applique question

I've been meaning to try my hand at applique. I ordered Darcy Ashton's books Grandma's Bunnies and Darling Dogs and boy are they cute!!

I thought I would start off the easy way and use one fabric for the entire dog, and machine applique. I'm using steam-a-seam and tracing the pattern on the paper side of the steam-a-seam.

Thinking ahead here........since i'm using 1 fabric for the entire dog, and once I get it irond down on my base block, what do I use to / how do I.........get the inside markings for the body/ears/legs/nose etc. so I can stitch those? Use fabric pencil and draw the lines? Place the peel away paper with the pattern on top and sew the lines thru paper and fabric?

Suggestions please.

Ann

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Ann
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I use the peel away paper (or create a new one) and position it over the head... and then lift it while I position my pieces appropriately under it.

I think you are on the right track.

Kate in MI

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Reply to
Kate G.

They 'are' cute. Just so cute. I've enjoyed them many times. It may be that you don't have to work really hard to get the extra lines on. Maybe it depends on your having just a little bit of artist in you. Do you have a plain old piece of white blackboard chalk? Try drawing the extra lines on with the chalk and see if that's good enough. If you miss just a bit, it easily dusts off and you can try again. Machine stitching on top of chalk does make your foot a little powdery but it brushes off there easy enough too. If your chalk looks like a blunt weapon, it's easy to sort of sharpen a point by scrubbing it on a bit of sandpaper - or the driveway. Whatever. Polly

Reply to
polly esther

Kate, my dog is in big piece. Trying to figure out the easiest way to get the interior markings on the one big piece. They need to be stitched so as to define the legs/ ears etc.

Reply to
Ann

Now I remember..........it was you who was raving how cute these applique patterns were!!! I couldn't resist and had to order a few of the books for myself. They came last week. Trying to make a baby quilt.....starting simple and will make it

9 or 12 blocks.

When I get to the point where I need to transfer the inner lines I'll keep the chalk in mind. I don't do freehand very well so chalk might be the answer since I can just see myself dusting each line off many times.

Reply to
Ann

What I would do is to "cut" along the lines -- leaving them attached here and there -- almost like a stencil. Then use some type of marking pencil (like a blue pen or a chalk pencil) and trace through the "open lines" that you have created. I am also not artistic in the drawing sense -- and would not have the confidence to just 'freehand' it.

Another option -- trace templates of for example the leg... lay it on your fabric and then mark your fabric -- or pin the paper down -- and sew along the edge of the paper.

Looks like fun! Where did you find the patterns? They look WONDERFUL!

Kate in MI

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Reply to
Kate G.

Got a light box? Or a window will do. Just iron the basic shape onto the background and then tract the lines in place (either permanent or not) and stitch away.

Reply to
Cats

Use fabric marking chalk pencils to draw guiding lines and then stitch along those lines. You can either use your machine for the stitching, or do it with embroidery thread by hand. After stitching, dust away any marks that are left on the fabric. Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra

I ordered the patterns thru Norton House. There weren't many sites that had them for sale but Norton House was the cheapest. Had never ordered from them but excellent service. Only took a week from them to arrive at my house in Alberta, Canada. Shipping was cheap too. Actual rates but still cheaper than what I had expected.

Reply to
Ann

You all have such great suggestions. When the time comes I have several options :) Will have to see what works best. Haven't selected fabric yet so might be too dark for light box or window.

Reply to
Ann

I traced the patterns onto freezer paper and then cut along the lines to give myself something to draw thru... I made a Grandma's Bunnies quilt a while back and it was so much fun - check it out on my webshots page under "Julie's new baby quilt"...

I think I also used a light box at times as well, just to make sure I had the lines in the right place.

Have fun - Darcy Ashton sure knows how to draw cute critters!

Suzie B

Reply to
Suzie B

So cute! Love the bottom centre block

Reply to
Cats

Thanks!

Suzie B

Reply to
Suzie B

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