As the appliqué was hand sewing I made a start on it in the week. I like to have this kind of craft work to do in the evenings. I find it quite relaxing so long as I don’t do too much at once. I finished the piece this morning. I didn’t find the technique as frustrating as Lori did although it is a little annoying to keep having to remove the stitching that was used to outline the design to be able to keep sewing.
This method is really reverse needleturn appliqué because the actual design is the lower fabric and one cuts through the upper fabric to reveal the design. The method I learnt at QU was to cut out the design from fabric and then appliqué it onto the background fabric. The stitching was also using the needleturn technique.
I think the orange and purple fabric I chose is on reflection a little too busy. It rather overpowers the design itself in places – particularly the centre cut out shapes. So a lesson leant there. This detail shows the center shapes without being confused by the pattern on the fabric too much.
I was quite pleased to see that my sewing followed the tracing lines of the design quite accurately. There are a few wobbles but then it is hand craft!
On balance I think I prefer the technique I learnt at QU. Although it was an interesting exercise to compare the two methods. Both will have their uses.
