TAT Block 4

Thanks, Stephanie.  I really love to embellish and applique.  I love the hand work...I'm wierd, I guess.  So many today prefer to do everything by machine.  I'm not saying that's bad.  It takes just as much tallent to create with a machine as it does by hand.  I just love to sit down and tell a story with my stitches.

Thanks, Rosalie.

Thanks, Alicia.  I really enjoyed making this block.  What kind of handwork do you like the best?

I think that it is called Mexican tucks.  It's an heirloom technique.  You start by sewing tucks in the fabric.  In this case If I remember right, I think I marked lines 1/2" apart and then sewed every other pair together, making 1/4" tucks.  Then I marked temporary vertical lines across the tucks on the front side of the piece spaced I think 1.5" apart.  Then I used a tack stitch with a bead to secure the tucks right at the verticle lines.  I tacked down on one row, then upward on the next row and repeated until I had enough to cut the basket out.  Then I turned the seam using freezer paper basket pattern on the back side.  In this case, I made 2 layers of freezer paper pattern to make it stiff enough to work with the bulk and then appliqued.