two sweet patterns.

"She Picks Flowers"

"The Flower Thieves"

I love the gentleness in these two designs, made prettier with applique.

If you've not tried applique before I have a couple of tutorials that may help you get started, here ...

and here.

I'll even give you a free pattern to practice with!

Download the "Bird on Bloom" pattern here in my shop as a practice gift from me to you.

Bless you heaps!

Tutorial - blanket stitch applique...

Being a visual learner I am better able to understand a sewing technique if I can see it being done, rather than 'explained' in a written pattern. This is why I have so many step-by-step photos in my Elefantz HOME e-zine.

I teach the way I learn.

For those who have asked me how to prepare a block for blanket stitch applique, this is for you!

I've chosen to take you through the preparation for one of the larger blocks from "Shabby Roses Home".

When you print up your pattern pages, you'll see that I have a set of 'reverse' templates. 

Let's look at the larger pieces.

There is a roof and house.

Look closely and you can see that the two blank shapes are a mirror image of the house block design...

NOTE: I use Vliesofix for all my applique. It is a fusible bonding paper, and not as thick as some of the other brands so it doesn't have as much glue. It's much improved from years ago and if you suffer from carpal tunnel or arthritis this brand will not give as much resistance to your fingers/hands when stitching through the applique layers. My hands suffered from the other brands I've tried, so I stick with Vliesofix all the time now.

There are two sides to all fusible bonding papers - a rough side and a smooth side. Trace the reverse shapes onto the smooth side of the bonding paper with a pencil. Keep 1/2" space between all your shapes, and cut them out leaving a 1/4" 'edge' around each piece...

Choose what fabrics you're using for each applique section. I have chosen the aqua pindot as my main house section, so I lay the rough side of the traced house shape down on the back of a piece of the fabric and I fuse them together with a warm dry iron. This only takes a few seconds...

Repeat this with all your applique shapes on their chosen fabrics.

To cut out your shape, you need to do two things for accuracy and ease.

In this main house section there are long straight edges, and small curved sections.

To cut out those little 'in-and-out-and-round-a-bout' curvy parts, use a small pair of sharp embroidery scissors...

When  you have long straight lines to cut from your shape, use a large pair of scissors...

Once you've cut out all your reverse applique shapes, it's time to position them on your block.

With the house blocks for Shabby Roses Home I have sewn two different fabrics together for the background...

NOTE: The two pieces are 4" larger than I need for the finished block, but I'll explain why later.

Peel all the bonding paper from the back of your applique shapes and discard.

For large applique pieces like we're using in this block you need only look at the design on the pattern sheet for your placement. Sit the house body along the top of the green/white border line and fuse in place with a warm dry iron. 

Add the roof and the chimney - if you're unsure of the exact placement just lay the block on top of the pattern sheet for help...

Again, using the pattern sheet (or the finished block photo in the pattern) for help with placement,  fuse the door and windows in place...

 

Now we'll lay the block over the pattern sheet and trace the roses, path lines, and smoke from the chimney...

The final step of preparation is to fuse a 'same sized' square of stitchery stabiliser to the back of the block.

I use Weaveline when I have applique on a block (and sometimes Whisperweft if it's only stitchery)...

It's thinner than the fabric, but a tighter weave and prevents the fabric from stretching as you stitch.

Just iron the Weaveline behind the block on a warm dry setting. Press both the front of the block and the back of the block as sometimes air bubbles can occur between the block and Weaveline...

 Now remember I said that I cut my block background fabrics a bit larger than I need?

That's because once I have the stitchery stabiliser fused to the back of the block I use pinking shears to cut around all four sides until the block measures about 10 inches square.

The 'pinked' edges prevent any fraying of fabric while I applique and embroider.

When I complete all the stitchery and applique on my block it will be trimmed to 7.5 inches, ready to be pieced into the quilt.

I hope this has helped you to confidently begin a blanket-stitch applique block if you're new to this type of stitching!

Winner!!

Congratulations to TAMMY who won my Elefantz Starter kit!

hugs

Jenny

xx