Back Basting

 It has been awhile since I spoke about how to do applique with the back basting method. By no means am I an expert, but I am finding success with applique, which previously was a skill I would avoid at all costs. 

My breakthrough came in two moments which occurred almost simultaneously. First, I admired my friend Becky's beautiful applique and learned that she uses the back basting method. She explained the method, shared some tips, and encouraged me to try it. Within a day or two, almost as if destiny intervened, I chanced across a video on Instagram by the very talented Jeana Kimball, in which she provided a step-by-step tutorial on the method.

Since I am beginning the leaf appliques on one of my panels, I thought I'd go ahead and share the prepping steps. Almost any time I mention back basting, I get comments and questions about it. Hopefully this will help someone.

Prior to what you see in this photo, I have pencil-traced my entire design on the back of my panel. I have already stitched the vine/branches, which is faint but visible on the left. For leaves, I cut big shapes out of my desired fabrics and pin them over the traced leaves. It is essential to leave ample turning-under fabric, so cut larger than you need.

When you know which leaf you want to work on, move the fabric to the front of the panel. I hold my fingernail on the widest parts of the leaf to make sure I am leaving enough fabric for turning under and adjust accordingly. Pin in place.

Return to the back of the panel, and with very dark, mismatched thread, run a basting stitch on the leaf outlines. In the photo above, you can see that I have three leaves basted. This is where we get the term back basting. The next picture shows how the front looks when basted. The leaf shows because you've used that mismatched thread. Note that I am really cutting that one leaf edge close (at about the 10 o'clock point), but I think I can make it work. It will still look like a leaf if I have to come in a bit at that point, right?

Next, trim around all the shapes to remove the excess fabric. As I applique, I will trim more closely on the curves, notching or clipping as needed.

Now I am ready to stitch these three leaves. As I get some done, I will take pictures and do a follow-up on the stitching and finishing part of the process.

I sure hope this simplifies the back basting method for you. I learned it as the result of two accomplished quilters helping me along; I hope this will do the same for you!

Linking up with Kathy's Quilts in just the nick of time! Check out her weekly feature Slow Sunday Stitching!

Happy Monday! 

And Happy Quilting, Friends!

Slow Stitching on Lake Effect

 I bring the same stuff every Sunday; what can I say? I really do slow stitch on Lake Effect.

This photo shows a very good view of the basting stitches (in dark thread) that form the vine I am appliqueing. The method is known as "back-basting" and affords the most success I have ever had with applique.

Looking at the back of the panel, one can see that the design has been traced out. I used my big dining room window as a makeshift lightbox. Then I cut my vine fabric the same size as the panel (yes, there will be waste). I layered the two fabrics together, the vine fabric right side up on the back of the tracing. Then I used big stitches and dark thread to stitch along the design of the vine. Where you no longer see dark stitches, I have appliqued the design, so my light-colored stitches are visible.

So, back basting = baste the design on the back, turn it over to applique from the front.

It is easier than any other method of applique I have ever attempted. The trick is to cut away just 8 or 10 stitches of basting at a time - just enough to give your needle room to work the folding-under process.

The best teacher of this method, in my opinion, is Jeana Kimball. I found her on Instagram, and she did a few videos awhile back that were incredibly helpful. Maybe you can dig them up if you are interested in learning the method.

Have a great day, friends! And have a productive week! 

I am linking with all the stitchers over at Kathy's Quilts for her weekly Slow Sunday Stitching party. Her motto for the day: "Relieving Stress One Stitch at a Time."

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

Bird On A Limb

We Frankfort Girls met this morning at Becky's for fellowship and fun. It never fails but what we have a great time. If you quilt and are not a member of a sewing circle, you are really missing out. I cannot stress enough how much these gals mean to me, not just as dear friends, but as motivators and mentors. We challenge each other to maintain our focus, to experiment, to step outside our comfort zones and grow in our craft.

And for me, breaking out of my comfort zone and actually working to learn applique has been a very positive step for me. All this is credit to the influence and encouragement of these dear girls.

My center panel for Lake Effect is now completed as of this morning's work at Becky's table. I saved the redbird for last, forcing myself to do those 'round' berries first. Ahem. Round is a totally relative term. I will trim this down, give it a serious pressing, and prepare it for attaching to the elongated hexies.

In addition to the Frankfort Girls' help, I have a cyber-mentor, Jeana Kimball. I am sharing my applique journey on Instagram where Jeana, a prolific applique expert and teacher, shares her amazing creations. I am forever in her debt for the step-by-step tutorial she posted on IG this summer. I watched and re-watched them. She even commented on some of my pictures and offered advice. I cannot thank her enough for this.

So my morning with the Frankfort girls was fruitful. The girls had several show and tell projects which I am currently editing, and hopefully will be posting in a day or two.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

June Has Been Busy

Today's post is going to be a hodge-podge of various topics in an effort to catch up with some odd bits of all the goings-on. I need to clear out some photos from my phone, so if I get them to this point, the phone files can be pared down.

The month began with a week of quilting at Terry's - which I shared in the following posts, here and here. What I forgot to share was the wonderful graciousness of our hostess! She went above and beyond in making all of us feel welcome and comfortable.

Showing you the food at Terry's leads me to the food at Pam's when we had Frienzies at her house last week. She prepared a delicious dinner - stuffed peppers, fruit salad, and oatmeal cake topped with yogurt and strawberry sauce.

Having food highlights out of the way, I will move on to a fun day-date with my DH. He'd heard through his garden club about a garden near Mt. Vernon and Gambier, OH, that he wanted to visit. Friday was a perfect day - one of only a handful of days on which we haven't had rain. Off we went to investigate, and OH! how glad we are that we did! Schnormeier Gardens is 75 acres of well manicured fields, ponds, and streams with a definite Eastern influence. I took several dozen pictures, but will just share a handful here. If you are in Ohio, I highly recommend seeking out this hidden gem. Entry is free, but limited, so investigate first.

As you can see, Schnormeier Gardens does not feature flower gardens. The emphasis appears to be on shade-loving hostas and other ground cover plants. Also, pine trees and many other varieties of conifers were featured. The streams and ponds were spectacular with both waterlilies and fish. We did our tour without a guide - I don't know if guides are even an option. We did get a brochure to explain the 8 or 9 distinct "areas" of the 75-acre gardens, but we were free to roam at our own pace. In several places along the way we found benches or stools for resting and reflecting. It is just the kind of way we enjoy spending out time.

After a full day of garden-touring, we drove to Columbus for the opening of the Ohio Theatre Summer Movie Series sponsored by CAPA. We have been long-time fans of the summer series, and we are super-excited about this, their 50th season. They opened with the ultimate classic, Casablanca.
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That was all on Friday. For Father's Day, we headed back to Columbus to have lunch with the girls. Dad's choice - Arch City Tavern in the Short North. We took no pictures of that - we always forget the important stuff! Trust me, though, we had a great time, as we always do when we get together with the kiddos.

Since this blog is mostly about sewing and quilting, I do have some of that business to share. It seems I have taken to accumulating hand-sewing projects lately. Knowing that I am going to have some applique to do very soon on that Lake Effect quilt, I have been investigating various techniques to that end. One - back basting applique - I learned about from quilting friend Becky during the week of sewing at Terry's. Then, I saw some tutorials for that same technique on Instagram from author and pattern designer Jeana Kimball.   (Her IG handle is @jeanakimball.) Numerous times, I watched and read her quick lessons and decided to give it a try.

Using the window behind my sewing table as a light table, I traced the pattern onto the back of the fabric I'd be appliqueing on. I selected a small and timely project in my collection. I have begun the process, and feel as though I am making improvements as I go. I chose to do the largest part first - the hand. Below is an in-progress pic with all its beginner's mistakes glory.

I posted this same picture on IG, and Jeana herself commented and offered (in a DM) suggestions for improving. I am very grateful for this, and I am following her advice closely and feeling more confident all the time. Still a novice, to be sure, but gaining confidence.

Moving on, yesterday was a sewing day with Sharon. She continued on her Tag Sale quilt, which I totally ignored in the taking of pictures. I did some applique stitching, then decided to put the borders on the weathervane quilt I made last week before moving on to something new.

Well, that's about all the updating I can bring for one post. This has become quite a mish-mash of topics; I hope you have been able to navigate through it all!

Happy quilting, Friends!