I have never hand appliqued but would like to learn. Is this something that once you prepare the items you want to applique you can take with you and work on while you're having to wait? Because of the gas prices and I live 50 mi one way from where I work I have found myself having to wait 1 to 2 hr for my ride home. I sit and think of all time I'm wasting. I like to read but to me reading is not very productive. Can anyone suggest a design, book, etc that would help a beginner. There was a site linked on the board that really peaked my interest in hand applique. Any suggestions, ideals, etc would be most appreciative. The clock is ticking, so I better get to work. EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT THURSDAY!

I looove loove loove to hand applique!!! I find it very relaxing and yes you can take it anywhere!!!!

Here is a link someone gave me that has some really nice applique projects.

http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/baltimore_blues.htm

Cheers

Sindy's patterns are great at fatcat. Just a hint, start with larger pieces and once you feel more comfortable, attack those points and tiny circles.

There are lots of techniques for applique. I prefer to use freezer paper templates. I also hand tack most of my pieces. I have found that w/ all the bouncing/jostling in my purse, sometimes the pieces come "unstuck". Tacking them down keeps me organzied, especially if I haven't worked on it for a while.

Good luck. It's a great way to relax and pass the time.
HTH,
Julie

That is the site I was on the peaked my interest. I just don't really know how to start. I want to to the Baltimore Blues but I better start with something a little smaller, then work my way up. I have a sheet that shows me how to start, but I need one that gives the applique stitch you use, how you join pieces that are connected or butt up against each other. I understand the pattern sequence but stitching them so you don't see the stitch or cause puckering. The Baltimore Blues were machine appliqued according the site owner. She sent me the whole set. As soon as I get paid I'm going to donate to her site. I have never been on a site that gives so much for nothing. I saw a title to a book called Teach Yourself to hand applique so thought I might look into that.
I hope this helps me relax. I need it. I saw one on Sindy's site of a chicken that was large pieces and thought I might try that first. I understand how the freezer paper techique works but I still have questions. I would like to learn the turn under with the needle instead of ironing it down. Do you take the freezer paper off before you start this, and if so how do you keep the shape? I have the questions in my mind but I may not be asking them right? Please excuse type o's and unstructed sentences. Hope you can read between the lines and make sense of my ramblings.

Okie,
I really, really want to learn applique but am mid project with 2 more behind it...it may be a while. I saw a few sites and marked them into favorites for future use. Hope you find what you need.

http://www.quiltingworks.com/howto/applique101.htm
http://www.appliquedesigns.com/html/techniques.html
http://www.theappliquesociety.org/artofapplique.htm

I just wandered around on the site, found some awesome patterns and found the "family dirt" section. I laughed so hard I cried. If you need a pick me up- go there. It's worth the reading time!

My first quilt was an applique quilt. I did needle turned applique and assmebled and stitched it by machine. Mcalls has an excellent website with lots of patterns and Quilterscache is another one. Lots of patterns are rated by degree of difficulty too. Good lUck!

I have thought of another question, I am an old counted cross stitch hound. My eyes just won't let me do it anymore even with a magnifier. When hand appliquing do you need something to keep the fabric taunt or do you keep it relaxed, etc.

I use an embroidery hoop to work on mine. Either one as big as the whole square or one smaller, personal preference. A big hoop may be hard to handle. But either will keep things taut while you are trying to stitch. My dresden plate pieces were sewn together on the machine before sttiching to the background, but the dahalia one that I am working on now is stitched directly to the background because the pieces overlap each other to form the design.
Maybe this will help you a little. I use a back stitch and and just slip my needle under the edge of the piece, catching the background fabric at the same time, so that the stitches won't show. I can do it but explaining it with just words is hard! Hope this is clearer than mud! :lol:

I took a class on it and we used needle turn method. We didn't use a hoop at all. The stitches are TINY however, just to warn you. I am on the fence about liking it however. To me it is slow going, very frustrating and inside corners make me want to gouge my eyes out. But at the same time, it is kind of fun and oddly relaxing, maybe because I feel all old fashioned and "handy". ehhehe