Hi Janet
Here goes!
Photo
plastic sheet
ultra fine point sharpie
wonder under or another fusible fabric (I use batiks because the tighter weave helps prevent fraying and the color selection is close to normal dog fur)
small sharp scissors
Later I will give satin stitch instructions if you want to use that method

First find a good clear photo to use. You are looking for a photo with good lighting which shows depth and shadows. I enlarged mine on the color copier at Staples to the largest size that fit on the paper. Make sure it isn't too fuzzy because you will be tracing this! Don't worry about the background as long as it doesn't interfere with the lines for the dog.

I would love to have more details! Can't wait to see the rest.

this is looking interesting!! Show more!!

Keep going please. I want to know more.

wow, will follow this thread, thanks

I would love to do my dogs like this. Keep going.

wow good job so far

I cant wait to read more too!

WOW!! I would love to do my dil 's dog. When you cut the patches , do you overlap them? Your dog is beautiful. I'm going to follow this tut.

Great info & I'll follow this thread!

Tomorrow I'll take in my tracing and have it enlarged. I love to make the pattern large enough to satin stitch every piece down. They are also easier to handle than little pieces. Then I will number every piece and make sure that the lines fully enclose each piece. Now comes the tough part; like hand applique, some pieces need to be tucked underneath others. I will have to decide which pieces go on top and which underneath so I can add extra to those pieces which will be under. The eyes and nose will be on top and will be assembled separately then put into place.
Photos tomorrow and ready to trace onto the fusible. I use WonderUnder because it is cheaper and I use a TON of it. Also need to get parchment paper which I use instead of the expensive and much too small applique pressing sheet.
See you tomorrow!

Thank you for teaching us how you do this :D:D:D

Ditto!! :D I am anxious for your next post!!
:D :D :D :D

Well I did get my enlargement about 24 X 27 inches. Numbered all the pieces. Now I have to label each piece as dark, medium, medium dark, medium light and light. When I choose the fabrics I put them into these categories. What will take time is to decide which pieces go under and which on top. Those being tucked under have to have extra fabric to tuck under and I do it with dashed lines.

Janet's question. Her dog is just one color. For a black lab for example, I would look for a strong source of light (like outside in bright sun)which would show some shadows or shine and use those. Pretend there is shadow under the head on the neck. One side of the face would be darker and the area around the eye is deeper and would be darker. It's as if you are shading the picture when drawing in black and white. I would do the same for a white mountain goat or sheep. Hope this helps.
The next post will be Wednesday. It will take me a while to prep for the next step and work gets in the way!

WOW. I am glad I seen your post. That is really nice. Your dog is beautifal. Great tute. Thanks for sharing :thumbup:

My husband (a self admited non cat liker) had to put his cat down back in August I would love to do this with a picture of "Boots" for him. I know just the picture too! Thank you for posting this and breaking it down into easy to follow steps!

What a beautiful dog! I have a basenji and haven't had the courage to try to do a portrait. I did send for Malec's books explaining the process--need to get brave and start taking photos of my little boy so I can give his quilt portrait a try! You are an inspiration! WLee

Trace the pieces onto fusible web then rough cut around the pieces.

I'm really impressed with this project. Wow. Your awesome.
I'm going to look through pictures of my doggies and see if I can do this. I love applique. Thanks for sharing. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

WoW! thank you so much for documenting and sharing your process. It is wonderful! Can't wait to see the finished product!

What do you think of this picture for a beginner?

WOW! That is going to be nice. I'm going to be watching this one. I have been collecting batiks to do one of my DIL's Rhodesian Ridgeback. He was run over & killed last summer, when he was on a leash. She took this very hard, so figured I'd try & make one, but now I'll watch how you do it. Thanks for the tut.

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I bought a Tony Whitney "Midnight Glide " kit ad took one or two looks and was totally overwhelmed and could not make since of it . Now I actually think I maight be able to figure it out!

Thanks again,
Rae

Oh wow! I have that one too, and Mello Meadow. I had both of them enlarged so they will go onto a large pieced background done in browns and tans (all batik). It needs to be at least queen size and the larger pieces make it easier to satin stitch. Have fun and keep us posted on yours!!

Update. I have satin stitched most of the interior onto stiffener which was then removed. Have a shot of a piece that did not get "tucked under" well enogh and needed another piece put behind it. Background is partially pieced. Plan to have it ready for quilting by the end of the week.

I have no Idea what I am doing but thanks to your tutorial I can half way make some sence of it.How do you enlarge this I would love to do this . I fell in love at first site and didn't pay attention to how big it was and then was disapointed with the size.
I have a feeling I am going to be addicted to these.lol
Also, I don't know if my machine will do the satin sticth or not so do you have to do this?How do you enlarge this I would love to do this .

If you don't need it to be too big you can do it at a copy center yourself on the largest paper they have in the copiers. Do a section at a time and tape together when printed. I have a printing company near me that has the 36 inch wide copiers for blueprints. They will enlarge a single pattern for me for my own personal use. Staples had a hissy fit when I asked them for a single enlargement. The satin stitch is just a zigzag closed up tight. So your stitch length is very close to zero, as long as it feeds the fabric through you should be ok. Hope this helps.

thanks so much for this tutorial. I've seen some of these and wondered how they were done, now i know, and your instructions are clear

I pieced the background and used Elmer's washable school glue to stick the dog to the background. Ironing it to set it so I could do the stitching around the edge. Stiffener underneath the background. I used a zigzag stitch narrow in width and set to almost zero in length. It cannot be set at zero or it won't move and you'll just make a mountain of thread. The top thread is pulled to the back so you do not see the bobbin thread. The bobbin thread is tighter than normal in tension and lighter weight than the top thread. A separate bobbin case set with the correct tension if you have one and want to do this frequently helps. A sip of paper with the settings for with and length can also be stored with the bobbin case so it will be easier the next time. So here is Buster ready for quilting!! I'll post him under picture too. Thanks, it's been fun. Next...

Beautiful, applique. Now I can hardly wait to get started on mine. Thanks alot.

Eva

His face is perfect. Maybe a quilt around to block the other parts. Trace the colors and features from an enlarged color copy. Add in shades of brown and some grays.

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I wondered how this was done and have seen such amazing work. Love your work! :thumbup: :D

Thanks thanks, thanks, do I NEED TO. SAY IT AGAIN




YOU'RE. WORK. IS. SO REALISTIC & NOW WE SEE. WHY. THE DETAIl!

Don't think I would have the determination or skill to do this. But I really enjoyed watching your work come to life. You are an AMAZING artist and thank you!!!

What an awesome tutorial. Fantastic technique. Thanks so much for sharing.

Awesome. Love your deminstration. Looking forward to trying this one. Thank you for sharing.

Absolutely awesome tutorial!!! Thanks so much for doing it.