HAVING FUN WITH MACHINE APPLIQUÉ

I am having a go at Machine Appliqué.  Using my Brother Quilters Edition Innov-is 200.  So far ... so good!  I'm really enjoying this technique (I honestly did not think I would!). 

This project is another quilt for little Amos.  The pattern is "By Air, By Rail, By Sea" by Heathers Designs found HERE.  I have the "By Sea" row all ironed on ready to stitch and so far I have finished one boat.  This pattern was a bit too fiddly for hand blanket stitch and although I badly need a new hand sewing project, I decided to have a play with machine blanket stitch and I must say I am loving it!

I am using Sulky 30wt in the needle and Bottom Line 60wt in the bobbin and I am very pleased with the effect.  The blanket stitch I am using is one that fills the space nicely.  I have ironed on some Pellon 630 to the back of the work and I like the way it softens the appliqué.

To educate myself about this method I read everything I could and watched hours of youtube videos.  I then did a practice piece and found which settings I liked.  It's all about "knowing" how the stitch is formed on YOUR machine, so I did many many rows to understand my blanket stitch.

One hint I picked up and now I cannot recall whether it was a video or a blog post but it was about pulling the threads to the back of your work and then weaving all the threads through some stitches - use a Magic Needle !  you know... those "self threading" hand sewing needles!!!  well I have to tell you, these things are indeed MAGIC!  I will now keep the packet close by all of my machines - they will be great when pulling the quilting thread to the back of the quilt and I can even see me keeping one in my hand sewing bag..... for those times when I keep sewing when I know I should stop because I'm running out of thread!  these needles are so easy to "pop" the thread into and then finish off stitching.  I found an article HERE which explains more about these needles.

So I have started the New Year off with a new project and a new technique.... not a bad start :-)

Happy Sewing!

Cheers from Helen