DIPS
i have been thinking about how to help with those dips that we are seeing in a lot of the leaves and flowers and how to help you approach appliqueing them. this is a tip that marlene thought was very helpful. you only need to be thinking about the fabric right where you are stitching and the next couple of stitches you will be taking, that are currently under your thumb nail. don't worry about how the line is or is not tucked under an inch away from your stitching. it's not important yet, you'll get to it soon.
one of the first things i do is twist the fabric back and forth right where the dips are to loosen the weave a little. if the dip is on the bias, sometimes this is enough to get the dip to turn under without clipping. if it doesn't want to turn under nicely i give one clip in the center. clip to the line, but not in it or past it. you will know soon enough if you have clipped too far or not enough.
as you are going down the right side of the dip, i want you to totally forget about the far side. don't worry if it goes too far under or not far enough under. you can turn the entire hill under on that far side if you want. we aren't interested in it yet. the only thing you should be thinking about is how to turn the fabric right under your thumbnail.
when you get halfway down that right side, put your needle under the fabric on that far side, tuck the fabric under and sweep the needle clear over to the last stitch on the right side. ( you may need to do this a couple of times and smooth the fabric with your needle to get it to lie down) now, remember, i don't care how far the fabric turns under on the far side, i'm only interested in the next few stitches i'll take that are under my thumb. continue stitching and adjust the fabric on the line. as you sew down to the bottom of the dip,shorten your stitches as you approach and leave the clip. and take one more stitch just barely starting up the other side.
now, we can worry about this far side. if your fabric is tucked too far under, use the tip of your needle to tease the fabric back out until you are again stitching on the line. continue up this side, teasing the fabric out a few stitches at a time.
if you are enlarging the patterns, the dips will be larger and you may need to do a couple of clips.
remember whereever you clip the innies, you have weakened the fabric and your stitches need to get smaller, ie. closer together as you approach the clip and as you leave the clip.
gini in north idaho
gini,thank for the info this is a big help , Barbara
EAT!! SLEEP !! QUILT!!
you're welcome barbara
Thanks Gini. That helps alot. I have been trying to get the fabric to lay right way beyond what I am presently sewing.
you're welcome lori, i posted this in pages so it won't get lost
Thanks Gini, Marlene did share this tip with me and it is really a good one. You should publish a book, I bet it would be a lot more helpful that a lot of them already ot there
Thanks Maggie, I don't have time to write a book, Too many UFOs and new ideas in my head.
Then make your own DVD, that would be really helpful. Now the only problem is what to call it?????
lots of love
Francesxx
ps perhaps you could have sam on the cover posing
Posing as what? A needle, he's sharp enough.
We'ld have to slim him down a bit and poke out one of his eyes, or put a patch on one. He probably wouldn't hold still for an eye poking out., this could be doable.
id even be willing to send my fireman fabric so you could make him an outfit, hey you need to think of ways to sell your product.
Gini,
Fantastic job explaining dips! You are the best teacher!
marlene, i have great students, thanks
Gini I just found this awesome web site for Starch Applique that I thought some might be intrest in . BArbara
http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2011/05/easy-applique-the-starch-method-by-joanna-from-fig-tree-co/
Barbara, this is very similar to the elmers glue stick method. I used Elmer's glue instead of starch. It works pretty danged good. Give it a try and see how you like it, and report back to us.
Thanks for the link, the woman does a great video tutorial.