need help starting crabapple hill design
 

i've seen some beautiful pictures of some of the crabapple hill patterns that have been posted on the board so i'm hoping that someone can tell me if you have all done them with the muslin backing on the embroideries. how difficult is it to embroider through the two layers? how will it change mine if i just use my main fabric layer.
thanks for any help. i can't wait to start but i really don't want to mess it up right from the beginning.

You might try Pellon SF 101 on the back of your blocks -- it is a very lightweight iron on stablizer and it needles beautifully. The extra layer helps to keep the traveling stitches, the knots and the ends of the threads from showing through the top layer when the blocks are complete.

I have used the muslin and like it alot, my friend uses a fusible but sometimes she gets bubbles in hers from too much heat. The snow ladies I'm doing at the moment, I am using warm and natural basted to it, I like that look. Maybe draw yourself a square or circle & do a sample with a few different backings to see which one you like best. When I hand stitch my labels I don't put any backing on, but then I'm not so worried about the carried thread showing through on a light background.

I wasn't sure either, but I backed my fabric with a solid piece of fabric the same size as the piece to be embroidered. I loosely sewed them together on the edges. I found embroidering through the two layers to be a piece of cake. Good luck and enjoy.

I ditto what Nammie to 7 said... The Pellon SF101 is a great product to have around! It is great for what you're looking to do here.. But it's also my favorite stabilizer for making bags ... If one layer isn't quite enough, a double layer works beautifully.

When half my bolt is gone, I start watching the sales... & usually buy mine when Joann's is having any 40-50% off sale... I call in and order a full bolt.

I like to use the extra layer for embroidered squares, I actually find it very easy to sew through and don't need to use a hoop with this technique. Make sure you baste the fabrics together so there are not any lumps or bumps. I have used a high quality muslin, but my favorite to use is a high quality white flannel.
I learned about the flannel at a workshop with Meg Hawkey.

My mom does all of these and she uses just the 1 layer of fabric - nothing behind. However her embroidery is very meticulous and neat! Not like mine would be

I wasn't aware of these beautiful designs. I had to google it. They are awesome....

I do lots of hand embroidery and I always use a piece of Quilters Dream Batting, behind the block Im working on. I baste around the out side edges. This batting is wonderful does not seem to add to bulk of seams when the blocks are sewn together, and I always use another layer of batting when it gets quilted, this really enhances the embroidery.