Saturday, January 31, 2009

Weekend sewing

This applique set was given to me for my birthday. I'd seen it hanging in the local Craft shop and loved it from the first. It's my first ever attempt at applique so we'll not linger too long on the size of the blanket stitch or the beak that's on upside down. I am pretty happy with a first effort. It's taken me a while and really if I hadn't volunteered to do four duties over the Christmas period it would still be unfinished. Being on base for 24 hours gave me a perfect opportunity to draw, cut and sew to my heart's content.

I learnt a lot along the way, namely that you draw the pieces individually. I drew two owls before I discovered this gem of information.

I learnt that batting and wadding are very different materials and will give very different results.
I learnt that corners are fiddly, critters that so far elude my patience and experience level.

I also learnt that I thoroughly enjoy applique and so when I received a heap of gorgeous lilac fat quarters from my magazine swap partner Laurie I knew it had to been an applique project.
This is a Sunbonnet Sue pattern that I found free here
The background material was really hard to pick. It didn't seem to matter what colour I tried they all seemed to clash. Finally we took the quarters of to Spotlight and spent hours holding them against pretty much every fabric choice they had until it was decided that the beige with small white flowers while not perfect was the best choice.


I have proper batting to finish it off this time and I'm thinking of making it a wall hanging by threading wooden dowels top and bottom. It will then hang in my bedroom so I can admire each morning when I wake up and each evening when I go to sleep.
Two more sleeps until Social knitting start again. Can you tell I've missed my weekly sit and knit time.

22 comments:

Danette said...

Oh My Goodness! I really love all of your applique work. Hard to believe you're a beginner. Those owls are THE CUTEST!!!:)
Keep up the good work soldier!
~Danette

Kitty said...

Oh well done Alison - I love appliqué too - you can get such wonderful effects with fabric and thread. I don't think you can tell you're a beginner AT ALL - those pieces are lovely. x

Jane said...

Alison your applique is beautiful and your owls are very cute, Well done. Sun bonnet Sue is going to be beautiful when she's finished. Jane x

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Your owls are so sweet! Applique is certainly addictive.

Mary said...

You did a great job! I love the owls - so adorable.

Renee said...

What beautiful fabrics! Your owls are adorable.

leah said...

Amazing! You would never know you just started doing this!

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

Those owls are fabulous! Love how they came out - beak upside down - I don't think so!!! It looks perfect to me :)

Willow said...

Lovely work! I'm impressed!

Karin said...

I love your owls! Amazing colors!

Anonymous said...

your owls are just lovely - looks like you found another talent :-)
lisa x

LizzieJane said...

I love your applique Alison, those owls are so cute, now your fabric stash will soon be looking like your knitting stash!
x

Alison Gibbs said...

Alison your owls look sensational
Alison

Thimbleanna said...

Very nice Alison! I thought batting and wadding were the same thing. We don't have anything here that we call wadding, so I guess I don't know what it is!

Louise said...

You have done really well to give all the owls such different faces, to give them all an individual character. Great bright colours too. x

Jenn Maruska said...

I like your wonderful owls - nice job!

t does wool said...

well done...and you seem to have learned alot along the way here!

Natalie said...

I LOVE your owls. They are soooo cute.

Tracy said...

Wonderfully done, Ally...Those owls are so cute (great fabrics!) and so are all the Sues. Thanks for sharing! Applique is a lot of fun once you get started--curved shapes and very sharp corners are challenges. But what joy when they turn out! Happy quilting! :o) ((HUGS))

Caroline said...

Your owl is darling, but I'm really in love with your Sunbonnet Sues. They're so nostalgic to me. Oh, and your bedding is beautiful too.

raining sheep said...

Oh! so very well done... applique takes patience - I am so impressed and beautiful colors...I do love the owl the best.

knittingdragonflies said...

The owls are adorable, not to mention the colors! I like their personalities. Applique!! It scares me, I haven't tried it. But you really have a talent for it.
Vicki