Applique Club

Re: Learn to applique

Cathy — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:57:51 GMT

Kathy

I have taken many classes from well known applique teachers, and I took a little something from each one. My favorite technique for the actual needleturn, is Nancy Pearson's technique. I think you can teach yourself to applique. The way I first learned, I cut a stack of 6-1/2" muslin blocks and cut hearts to fit. I started appliqueing them and in the beginning it was horrible, but by the time I got a nice stack of hearts, I could see an improvement in my stitches. Doing hearts you have the points, curves, and valley to practice on.

Good luck with your applique- be sure to show us what you are working on!

cathy

Re: Learn to applique

gini — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:56:54 GMT

i have things saved all over and i stumble on them occasionally, i'll have to get someone to show me just how to do all that. i never know where they go. i save them and can't find them again, unless i'm not looking for them.

Re: Learn to applique

Emily — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:23:52 GMT

If you want to save something from the internet, highlight it, right click on "copy" and then go to Documents, open a new folder, put a title on it, open it and right click "paste". Very easy.

Emily

Re: Learn to applique

Kris — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:13:47 GMT

gini:
and leads to my next problem, i can never find the stuff i've saved, sometimes i stumble on it haphazzardly. if i can't get something in favorites, it doesn't get saved.

Gini,

Next time you download something, instead of just clicking "save" change the name of the file and tell the computer where to save it. I have a folder called "Quilting Etc" where I save all my quilty stuff. I also have sub folders in that big folder with the names of the various sites and blogs I download from. Makes everything easier to find.

Re: Learn to applique

Kris — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:05:27 GMT

Lillie,

I think you meant to aim this at Gini.

I create and edit PDFs and I like to play around with photo editing Therefore I have Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop Elements on two Macs. I'm also learning to use both programs to design quilts. I have EQ7 but I think there's more freedom with Adobe.

Do you still use Illustrator? Are you on a Mac or PC?

I think Gini does her drawing by hand. She can scan these into her computer and save them as PDFs for sharing or for later use.

Re: Learn to applique

Lillie — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:18:15 GMT

Kris-

I had to chuckle at your post. I can remember way back in the day when I was learning about computers. I think it was 1981. When I think back on the programs I used to use I really have to laugh. They were so clunky. I don't think I could use one of those old programs if I had too. I've been using Adobe Illustrator since they first came out with the program. It was Illustrator 88. Yikes!

Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Photoshop are computer programs. You can get them for MAC and PC platforms. I've also been using both of them since they were first released. I think Photoshop is way more than you'll ever use and not really worth the $$ for you.

How do you draw your pictures? Is there an icon on your desktop (what you see when you turn on your computer) or drop down menu (in your favorites) that lists your program? I know there are some free drawing programs on the web and, as far as I know, they do not have to be downloaded to your computer.

You probably already have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer. That is the program you would use to open the PDF files. All you can do in Reader is open the files, save them as a different name, print them, upload as an attachment, or send them in an email. Which is perfect because all you want is print the pattern on a piece of paper so you can cut out your fabric!

Hope that helps. Probably TMI.

Lillie

Re: Learn to applique

Lillie — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:04:37 GMT

I just googled for snowbound quilt pattern and was able to find all 12 of the Bunny Hill blocks plus the instructions. All were in a PDF format. Something like "snowbound quilt block one" etc. I did try to find them on the Bunny Hill site, but they were long gone by the time I started looking

Re: Learn to applique

gini — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:57:58 GMT

lillie, you probably didn't get the bunny hill design from the bunny hill site. she removed snowbound last winter, from the free spot.

Re: Learn to applique

gini — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:56:26 GMT

Kris:

Hope I didn't get to geeky here.

i think i am too ungeeky. i don't even know if i have adove or photoshop. i get wendy to take care of that stuff. i use it so unfrequently, that by the time i need to use it again, i forget what to do.

i can draw a picure on the computer and save it, i know that is possible. wouldn't it be easier to scan it and send it somewhere?

and leads to my next problem, i can never find the stuff i've saved, sometimes i stumble on it haphazzardly. if i can't get something in favorites, it doesn't get saved.

Re: Learn to applique

Lillie — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:36:31 GMT

OK thanks Gini. I was not aware of the one year freebie. Most people/businesses forget to remove items from the web and it stays out there forever. Thanks for setting me straight. 8-)

Re: Learn to applique

Kris — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:03:49 GMT

Gini,

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format created by Adobe. PDFs can be used on just about any computer and, if you have a pattern, this is probably the best format as it is easy to retain the correct size.

You can create one by drawing you picture in Adobe acrobat or photoshop or you can convert a file from another program. The file can be attached to your post or in your blog.

Photos are usually jpg, tiff or bmp (there are others but these are most popular).

Hope I didn't get to geeky here.

Re: Learn to applique

gini — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 04:38:31 GMT

lillie, i have pretty basic computer skills, i don't know what a pdf file is or how to upload one, i've heard of them and vaguely know that's how things come in to my computer, i wouldn't have a clue how to put one someplace. i can get pictures on here, i suppose they are in pdf files? on the odd days i can catch my daughter still for more than a minute, i get her to do that stuff for me. if kris sees this message, she can help you.

Re: Learn to applique

gini — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 04:32:34 GMT

kathy, you're more than welcome to copy my snowmen. they are pretty easy.

Re: Learn to applique

KathyColorado — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 02:30:26 GMT

Gini you are absolutely awesome! I don't want you to go to the trouble of redrawing the pattern. If you don't mind, I would like to copy your idea and I think I can draw it out from your photo (I have it saved as a favorite.) And the adorable quilt you posted here gives me some good ideas too. You so kindly took the time to write out some directions to applique a heart and I will do that before I tackle this.

Thanks so much!

Re: Learn to applique

gini — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:21:44 GMT

Lillie:

Please let me know if you'd like me to send you the PDF files or if I should upload them. If I upload the PDF files, where should I put them?

lillie, these have been removed by anne sutton of bunny hill, the designer, from the free area. she keeps some designs free for one year, then it is for sale. it is ok to send these privately to a friend, but they should not be made available, generally. this is how anne sutton makes her living.selling designs. i think it is very generous of her to allow folks to download it for free for a year.