Focus on Applique: Ugly fabrics = great for applique

Debra · 2006-09-28T17:59:46+00:00

I'm borrowing Pat's Focus on Design idea for a series of appliqueoriented discussions. I don't know how many I might come up with buthere is the first one. Ugly fabrics are often perfect for applique. The very reason theywon't look good in a pieced block, as sashing strips, or as borderfabric makes them good for applique uses. Muddy brown colored fabrics can be used as walkways, tree branches,fall leaves, acorns, animal bodies, freshly plowed fields, buildings,furniture, and insects. Ugly blue prints can be lakes, creeks, stormyskies. Ugly greens can be fields, tree covered mountains, frog ponds,leaves and stems, lizards, frogs, turtles, and bugs. Prints that are too big for other quilting uses can be used forapplique too. That print of large pumpkins can be cut to makepumpkins for applique onto a fall or Halloween wall hanging orcalendar quilt block. Oversized flowers can be used the same way. But every now and then there is a print that just stumps you. I'veinherited just such an ugly print, and ugly as it is I couldn't bringmyself to toss it out. I think I know how to use it now. It's fromthe 1970s; medium blue background with large ugly green, red, and goldflowers with navy colored stems. There are also large squares with anavy hexagonal pattern inside them. I think this fabric was supposedto look somewhat Asian, but it falls short by a long shot. I've foundthe flowers don't lend themselves to applique use at all. I wasthinking that I could use some of the hexagonal patterned parts for ablock that features a honey bee. Oddly enough when I cut off a smallpart of the honeycomb the thought of shoe treads and the tops of flipflops came to my mind. So now this fabric that has stumped me foryears has presented me with more than one possible use. Has anyone else had a fabric stump you, only to realize part of it isperfect for a particular applique? Debra in VASee my quilts at

Sep 28, 2006 25 Replies

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Debra 19 years ago

I'm afraid you think I am much better at applique than I think I am. I know I am not up to doing a Pat Campbell design yet. I'll have to look into designs by Stewart Merrett. I did see something I want to do with those colors though:

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The big question is where can I get the pattern? Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Cats 19 years ago

According to the back of the pattern envelope -

Feline Fiesta by KTS Designs

Distributed by Golden Needles & Quilts

701 N. Allen Rockport TEXAS 78382

(361) 729-7873

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I drew my pattern over into EQ5 so I could resize and play with colours and layouts. Do you EQ?

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Cats 19 years ago

Here 'tis-

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I also bought Percival Pelican but haven't made any of it yet -

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Patti 19 years ago

Wow! What a reply! Cheryl you're great! I would not be trying to use these colours together (thought my DH would be glad if I would >gbirds? Or adapt a crewell embroidery design for applique.

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Debra 19 years ago

Well, quite a few were a bit over my abilities yet, but I did get a really good cat quilt idea. Of course it will have to wait until I get done with at least two other quilts first, my RCTQ applique BOM and DH's space theme quilt. I wish I wasn't working full time right now. I could get more sewing done if I were home more, but I'll just have to settle for a little time here and there. Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Cats 19 years ago

You might like to look at some of Laurel Burch's designs too.

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