I LOVE Applique. I love to design applique, and I love to sew applique. And, until lately, pretty much everything I sewed was by hand – freezer paper applique was my favorite.
That is, until sometime last year, when I decided I really needed to start sewing some of my applique projects on the sewing machine, or I would never get done. Wasn’t sure I liked it that much, but was happy with how projects photographed. And then I discovered machine embroidery applique. That is, combining stitches to both sew pieces down and to embellish.
Case in point: this is a block I’ve just finished. It’s a sample for a machine applique class. All that was really required was a machine stitched block, but I decided to take it a little further…
It’s such a traditional block… the Rose of Sharon. But look at how elegant it becomes by just adding a few decorative embroidery stitches. I’m in love!
Playing, when I should be working. This makes me happy! 🙂
I am a self-learner. I taught myself to sew and to quilt. And I taught myself how to draw. I love to dye my own fabrics, am a fanatic of free-motion quilting, and dabble with mixed media. I am a quilt designer and teacher, and design and publish my own line of quilt patterns. With this blog I would like to share the bits and pieces of my life. 
3 Comments
That block is beautiful. Great job with the threads and the pretty fabrics!!
Angie,
I have seen fancy embroidery stitches used on the edges of applique pieces but not within the pieces as you have done … don’t like them around the edge, but they look wonderful as you have used them!
I agree with Virtual Quilter, decorative stitches within the pieces give them a special touch. I think you aren’t playing, you are art creating.