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Greetings Quilter,
Alex Anderson has done it once again!
This time she is sharing her techniques for hand and machine
applique - 6 different techniques in all!
My first quilts were hand applique quilts, and I barely knew one
technique.
I probably started with applique quilts because I didn't
understand traditional quilt blocks, yet loved the idea of
working with fabric and enjoyed seeing "pictures" created in
fabric.
I spent hours on each one of these quilts getting the applique
pieces so they had nice, smooth curves and sharp corners where
they were supposed to have sharp corners.
Way back then, I had nobody to guide me or show me any
techniques that would make my applique easier and more beautiful.
I just did the best I could.
The stitches holding the applique pieces onto the background
fabric were large, clunky, and fairly far apart - not nice tiny,
hidden stitches that would hold the pieces firmly in place.
The inside points were trimmed so close that I had to put extra
stitches to be sure that the fabric didn't fray. Those stitches
looked horrible, but I didn't know of another way to solve the
problem.
Then there was my machine applique.
Maybe you've seen it (or done it yourself) - those wide zigzag
stitches that create a mountain of thread around the outside of
your applique piece, and (if you are really lucky) might not
gather your fabric up inside them.
I wasn't so lucky or talented. Most of my machine applique
quilts had a ridge of fabric that was stuck to the mountain of
zigzag stitching around the fabric piece.
Since my early days of applique, I have picked up some
techniques that have helped, like:
* using freezer paper to shape the pieces
* taking tiny running stitches to gather the fabric around the
curves
* using tear away paper under my machine applique
I am still challenged by hand and machine applique, and once I
began making traditional patchwork quilts, I put applique aside.
But with Alex's new resource, I may just take it up again. After
all, I really do love to create pictures with quilts, and
sometimes it's more fun (and easier) to use applique instead of
piecing patches.
Plus, I have a Mickey Mouse quilt still waiting for me, and the
design is entirely hand applique.
Because this is a brand new resource from Alex, the publisher is
waiting for us to tell them how many we want, and I want to be
sure that your copy is included.
We are taking reservations just today and tomorrow - Wednesday.
After midnight Pacific Time Wednesday, August 5, the door closes
and our order will be placed.
Head on over right now and reserve your copy.
http://www.how-to-quilt.com/alex-applique.php
With the brand new techniques in hand and machine applique, we
will learn from Alex, our quilts will be easier to make and
more beautiful.
Who knows?
Maybe we will be inspired to applique some fun designs on top of
a pieced quilt!
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren
www.How-to-Quilt.com
P.S. Remember, the deadline is tomorrow - August 5 - reserve
your copy now before you get distracted by your current quilting
project:
http://www.how-to-quilt.com/alex-applique.php
www.How-to-Quilt.com
www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com
7925 Pasadena Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91941
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