Adding dimension to appliques.

As you will know, if you have read many of my blog posts, I LOVE applique. It certainly features in a high percentage of my designs! The majority of the time my applique is done by the fusible-web method. I prefer that method for many of my projects because it is relatively easy to produce very detailed and intricate shapes which would be difficult using needle-turn applique.

Having said that, I have tackled a few quite intricate needle-turn projects and my ‘magnum opus’ is my Beauty in the Bush Quilt featuring Australian wildflowers and birds:

This quilt is on the wall in the entrance to our home and I often stop to look at it and appreciate the beautiful fauna and flora with which we are blessed in our wonderful country. It is a quilt that has quite a bit of dimension and texture, and that is because I placed wadding under the bird appliques so that they stand out from the background.

So padding is an easy way to add some dimension to a quilt with needle-turn applique, but how can you achieve that with fusible-web applique? By its very nature of fusing the applique to the fabric, it can’t have padding underneath. What I have been exploring over the last few years with my appliques is giving them a different sort of dimension. They don’t jut out physically from the background as with padding, but they are highlighted and have texture so that they do stand out from what is around them.

I like to achieve that by outlining the applique round the edge of the blanket-stitching with a darker thread. You can see how I have outlined the mushroom and its stem with a simple backstitch. The outlining concept opens the way to experiment with different fun embroidery stitches, which is another of my great loves!

You can see in the bird above and the butterfly below, after outlining the applique with backstitch, a thread is interlaced with a contrasting colour to give a lovely scalloped effect.

The beehive and fountain below have been given dimension with my favourite Palestrina Knot stitch:

And now there are some fun stitches to play with in our two August hexies in the Gentle Gems Hexies of the Month programme. To highlight the pincushion shape, I have used a whipped backstitch. It is very easy to do, and with two different threads it gives quite a pleasant rope-like effect. 

After you have completed the backstitching, the whipping thread doesn’t go through the fabric, but the stitches remain on the surface. The easiest way to achieve this, without catching any of the thread or fabric, is to use a blunt-tipped tapestry needle to weave over and over the backstitch, or using the back of the embroidery needle accomplishes the same thing. Of course you will always pass the needle under and over each stitch in the same direction to achieve the rope effect.

The second Hexie pattern for this month is the penny farthing bike:

To achieve some dimension with this, the wheels are outlined with lovely bullion loops. The best needles to use for these are a Straw or Milliners needle, because the needle is the same thickness throughout which makes it easier to pull the thread through the bullion wraps.

 So that the bullions form a scalloped edge, the amount of fabric you scoop with each loop should be smaller than the length of the wraps, otherwise the bullions will just sit flat along the edge of the wheels. 

The hat band needed to have some filling, so that is done with rows of stem stitch.

The patterns for these two Gentle Gems Hexies have been sent to all who have joined the 2021 Hexies of the Month programme. It’s not too late to join and it’s very reasonably priced, so hop over here for all the details.

In ongoing personal drama, we were plunged into a three-day snap Covid lockdown, which was then extended for another five days which meant no visits to see hubby. I'm over the moon today that an hour or so ago restrictions were eased and visits are again permitted. Lockdowns add a whole new dimension to life! Thankfully I have the quiet peace and assurance that God is still on the throne and He is in control of my life and the world around me.

Happy stitching!

Val