Problem with Machine Applique

I am working on a quilt for my DS. The center medallion is a free pattern from Quiltmaker Magazine, Catty Rompus:

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spider is:
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I chose to do this using fusible web (Mistyfuse), which I ironed down ~1.5-2 years ago. Yes, I know that's a long time, but life got in the way and I have just now started working on it again. The fusible web was not holding very well in spots (possibly due to the time lapse?). I somehow did not recognize that until after I had done the spider, which is slightly less that 1.5" in diameter. I ended up with a problem spot at the bottom of it, and at this point I'm not sure how to fix it. It almost looks like I missed the edge completely, but I was certain at the time that I was catching it all the way around. However, I did it rather early one morning and I'm not sure how awake I was at the time, so who knows what really happened?

You can see an exported EQ6 picture of the quilt and the problem with the spider at:

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I am open to any suggestions on the best way to fix it. I am concerned that I might accidentally cut the background fabric if I try to remove the satin stitch.

Thanks, Bev in TX

Reply to
Bev in TX
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I usually find that it is easier to remove stitching like this from the back. The bobbin thread is usually easier to pick out than the top thread. Slide a small quick-unpick into the stitching at the back and cut ONLY the bobbin thread. If you do this at each end of the problem area, you should then be able to unpick a few stitches, and grab the end of the thread with some sharp nosed pliers and pull it out without damaging the backing fabric as the bobbin thread doesn't go through the fabric at all if you have ballanced the stitch to lock on the underside.

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

I was going to suggest unpicking from the back too. Don't pull too fast or too much at once. Once you start unpicking you can carefully cut off extra thread ends with a fine pair of scissors - keep the scissors flat against the fabric so all you trim off is your threads. Allison

Reply to
Allison

I think you'd manage to unpick it if you are careful, on the off chance you do damage the backing fabric you could fuse some lightweight fabric to the back, then use a slightly bigger body to cover up the damage.

Cheers Anne

Reply to
Anne Rogers

It might be possible to put a wider satin stitch on top of the one that's there. I frequently put satin stitch over satin stitch when doing a monogram. You would want to go slow and use a Serious backing and loosen the pressure and tension so you don't get a bog . . . but it can be done. Practice first if you're going to try it. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

and it needs a couple of eyes down there too i think. add more to cover the things you dont like much. j.

"Polly Esther" wrote ... It might be possible to put a wider satin stitch on top of the one that's there. I frequently put satin stitch over satin stitch when doing a monogram. You would want to go slow and use a Serious backing and loosen the pressure and tension so you don't get a bog . . . but it can be done. Practice first if you're going to try it. Polly

"Anne Rogers" wrote ...

Reply to
J*

Yessss, Jeanne. 500 points to you. Putting eyes over the oops is a great idea. Lots easier than the alternatives and the eyes have got to be somewhere; that's as good place as any. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

If it were my spider, I would stuff it! I don't mean for you to remove any stitches but instead: place a piece of poly batting behind the spider's body and then do a line of stitching to hold it down - satin stitch again over your original stitches through the batting then trim away any excess from the back - do this before layering the final quilt sandwich - when doing the final quilting, free-motion the spider circle again and you will have a dimensional spider body that will hide any defects. Attach the button eyes where you feel they are appropriate. jennellh

Reply to
Jennifer in Ottawa

I'd thought of that, but I wondered if it would end up too thick. It also occurred that the thickness you'd need to cover that section might also make it look all out of proportion with the other parts of the design.

I like Jeanne's idea of eyes!

Cheers Anne

Reply to
Anne Rogers

Thanks for all of the suggestions :-).

I looked under very bright light and still cannot see the threads to cut on the backside. I used a very dense, narrow satin stitch and I just cannot see (of course it probably also has something to do with the fact that I just don't see as well as I used to). I widened the satin stitch after the spider problem and I am able to see the stitches on what I did later.

I am sending the quilt to my DSIL to be quilted on her long arm, which is in AZ. She is going to deliver it to my DS, who is in CA. So I will not be able to make any adjustments after the top is completed and sent of to her.

I checked the eye placement by just laying the button eyes on the bottom, rather than on the top, as Jeanne suggested and I think it looks rather well that way. In fact my DH wandered in and, without me telling him what I was doing, he exclaimed that the eyes belong there instead of on top. So, thanks for a fix that actually looks better than the original :-). You can see a picture of that (buttons are not sewn down yet), in my webshots folder. The flash washed out the color, but you can still see how the eyes look down there :-).

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I'm going to zigzag over the problem area -- just lightly -- and then sew on the eye buttons.

Thanks again! Bev in TX

Reply to
Bev in TX

Reply to
Liz Megerle

That really is a great solution; and the eyes do look right where they are now! He's just climbing down from his web, instead of up into it >g< . In message , Bev in TX writes

Reply to
Patti

Reply to
Allison

On Nov 5, 6:53=A0am, Bev in TX wrote: ...

...

Before I sewed on those buttons, my DH questioned my putting buttons on the quilt at all. So, I called my DS and asked her whether that would be okay. Because she has a medical problem with her legs, she does not want any chance of laying on a button, no matter how flat they are. So, I am now trying to find substitutions for the cat, bird and spider eyes.

Bev in TX

Reply to
Bev in TX

Bev try making some fabric "buttons". Draw around the button on a piece of fabric, wrong side. Layer with interfacing, and another layer of fabric. sew around. Cut slit, only in single layer of fabric. Trim edge close to stitching, but not tooo close. Turn, press and attach as a button. May take some practice to turn easily. Or you could layer with right sides out and satin stitch around the edge with matching thread. Depends on look you want. Have fun. Pati, in Phx.

Reply to
Pati, in Phx

Try felt Bev. You can put two layers of different colours to make they eyes even more realistic. I don't know about washing though? . In message , Bev in TX writes

Reply to
Patti

Some of the imitation suedes don't fray. You could cut out the eyes and use a tiny dab of permanent fabric glue to hold them in place. (Even WalMart will give you an inch of fabric for free- to match with whatever. Perhaps you could get a free inch of each of the colors you needed?) Good luck with finding a solution.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Reply to
Leslie& The Furbabies in MO.

Or felt or polar fleece? Both are soft with minimal fraying.

Lizzy

Reply to
Lizzy Taylor

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm also looking into doing machine embroidered eyes. I may sew them out on organdy, faux suede or felt (artificial only -- my DS is allergic to wool), and then applique the finished products onto the existing applique. I have Embird, but I've never used it for anything other than resizing and changing thread colors. I'm trying to learn something about the other parts of it. I was able to take an existing circle in Embird Studio, make it smaller and sewed it out on quilting weight cotton. I am having a bit of a problem a stray thread popping up with the tiny outside satin stitch.

I looked up faux suedes on-line, and thus far I only found one that does not ravel (Sensude). I'd appreciate any pointers to other non- raveling faux suedes.

Bev in TX

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Bev in TX

Reply to
Julia in MN

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