Do you Appliqué?

This will not be a term paper on the art of appliqué, there are books and books on that subject. My objective is to help make you a more discriminating quilt shopper!

The term appliqué is a method of sewing a piece of fabric onto another piece of fabric to create an image or design. Piecing is sewing fabric right sides together with the seam hidden. Most often the stitching is visible when appliquéing and part of the design. It is easier to create a scene or image with appliqué–piecing usually creates a graphic design.

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Many pieces are a combination of both, piecing and appliqué.

Appliqué may be done by hand or with the sewing machine. We will have items for sale using two methods–needle turned and machine stitched. Needle turned is done by hand, using a needle to turn under a scant 1/4 inch raw edge and sewing it place with tiny invisible stitches.

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But the majority of our appliquéd items are by machine. “JR” is the Superstar, the Queen Bee, the Grand Master of Appliqué! JR started experimenting with appliqué in 1976. She took scraps from her daughters’ dresses and fashioned butterflies, creating a quilt for each of her three daughters. Forty five years later we are the recipients of her talents.

JR uses three machine stitch settings–buttonhole, zig zag and decorative. The “buttonhole” stitch mimics the methods seamstresses and tailors used to make buttonholes in garments. Usually a contrasting thread is used to create an outline when using the buttonhole stitch. The “satin” stitch is a variation of the zig zag. Decorative stitches are machine “embroidery”.

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Examples of buttonhole–zig zag– satin–decorative

The zig zag or satin stitch usually uses thread that matches the fabric being appliquéd. (that is one reason I don’t machine appliqué–changing the thread constantly!)

The following photos are the JR’s 2021 Appliqué pieces —the attention to detail, the color choices, the technical know how! Feast your eyes.

“Pumpkins Galore”  Size:  7” x 23”.  Pattern: Patch Abilities. Fabric: cotton, wool felt, wool, woolie flannel. Method: machine appliqué with decorative machine stitching. Price: $75. THIS WALL HANGING HAS BEEN SOLD.

“Give “ Size: 8 1/2” x 32 1/2”. Pattern: Buttermilk Basin. Fabric: woolie flannel and wool felt. Method: machine appliqué with decorative machine stitching. Price: $75. 

“Fall”. Size 8 1/2” x 32 1/2”. Pattern: Buttermilk Basin. Fabric: woolie flannel and wool felt. Method:  machine appliqué with decorative machine stitching. Price: $75. SOLD

“Harvest”. Size: 33” x  12”. Pattern: Buttermilk Basin. Fabric: woolie flannel and wool felt. Method: machine appliqué, decorative machine stitching, custom quilting. Price: $75 Sold

“Tipsy Snowman “. Size:11” x 32”. Pattern: Patch Abilities. Fabric: cotton, wool felt, wool. Method: machine appliqué with decorative machine stitching, custom quilting. Price: $50. 

“Snowman Lane”. Size: 41 1/2” x 17”. Pattern: Shabby Fabrics. Fabric: cotton, wool felt, woolie flannel, flannel. Method: machine appliqué with decorative machine stitching. Custom quilting. Price: $165. 

“Welcome “. Size: 27” x  10 1/2”.  Pattern: Buttermilk Basin. Fabric: woolie flannel and wool felt. Method: machine appliqué and decorative machine stitching. Price $75. THIS WALL HANGING IS SOLD

“Christmas Blessings”. Size: 38” x 26 1/2”. Pattern: The Birdhouse. Fabric: 100% cotton. Method: hand embroidery, machine appliqué, decorative machine stitching. Custom quilting. Price: $150.

If you have questions or want to purchase one of these items before the sale in October, contact me.