I finally got both Sue and Sam. Yeah! I wasn't sure about getting them but there was a mixup when I asked for pricing and she sent them to me as an order. (She's a nice lady, I'm going to pay her when she sends the bill.) Now that I have them in my hands, I want to keep them.

Those of you who have used the applique dies-

what is your advice?
Does grain of fabric really matter when using scraps?

Can they be done as needle turn applique without the adhesive stuff? If I want to do them by hand?

Can they be sewed by machine without the adhesive and just lots of pins? Or does it need the extra stabilizing to work best with machine sewing?

I haven't actually opened them yet, I'm wanted to advice so I don't mess up a bunch of fabric.

LOL! I thought she died! As in-they were going to discontinue making her. Now I understand.

grain can matter but it can be done if it's not important like when you are doing blocks or strips that have to match up. I once cut a block and it wasn't on grain and it took me the longest time to figure out why it wasn't square; one side shorter than the other. You can applique it anyway you want. I like to do backbasting or fusible but it's up to you. Try it different ways and see what works best for you. Congratulations on getting those dies; I got the gingham cat and dog and now want sam and sue

That reminds me of the Sun sets on Sunbonnet Sue quilt.
Have you seen it? I think it was made by someone who doesn't like Sunbonnet sue. It's quite creative.

http://www.sundrysites.com/embroidery/sunbonnetsues.htm

I must admit, when I first saw the caption "Accuquilt Sunbonnet Dies" I got excited because I hate Hate HATE sunbonnet sue! I wasn't fond of her when she was called Hollie Hobbie in the 70s, and I dislike her still! I admire the workmanship of quilts featuring her and her faceless friend Sam, but that's as close as I get to liking her.

That's fuuuuuuny!

That is wonderful I love it, but I do have a weird sense of humour :twisted:

Same here! :lol:

:lol: How funny. Isn't it funny how different meanings can be found in a simple sentence?

I love Sunbonnets because I'd watch my grandmother and aunts make them.

They had a cousin who worked in a sheet factory years ago who would send them several 50 pound boxes of sheeting scraps every year. And they would make applique quilts. Sunbonnet Sues and Overall Bills using coloring books to embroidery interesting backgrounds.

I try to do that when I make a Sunbonnet quilt. To me, I feel the little boy and girl standing by themselves sort of look naked without something in the background.

Every time I see something referencing the Accuquilt shapes (my word), I think the machine has literally died. Glad I'm not the only one!! :)

I love Sunbonnet Sues, Overhall Bills and Sams. Always think they are cute, hate the mean ones. If I didn't like them I wouldn't make mean ones. I made a Sunbonnet Sue baby quilt for my oldest Great Granddaughter about five years ago.

Count me as another who thought poor Sue was about to take the dirt nap!!

Especially for appliques, grain does not matter when cutting (especially when using scraps). For turned applique, the edges turn better when they are bias anyway.

You could certainly do them via needle turn applique by hand without adhesive. Not something I would like to do (hand problems make hand work too difficult for me).

Whenever doing machine applique, I *always* heavily starch the background squares so I don't have to use a stabilizer underneath. This prevents tunneling (if using satin stitch) and just generally prevents the background fabric from shifting while I stitch. My method is to mix a 1:1 solution of liquid Sta-Flo laundry starch and water, "paint" the solution onto yardage using a large wall painting brush until fabric is saturated, toss in dryer, then iron with steam. Only after that do I cut the background squares, and then I usually cut them 1" bigger than needed and cut them down to correct size after the applique is done (to ensure precision size).

For machine applique, unless you want to do raw edge applique, I think using a fusible is best. If you don't want added heaviness to the applique, then use Misty Fuse. Too many pins get in the way when doing machine applique and, if you are like me, you will stick yourself one too many times!

I thought the same exact thing :lol:

me too, thought this might have been a joke at first...DUH as my DD would say

And then you have to explain the strange brown spot on the square or the appliqued heart in an odd spot.

Is there a way to change the title of a message? I've seen a place to click shortly after it's first posted. But can't find the spot now.

I say leave it alone--it's a nice surprise and will draw people in--that's what got me!

Maybe I am the only one who know what a Die was. My husband is a machinist. I don't think I would try and needleturn a motif cut out with the GO. I think it would distort the item. That is one reason I purchased the Baby GO so I could make fusable appliques to machine sew down. The fusing also keeps the edges from fraying. I was excited when catalogues started carrying the die cut motifs until I called them and discovered they did not have fusing on the backs.
I am ashamed to say that I have cut out some of my appliques but have yet to use any of them on a quilt. Tommorow is another day.

Me too. I read and reread the title of the thread trying to figure out if Sunbonnet Sue finally goes to her final resting place. :)

LOL This thread is so funny.. I thought charity-quilter killed her quilt somehow. I am not a huge sue fan but the work that goes into one is amazing. Thank you all for the laugh.

We probably all knew what a die was but it's just the way we read it. I knew but don't use them so my mind didn't go there. It made me laugh and others, too, and that's always a good thing! :-)

It's funny how things can be read completely differently then intended. And if you aren't thinking the same way the original poster thinks a laugh can be had by all.

Holly Hobbie was no Sunbonnet Sue. Sunbonnet was around light years before Holly made an appearance. Holly, however died an early death, comparatively speaking. On the other hand, SS took her vitamins like a good girl and did her exercises and cut down on sugar and fat and she is still with us. PS, I am pretty sure that Holly smoked too. SS never took up the habit.

Then you should see Charity-crafter's link in her post....lol

Wasn't Holly Hobbie a pre-printed line of fabrics? I don't remember seeing applique patterns for her...I remember finding Holly Hobbie fabrics in the sale bins when I very first started thinking about quilting.

I have done Sue and Sam. Use the straight of the grain. Off grain stretches too muh. I also used a light weight fuse and machine applique.

Love it. I've always hated the sunbonnets as way too cutesie.

I'm so sorry for your loss

:lol: :lol: :thumbup: That made me chuckle.

OK....now that I've stopped laughing so hard at the comments.... I have the Sue die and it's pretty small peices so i recommend that you do the fusible...put fabric on them/iron on before cutting...then u can applique by hand or machine much easier in my experience. Wish i have the Sam die too.
Yooper 32....u are too much! LOL

Boy, someone doesn't like Sun Bonnet Sue on the embroidery quilt. It did make me laugh. I like SBS and someday will make one out of 30's fabric.

Yes, Sunbonnet Sue has been around for a long time! I will be 77 in July and my mother made a SS for me when I was born. She passed it down to me when I had my first daughter and I'm ashamed to say (not appreciating it then) that I cut it unto crib pads as it was "worn" some. I'm still disgusted eith me!

Oh, I was so excited. I thought Sun Bonnet Sue died. Oops.

oh wow. I totally mis-read that - I love Sunbonnet Sue (I'm actually hosting the swap now!) I can't answer for the accucut shapes. Sorry.

I must admit I also thought she had met her demise... and I hope to participate in the swap Jennifer22206 is hosting so I guess I really have no ill feelings towards her... funny how words can be seen so differently

Since I'm the new owner of an Accuquilt Go - I KNEW exactly what she was talking about.

I don't have an accuquilt so when I read the title, I thought Sunbonnet Sue died! I thought, Oh, no - but then again, she is really old! :)

Dirt nap...now that's funny! I will admit my first thought was "how could she possibly die?"

Count me in as one who was writing eulogies for Sunbonnet Sue. I watch the grain, but that is all. Only machine applique so far and all is right in my world. Poor Sue, Bill would be crushed.

I'm glad I am not the only one who drew the wrong conclusion when I read the title, but I thought she was dead - I guess I have been living in FLORIDA too long......