Needlework News » Applique

Fabric intarsia: Felt-inlay patchwork

Denise Felton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:01:02 +0000

I’m enthralled. It never occurred to me that it’s possible to create inlay with fabric — much as woodcrafters do with veneer. And yet this needlework technique has been around at least since the 14th century! Crafting with wool felt is at a fever pitch right now, and here’s another perfect application for this luxurious fabric. Needleprint blog tells us a bit about technique and a bit about history, directs us to an exhibition in Vienna, and shares some fantastic photos. See the post.

Tutorial: Making loops in soutache braid

Denise Felton — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:35:41 +0000

I’ve always been fascinated by the curly loops of soutache braid on military uniforms and fancy garments. I even tried a bit of braid trim on sailor collars for my girls. That experiment ended badly; I couldn’t get my loops to lie flat. Now I know why. The braid is made for looping, but there’s a trick to it. Threads magazine blog lets us in on the secret. Go see.

Now I’m daydreaming about loopy soutache trees on felt Christmas ornaments…

Tutorial: Cutting felt

Denise Felton — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:09:25 +0000

Kimara of Wee Folk Art shows us how to cut pattern pieces from felt. She says,

That may sound a little silly, but the difference between a quality felt piece is as much about neat cutting as it is neat stitching…There may be many other techniques out there that work as well or perhaps better. This is just the way I do it. Hope it proves helpful.

Considering the beauty and precision of Kimara’s felt-applique blocks, I’m going to trust her technique! See the tute.

Christmas is for the birds

Denise Felton — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:02:23 +0000

How much cuteness can one Christmas tree hold? I’d love to find out by crowding every branch of my tree with little felt-applique birdie ornaments from Bugs and Fishes by Lupin. You, too? Go to her blog.

Free patterns and charts: Christmas

Denise Felton — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:34:08 +0000

(1) Red and Green Sampler from Embroiderbee (with a correction)
(2) ABC … Noël (1) from et patati et petites croix
(3) ABC … Noël (2) from et patati et petites croix
(4) Five Christmas patterns from Sibling Craftery
(5) Christmas sleigh from Matrioshka Biscornu (This design is based on a picture drawn by Alexandrina’s 8-year-old son, Dima!)
(6) Père Noël from Le blog de kali
(7) C’est la belle nuit de Noël from Les chroniques de Frimousse
(8) Bientôt Noël from Le blog de Mamou
(9) Sleigh Rides 25 cents from All My Scattering Moments
(10) Merry Christmas Crazy Quilt Block from Nostalgic NeedleART
(11) Noël (1) from Le blog de kali
(12) Christmas Freebie No. 7 from Among The Gum Trees
(13) Bonhomme de neige from Le blog de kali
(14) Bonhomme de neige from Le blog de Mamou
(15) Walkin in a winter wonderland from My Nifty Needle
(16) SAL de Noël – Partie 16 from Echevette
(17) Noël 2009 from Le blog de kali
(18) Noël (2) from Le blog de kali

Free patterns and charts: Thanksgiving

Denise Felton — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:35:25 +0000

(left) Thanksgiving Turkey Applique Block from Wee Folk Art

(right) Bok bok from Plum Street Samplers

Inspiration: Liliane D.

Denise Felton — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:25:12 +0000

The dimensional applique of this quilt absolutely takes my breath away! The piece was posted by BDcouture and is the work of her mother, Liliane D., based on art by Gaelle Boissonnard. Brava!

Unique bags from Dog Daisy Chains

Denise Felton — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:13:32 +0000

Look at this sumptuous Harris-tweed bag. Look at the fabulous embroidered velvet closure. Does this work seem somehow familiar? It should. Jackie of Dog Daisy Chains is applying her stunning fabric-brooch techniques to purses! See lots more photos on Jackie’s blog.

…

Free patterns and charts

Denise Felton — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:50:47 +0000

(1) Pied Piper stitch-along from STITCH-CREATIONS
(2) With God all things are possible from Liberty Primitives & Needlework
(3) Joyeux Anniversaire (Happy Birthday) from Le blog de Liselotte
(4) Signe du Sagittaire from Le blog de Mamou
(5) Rouge et noire – réédition from les loisirs abbygaelle
(6) Bébé prend son pied from mes petits bricolages et mes chats
(7) Arbre de vie -Réédition (Tree of Life) from les loisirs abbygaelle
(8) Arbre fruitier from les loisirs abbygaelle
(9) I Love You Sign from Connie G. Barwick of About.com
(10) Fleur de lis biscornu from Fait Main
(11) Woodland Mushroom Applique Block from Wee Folk Art
(12) Folk-Art Tulips designed by Julie Weaver for FreePatterns.com
(13) Butterfly from Un papillon sur l’épaule
(14) Un coeur, mon coeur from Le blog de Vick

Allie’s angelina lilacs

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:41:07 +0000

This beautiful block is the latest in Allison Aller’s adaptation of a vintage CQ-flower quilt design. She says,

These are little angelina flowers made into a lilac spray. The leaves are of wool and silk felted onto cotton, with the beads added to the outlining buttonhole stitch.

Beautiful! Enjoy the entire series on Allie’s blog, Allie’s in Stitches.

Hand-stitched-clock love

Denise Felton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:35:26 +0000

Prudent Baby blog steps us through the making of an appliqued and embroidered clock built on a stretched painter’s canvas. The Tea Party Time idea is adorable, but it’s just the beginning of the possibilities available with applique and embroidery. Brilliant concept! See the tute. And many thanks to CraftGossip sewing editor Anne Weaver for giving me the heads-up on this great find.

And if you’re not yet in cute overdrive, then check out the gnome-home clock by Laura of Duo Fiberworks. While she’s not providing a tutorial for her techniques, she is making her hand-dyed wool felt available through her Etsy shop. Check out the blog post for links.

Salley Mavor sneak peek

Denise Felton — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:07:43 +0000

Omg, omg, OMG!!! Go see the hand-stitched illustrations for Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes by Salley Mavor of Wee Folk Studio. Mimi Kirchner of Doll blog got permission to post preliminary photos, which are absolutely joyous. Go feast your eyes!

…

Easy, awesome birthday badge

Denise Felton — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:45:53 +0000

Melissa Goodsell (One Crafty Mumma) created this awesome birthday badge for her daughter’s best friend. She says,

I used felt scraps and cut out a quick design by hand. I popped a small safety pin on the back and all up the badge took about 15 minutes to make. I could have added more hand stitching, but I thought I’d keep it simple. I can see myself making more of these!

Quick, easy, and impressive. Brilliant! See more on Melissa’s blog.

Felt-applique seat cover

Denise Felton — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:39:31 +0000

This seat cover makes me so happy, I want to run home and stitch one up for each of my dining room chairs! The technique is simple felt applique — totally accessible. But the concept and the colors make designer Ruth Singer (Mantua Maker) a goddess in my eyes. Get the details from Ruth’s blog post.

Two new designs from Wee Folk Art

Denise Felton — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:02:48 +0000

Kimara of Wee Folk Art is sharing two new felt-applique block designs. So pretty! Get the birdie pattern. Get the cattail pattern.