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First Machine Applique Class
What FUN! I got to teach my new Machine Applique with a side helping of Hawaiian class this past week at Quilters’ Cottage in Camden for the first time. I was thrilled that we were able to go through all three techniques—fused and satin stitched, freezer-paper underneath (to be removed when applique is done) and fusible interfacing underneath (remains in the quilt) using the gingko pattern with I developed to teach the class, AND still have enough time to go through the basics of cutting out a Hawaiian-style block.
The first photo is Sally’s blocks….I love seeing other people’s color selections on my patterns…colors I might or might not use and see how the pattern looks that way…way fun!
The gingko leaf pattern is for a 6-inch block…that way not a lot of time and materials invested if the student doesn’t want to finish the series (though they seemed to!). In the second photo, Pat is completing the statin stitching on her fused block…bold red thread with a pale gray and black combination, and she has a really cool red with kanji on it for the inner border on the wallhanging (pattern on my website, just scroll down)…it’s going to look awsome!
Then, I got to show the ladies how to use my freezer-paper snowflake technique to cut out a Hawaiian design, using the optional itty-bitty rotary cutter (the one with the blade about the size of a dime). My Hawaiian style patterns–Halekala–teach how to do that, but basically instead of folding fabric into 8 layers (remember cutting snowflakes in grade school from folded paper) and then–ouch on the aging knuckles–trying to cut through eight layers…well, even with new, sharp Gingher scissors, my hands would ache. So I trace the pattern onto freezer paper, cut that out, iron it to the applique fabric, then cut around the freezer paper. This works for either fused OR turn-under applique (hand or machine). It requires cutting each edge, but I’d rather spend more time and not have my hands ache for days than try to cut eight layers at once. Anyway, I’m hoping the class fills up in Bangor, because I’d really like to do a lot more with the Hawaiian style patterns.