Last year I had made these butterflies and pinned them to background fabrics....thinking
I would hand applique them. Well, with my hand problems, that is not going to happen!
So, I was looking at a book on Machine Applique and happened across "William Morris in Applique" by Michele Hill and was blown away by this book. Being so taken with it I looked her up and found her blog to see her work. totally amazing!
I left her a comment asking if she thought that zig-zag stitching would be good for her patterns mentioning my machine (which I thought didn't have a blind stitch) didn't do blind stitches--I received a reply that pointed me to a stitch (not labeled as such in my manual) that I could use.
She had taken the time to look up my machine and figure out the stitch that I could use. How's that for being kind and generous? thank you Michele, so much! You have opened up a WHOLE NEW WORLD for me....
I have her book on order and in the meantime have spent the past few days fiddling with Helga and using these butterflies for practice.
The first few were quite wonky--but I am leaving them as is; and these two below are a lot better as I get used to maneuvering around and foot pressure settings, etc.
Here is a close up of the stitching--I am so thrilled --I will be able to applique--I still need a lot of practice, but it is DO-ABLE!!! [Doing a happy dance]
All the butterflies are batiks --( Can you see on this one that I wasn't close enough to the edge with my stitches??)
Originally I had thought that this would be a memory quilt of our Summer trip to Venice which is the print on this block...but I ran out of fabric and added some other low volume prints.
And.... some of the lighter colored butterflies fade into the background a bit--perhaps a bit of black embroidery may help this--it is going to take some thinking....
I have quite a few more to work on--loving Helga (after all my complaining!! ); she came with a nice open toe foot and an embroidery needle in her kit and caboodle. ;--)))
Tomorrow I plan to hit JoAnne's (after my much-needed haircut) and get some good Rayon top stitching/embroidery thread--Michele recommends 40 wt, and others I've read about recommend 50 wt. I'll try both.
It is amazing what you can learn just by asking--quilters are such wonderful people!
Hugs to all, Julierose, La Blageuse Joyeuse....
