what if ?

#9: applique with heavy fabrics

Like everyone else, I have many unfinished projects.  So I was thinking what if  I use them for what-ifs.  This was part of another adventure.  I cut out the center panel but then there was this nice piece of corduroy hidden under the velvet, so I  thought what if  I cut through, will reverse applique work with such fuzzy heavy  fabrics?

7"x7"
Cotton linen jacquard on cotton velvet over cotton corduroy

Ragged edge applique center squares outlined in wrap stitch, random color banding

Quilted with DMC 3 and 2 strands.

Cutouts edged and plain, both work fine.

Very uneven edging , very badly mitered corners.

Working with pile fabrics is not difficult except for fraying,  stitches hide in the fuzz and cover up mistakes. Surprisingly easy to work with, producing dramatic textural effects.

Regular quilting, the pattern is hard to see on velvet in such a small piece. varying thread weight and stitch length may help

I like the way the bar edging mirrors the corduroy texture.

#186: pattern play applique

Besides the fact that pattern play applique rhymes, ha,  I have been asking myself what if i do a variation on the embroidered magic feather and try it in applique. i am playing with fussy cut sections of prints, manipulating pattern sections into the cutouts to use them as feathers. 

flannel, linen and cotton on indigo dyed silk velvet.

i like the way applique works on velvet, sinks in and becomes part of the cloth, not raised up like flat on flat applique.

the fabric, velvet, always seems to be in motion, so it is a bit tricky to place a motif exactly where you want it.  and car must be taken to make sure the needle catches the back of the fabric...

i like that i can make the feathers a bit bigger and not worry about the length of the floats for the embroidery...

THis technique is continued here, with a little video tutorial....