IF i can get it to show you the stitches I used. I did a needle turn applique on one of the BOMs from April. I did a front pic and a back side so you could see the way I do applique. It's not the only way, but I really didn't want to use a fusible, so I did the needle turn and will do a blanket stitch on the flower when I quilt the top.

I use the smallest amount of the needle tip to pick up two threads or so of the background fabric, then I go up through the basted edge and go right back down to get the next two threads. The stitch length in the fabic being appliqued is about 4 or 5 threads long.

Does this make sense to you??? Are my stitches distracting to youin the finished pic?

Nice one! It's funny how by the time I was around the appliqué on the Hawaiian piece the needle turn slipstitch seemed oddly enough natural. HA! No, really, I can see where practice and patience pays off big time. Yeah I can see your itty-bitty stitches too. Mine look and feels like little grains of sand. I was going to enlarge the length of the stitch but Leslee says to keep 'em small.

I like the patch; it might be one I can use on the next quilt since it involves putting paper-pieced bees in the corner. I was going to put off paper piecing till later, but found an easy bee and thought “Why not?” A few easy paper pieced bees with small appliquéd heads in each corner should make a simple patchwork stand out even more. Maybe put a flower in the center? I’ll go look up the BOM pattern.

The only way I’m going to learn is by doing and the Hawaiian piece has only inspired me. I can now appliqué, and the actual quilting is moving right along since I’ve no seams to hinder the hand. Whole cloth quilting (or a possible envisioned harlequin variation) has been playing in the noodles as well.

Man oh man, did I tell you all I love quilting? I’m purposely having to set time aside to work on the music and write today. Now ‘that’ is saying something.

:D

It really can get addicting fast can't it Steve? I'm always happy to hear about a man who has taken up this art. They're almost always extremely good at it!! :) (Well, except for my son who only thought he'd enjoy the process LOL)

CQ you take the tiniest, neatest little stitches. I haven't perfected mine quite like that yet, but hey...so far nothin's fallen apart on me! LOL It does just take practice Steve. And you'll be amazed how fast you get after you do it awhile. Can't wait to see your Hawiian block!

It's going great and I've only a couple more threads to take on the interior before moving to the outside. More interesting than the front to me is the back and the pattern there looks awesome. I got finished last night with what I’d done and flipped it over and it looked like a doily pattern.

Sharon, now I have a headache straining my eyes to see those stitches! I realize it isn't exactly life size, but girl I have old eyes, original equipment if you know what I mean. You do marvelous work and I sure am proud to know ya!

Thanks, y'all. Boo, my eyes, too. I did do a crop on it to try to get the stitches to show larger, but that was as close as I could get them...lololol
I began embroidery when I was seven, my mom insisted we kids had to do "needle work" to keep us out of trouble so I've had lots and lots of practice.

I'm proud of you Steve to stay with it and not allow the frustration to build. My husband swings a hammer with the best of them, uses his saws to cut some fine moldings but is intimidated by my rotary cutter and sewing machine. You stick with it and post a picture soon so I can show him a man's work. I show him Tim's work all the time and he can't figure the patience out to try it! lol lol

Years ago I asked God for the one thing I really desired: to teach me patience in life. It was akin to putting the proverbial foot in the mouth, but the lessons have been great.

That is so very pretty. Keep up the good work!

hey steve, be careful what you pray for. did you hear about the woman who prayed for patience and the lord gave her twins :?: :P :P :P