I thought I had tried every method of applique'
* needle turn
* raw edge with blanket stitch
* rag edge
* back-basting
* invisible thread with machine stitch
not to mention the ton of ways to prepare your applique' shapes:
* freezer paper (wax side up - Kim Diehl's method)
* freezer paper and starch
* spray adhesive
* fusible adhesive
* cereal box templates and starch
* plastic templates and starch
OK, so the list goes on!
And now I've tried "free-motion" applique' on the sweetest little pillow topper. At a retreat given by Kellie Wulfsohn from Australia, we used raw edge applique' pieces with fusible adhesive, added a couple of layers of wool batting, grabbed a pair of new garden gloves to get a good grip, dropped the feed dogs, then straight stitched around each piece two to three times. Once the pieces are on, quilt in a few swirls. I gave the freemotion quilting a good try, then I brought it home and used my longarm... I know, I cheated! But I did learn another fun way to applique!
A unique designer, we're bound to see more of Kellie's "Don't Look Now" designs... patterns... classes... and even a line of fabrics for Riley Blake Designs coming next Spring. I first found her on this Board, with one of her quilts in a picture of "Doll Quilts" in the header. Here's her website:
http://dontlooknow.typepad.com/dont_...-fabric-1.html
What's your favorite method of applique?