For the past two years or so, I've been trying to perfect my machine appliqué skills. I wanted to become proficient with machine appliqué because I believed using the sewing machine would help me finish projects more quickly.
My favorite method of machine appliqué is to prep the pieces using the freezer paper and starch method, then stitch the pieces in place using a small zig-zag stitch and fine monofilament or polyester thread. I relied on a couple of resources to learn this technique: Barbara Brackman's Quilter's Guide to Fine Machine Appliqué, Kim Diehl's Simple Appliqué, and the classic Mastering Machine Appliqué by Harriet Hargrave.
So there I was, happily stitching down lots of Mountain Laurel leaves for one of the Hospital Sketches BOM blocks, when my sewing machine developed a problem. I knew I wouldn't be able to take the machine in to get checked out until the following week, so I decided to finish appliquéing the laurel leaves by hand.
I quickly fell under the spell of hand stitching the appliqué pieces to the background fabric. I also realized I could easily stitch a piece or two every morning before work - all I needed to do was sit down, thread a needle and stitch. Somehow it seemed easier than prepping the sewing machine and doing the machine appliqué.
Once I started to appreciate the soothing effects of hand appliqué, I figured I should try hand stitching another block in the Hospital Sketches BOM. Tennessee Rose went together easily, especially since I was still using the freezer paper/starch prep method.
This morning I finished the eighth block in the series, Triple Tulips. Only one more block left to finish for the Hospital Sketches BOM - and I guess I'll be using hand appliqué for that block, too.
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| Gathered Harvest block from 2018 BOM |
Now that I've discovered how much I enjoy the hand appliqué process, I'm already thinking about future hand appliqué projects. There's 2018's Gathered Harvest BOM that got set aside when Hospital Sketches started, and an Oak Leaf and Reel table runner pattern I've had on my wish list for some time...
This new-found love of hand appliqué seems like it will be a fun and satisfying enterprise. My only concern is when will I find time for other hand stitching projects - like quilt binding and hand quilting?!
