Beth Ferrier’s Blog

Let’s talk about getting small. Applique, I mean. What were you thinking?

The leaves for the sweet peas are narrow and pointy. While the shapes are pretty simple, small pieces do require a little extra care. This would be a perfect time to use a glue pen instead of a glue stick. My new favorite glue pen is made by Pioneer. Called Photo Glue Stick Pen, the glue goes on smoothly and cleanly. I find mine at the local Michaels.

The first step is to cut the seam allowances a little narrower than the usual. Instead of a scant quarter inch, for these narrow shapes aim towards a heaping eighth inch seam allowance.(These photos are blurry, I’m so sorry for that. One of these days I’ll learn how to work my camera. Let’s call it a romantic soft focus. Hey, it worked for Doris Day.)

Next carefully fold the seam allowance over the points. It’s important to be really, really careful to avoid breaking back the point of the freezer paper (or Tear Away Magic Fusible, if you’re using that instead). Yes, I did trim the seam allowance at the point, to square it off. Apply glue just to the seam allowance tips for now and press in place.

I’ve found that working the side with an inside curve first turn out best. This inside curve is so gentle that I didn’t even do any clipping. Glue baste in place.

Finally, glue baste the remaining side. I don’t worry about how the seam allowances overhang the points yet. At this step I’m only worried about the appearance of the finished edges and points. After the glue dries the applique hangover can be folded back onto itself or even trimmed away.

We’ll start the curvy leaves the same way, this time let’s only baste over the pointed end, not the point at the curvey end.

 

Again, we’ll glue baste the inside curve side first, this time we’ll need a couple of clips in the seam allowance, just two or three, in the curve.

Oh, yikes! I must have had my glasses off when I was taking these pictures. At least you can see the clips in the seams.

Finally, let’s glue baste that remaining side. The puckers and pleats on the outside curves only matter if they affect the edge. They are on the wrong side of the leaf so they won’t show, no worries.

Nice. Most important of all, take your time. Don’t worry about how many you have to do. Think about each leaf as you’re working on it. Do your best and then move on. Some will be lovely, some will have more character. The more you do, the better they will turn out, and before you know it, the hardest part of the applique will be done. Time for a Ten a Day Leaf Challenge?

This entry was posted on Friday, August 21st, 2009 at 8:10 am and is filed under Hand Applique by Machine, block of the month, Now & Forever. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.