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Quilters & Crafters
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May Apple Mayhem Quilt
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Try your hand at 3 dimensional appliqué with this uniquely textured wall hanging. Use any appliqué pattern and just add thread, embroidery, and beads for added “touchability”.
Skill Level: Advanced 
Time to Complete: 20 Hours or more
Tools Needed:
Materials Needed:
- Materials needed for 24" x 36" wall hanging:
- 1/2 yard olive green batik
- 1/2 yard sage green batik
- 1/2 yard forest green batik
- 1/2 yard mustard for background
- 1/2 yard cinnamon for background
- 24" x 36" rectangle of batting
- Coordinating sewing machine and embroidery thread
- Various beads
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- Begin by tracing or drawing the shape of your leaf onto two layers of fabric. Remember, this can be any shape you like. The idea is that you are creating a 3 dimensional applique which you will attach later.
- Cut the whole leaf out as a square to make it easier to work with. Spray a bit of temporary spray adhesive between the two layers to hold them together.
- Attach a piece of water soluble stabilizer to the back of the square and pin in a couple of places to hold together while sewing. Don't cut out the shape just yet.
- Using your favorite method of free motion quilting, add stitching all over the shape. If it is a leaf for example, add veins, flower petals can have veins also, circles, perhaps curlicues or bulls eyes.
- Using the sensor Q foot, or jumping foot with your sewing machine keeps the layers moving together during sewing, preventing puckering as you go along. Your own machine may use a special embroidery or free motion foot as well. Check with each individual manufacturer or dealer if you are not already familiar with this. You will need to lower the feed teeth on your sewing machine. Use different colors and weights of threads to add interest. See how easy this is?
- Next, add heavy embroidery threads by hand to accent certain areas of the design and create more texture, more touchability.
- Sew around the perimeter of shapes using a straight stitch and matching thread.
- Cut shapes out using a small 18mm rotary cutter for precision.
- When you are satisfied with the look of your 3 dimensional elements, rinse in warm water to dissolve the stabilizer and press dry. If you want a stiffer applique, simply do not rinse as well, leaving some of the stabilizer in to add body. You can also add a fabric stiffener at this point if youd like to add further shape and for a firmer piece. Simply spray, shape, and let dry.
- Add beading as desired to give your piece sparkle. You can use any size beads, whatever is appropriate for the work. Think about putting beads on the background piece as well to provide continuity. Dont forget the borders.
- Create your background using a solid piece of muslin or other fabric, or piece the background to your liking. I chose to piece my background to give the look of the ground underneath the leaves.
- To attach 3D pieces to your quilt background, stitch in place either by machine or hand, but dont sew the piece down all the way. Attach it only in the center and here and there throughout the piece in order to keep its dimensionality. Let the pieces hang relatively loose.
- Add borders, batting, backing as usual and quilt loosely to keep the whole thing in place.
- Use the birthing or pillow case type of binding method lately because it is so quick and simple. If you prefer a real binding, you can do it that way. I like the stitch and turn method because it saves time and creates a nice flat outer edge.
- The actual quilting is almost secondary at this point, and can be kept quite minimal. Youve already added much of the texture and dimension through the freestyle appliqu elements. Simply freestyle quilt the borders and throughout the background to enhance the design and make the applique pieces pop.
- And there you have it. Voila! A beautiful 3 Dimensional piece to enjoy and admire.
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