This post will be another fairly short post as I simply didn’t do anything until today for the past month. Really lost my mojo in the sewing room. I have been moping around here for weeks just not feeling it. My cats are very disappointed because they love to hang (and steal things) in the sewing room.
Finally today, I decided I would write a tutorial. Funny how that is not what you are getting yet. I want to do the tutorial right so I spent the last three hours documenting my process. Voila! I made progress on some of my projects and am feeling some enthusiasm.
Haha! If you are interested, I will be posting a blog tutorial on my process. Probably two – one with more than 30 pieces and one with less. I actually do things differently based on number of pieces. Keep an eye out.
Onto the project update!
A Year in Words: Flowers by Shabby Fabrics
I did not do anything with this project this month. Now that I have finished fusing my other projects you will start seeing some progress. Next step is to iron the fusible fleece to the piece. I use that as a stabilizer for my machine applique.
Over the years I have had three different methods of machine appliquing. One: Put together all three layers (top, batting, backing), then machine applique. (I don’t like everyone seeing all my mess on the back.). Two: Applique with no stabilizer (not a big fan as I like the blanket stitch and I get a lot of fabric pull and puckers). Three: Spray basting batting or ironing fusible batting or fleece to the piece, then machine appliquing. Number three is now my favorite way of prepping for machine applique. Although, I will use whatever I have on hand.
A Year in Words: Spring by Shabby Fabrics
Once I got started on this, it took a whole 20 minutes as the time for this one is in the pieced blocks on the left. The applique part is quick since I purchase the laser cut kit!
Blooming Series – Hearts by Shabby Fabrics
This one is ready for applique. It has already been layered with fusible fleece. Because the white hearts have 3 layers, that will be the first thing I machine applique to make sure nothing shifts. Now that all my projects are ready that will happen in the next week.
Blooming Series – Daffodils by Shabby Fabrics
The interesting thing about this series is that some months (like February Hearts) are quickly assembled and ready to go and months like this (March Daffodils) take several hours to assemble. You have to punch out all the laser cut pieces, sort, label, fuse.
Involved projects like this end up being assembled in units. Each flower was assembled in 3 steps while the vase was assembled in one step. After that was done, I laid out everything and fused them together before transferring to the background.
I can’t tell you how good I feel finally finishing the fusing step on this specific project. Not that machine appliquing it will be any easier than fusing was but still, I feel good!
Wrap Up
I love applique projects but sometimes you just lose your way. While I haven’t been feeling it for applique or quilting in general, I was in a groove for both english paper piecing and cross stitch. Isn’t that why we all do so many different things?
July and August will find me on the road for significant time – 3 weeks straight. I hope to post some travel entries again. It has been so long since I have gotten to travel it will be good to pick up that piece again.
Plus soon my new long arm will arrive and I will have to figure out how to work that new aspect into the mix. I am so looking forwarding to actually finishing some large quilts!
Don’t forget I will be adding some applique tutorials soon if you are interested. I will go over my tools as well as my process. Thank all of you for your great feedback and just stopping by! I enjoy documenting all of my projects and sharing those with you.
Of course, I have to share at least one cat picture with all of you. I have three cats so today I decided to share this photo of Cali the original sewing room fiend and material girl. Nowadays she hangs upstairs in either my room or Shaun’s. She doesn’t like the kittens very much and wishes she could be a only child!
Have an awesome June now that summer is finally here and COVID is more and more under control!
Peggy
Hi Peggy! I am looking forward to reading your tutorial, so I’ll hold you to posting it/them. Oh, the sewing mojo is so very fickle, isn’t it?! Very easily fleeting yet just as easily to return. I hope yours is here to stay! I think you did great since you only worked on appliqué ONE day. Plus, you wrote or started a tutorial. Great job. Give yourself a break – your readers do. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
Thanks Roseanne. Now if only I could get my computer to cooperate! I am having challenges with wordpress and it keeps losing everything I type. I think the last update didn’t go so well…..