Invisible Applique - Ami Simms

Hi All:

I recently bought this book and was fascinated by this concept. So
today I started practicing. Wow, I find this process really
frustrating. It does make an "invisible" applique stitch, but I find
once I have the seam allowance turned under, it is really hard to
first sew in the background (having to move the applique piece out of
the way to find the background line) and then sew in the foreground,
(having to find the line in the turned under seam allowance and sew
only on that line).

Is there some trick to this or is it as frustraing as I am finding it?

Mardi
Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot com.
____________________

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Mardi,
I bought that book a couple of years ago and did a small wall hanging with
it. I did move the applique piece a bit to get the bite in the background.
I didn't find it real frustrating because I didn't feel I had to pin as
tightly to the edge nor as often with her technique. I find that the
regular blind stitch that you learn with applique is faster, so most of the
time I stick with that. Plus, I tend to pucker using her technique because
I pull too hard. But I still use her technique sometimes if the project
calls for it. It's great for putting down binding by hand when the thread
color doesn't match the binding - like when the binding is pieced and is a
lot of different colors.

Good luck with it,
Gina in IL

"Mardi" wrote in message
...
Hi All:

I recently bought this book and was fascinated by this concept. So
today I started practicing. Wow, I find this process really
frustrating. It does make an "invisible" applique stitch, but I find
once I have the seam allowance turned under, it is really hard to
first sew in the background (having to move the applique piece out of
the way to find the background line) and then sew in the foreground,
(having to find the line in the turned under seam allowance and sew
only on that line).

Is there some trick to this or is it as frustraing as I am finding it?

Mardi
Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot
com.
____________________

My Quilting page: http://www.mardiweb.com/quilts/MardiQuilts.html
Paint Shop Pro tutorials: http://www.mardiweb.com/web
Low-Fat Lifestyle Forum: http://www.mardiweb.com/lowfat

Hi Gina:

I don't have a problem with getting the stitch in the background.
Where I have the problem is getting the stitch in the applique piece
when the seam allowance is turned under (after the first 5-6
stitches). I find it hard to take a stitch in the folded fabric and
not get it through both sides of the folded fabric. Any hints there?

Mardi

On Sun, 21 Mar 2004 07:38:46 -0600, "Eli"
wrote:

Mardi,
I bought that book a couple of years ago and did a small wall hanging with
it. I did move the applique piece a bit to get the bite in the background.
I didn't find it real frustrating because I didn't feel I had to pin as
tightly to the edge nor as often with her technique. I find that the
regular blind stitch that you learn with applique is faster, so most of the
time I stick with that. Plus, I tend to pucker using her technique because
I pull too hard. But I still use her technique sometimes if the project
calls for it. It's great for putting down binding by hand when the thread
color doesn't match the binding - like when the binding is pieced and is a
lot of different colors.

Good luck with it,
Gina in IL

"Mardi" wrote in message
.. .
Hi All:

I recently bought this book and was fascinated by this concept. So
today I started practicing. Wow, I find this process really
frustrating. It does make an "invisible" applique stitch, but I find
once I have the seam allowance turned under, it is really hard to
first sew in the background (having to move the applique piece out of
the way to find the background line) and then sew in the foreground,
(having to find the line in the turned under seam allowance and sew
only on that line).

Is there some trick to this or is it as frustraing as I am finding it?

Mardi
Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot
com.
____________________

My Quilting page: http://www.mardiweb.com/quilts/MardiQuilts.html
Paint Shop Pro tutorials: http://www.mardiweb.com/web
Low-Fat Lifestyle Forum: http://www.mardiweb.com/lowfat


Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot com.
____________________

My Quilting page: http://www.mardiweb.com/quilts/MardiQuilts.html
Paint Shop Pro tutorials: http://www.mardiweb.com/web
Low-Fat Lifestyle Forum: http://www.mardiweb.com/lowfat

Oh I see now... I don't remember that being a problem. However, I didn't
turn the seam allowance under ahead of time. No freezer paper or spray
starch techniques. Just prepared the pattern like you would needle turn.
After the first 5-6 stitches it will fold under by itself a stitch or two
ahead of you... but I don't remember it being so crisp that I couldn't
pierce it with the needle cleanly. I haven't used the technique in a while.
I'll have to practice and see..

Gina in IL
"Mardi" wrote in message
...
Hi Gina:

I don't have a problem with getting the stitch in the background.
Where I have the problem is getting the stitch in the applique piece
when the seam allowance is turned under (after the first 5-6
stitches). I find it hard to take a stitch in the folded fabric and
not get it through both sides of the folded fabric. Any hints there?

Mardi

On Sun, 21 Mar 2004 07:38:46 -0600, "Eli"
wrote:

Mardi,
I bought that book a couple of years ago and did a small wall hanging
with
it. I did move the applique piece a bit to get the bite in the
background.
I didn't find it real frustrating because I didn't feel I had to pin as
tightly to the edge nor as often with her technique. I find that the
regular blind stitch that you learn with applique is faster, so most of
the
time I stick with that. Plus, I tend to pucker using her technique
because
I pull too hard. But I still use her technique sometimes if the project
calls for it. It's great for putting down binding by hand when the
thread
color doesn't match the binding - like when the binding is pieced and is
a
lot of different colors.

Good luck with it,
Gina in IL

"Mardi" wrote in message
.. .
Hi All:

I recently bought this book and was fascinated by this concept. So
today I started practicing. Wow, I find this process really
frustrating. It does make an "invisible" applique stitch, but I find
once I have the seam allowance turned under, it is really hard to
first sew in the background (having to move the applique piece out of
the way to find the background line) and then sew in the foreground,
(having to find the line in the turned under seam allowance and sew
only on that line).

Is there some trick to this or is it as frustraing as I am finding it?

Mardi
Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot
com.
____________________

My Quilting page: http://www.mardiweb.com/quilts/MardiQuilts.html
Paint Shop Pro tutorials: http://www.mardiweb.com/web
Low-Fat Lifestyle Forum: http://www.mardiweb.com/lowfat


Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot
com.
____________________

My Quilting page: http://www.mardiweb.com/quilts/MardiQuilts.html
Paint Shop Pro tutorials: http://www.mardiweb.com/web
Low-Fat Lifestyle Forum: http://www.mardiweb.com/lowfat

just sticking my nose in here...
i'm not quite sure what you mean by getting the needle thru both sides of
the folded fabric...even after reading back thru u'r msgs.
is this by hand or machine?
i'm confuddled a bit.
jeanne
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar
real reply is san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz

"Mardi" wrote...
Hi Gina:

I don't have a problem with getting the stitch in the background.
Where I have the problem is getting the stitch in the applique piece
when the seam allowance is turned under (after the first 5-6
stitches). I find it hard to take a stitch in the folded fabric and
not get it through both sides of the folded fabric. Any hints there?

Mardi

I think Mardi means that after she's started appliqueing the
....er...applique, she finds it hard to get the needle point into just a few
threads of the applique bit once the seam allowance is tucked under the bit
but on top of the background. If that makes sense. Well, it did to me!

--
Sharon From Melbourne Australia (Queen of Down Under)
http://www.geocities.com/shazrules/craft.html

"nzl*" wrote in message
...
just sticking my nose in here...
i'm not quite sure what you mean by getting the needle thru both sides of
the folded fabric...even after reading back thru u'r msgs.
is this by hand or machine?
i'm confuddled a bit.
jeanne
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar
real reply is san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz

"Mardi" wrote...
Hi Gina:

I don't have a problem with getting the stitch in the background.
Where I have the problem is getting the stitch in the applique piece
when the seam allowance is turned under (after the first 5-6
stitches). I find it hard to take a stitch in the folded fabric and
not get it through both sides of the folded fabric. Any hints there?

Mardi

rofl, uhhh, ok, if i understand what you understand,
i bring the needle point up thru the exact fold of the applique piece.
at first its really fiddly but after a while you will improve.

i was reading something today that said that when you make the next stitch,
you take the needle across about 1/8" and put it back down thru the
background then up thru the applique piece on top.
this means the thread shows on top of the whole piece.

i stitch so the thread on top goes straight off the edge of the applique
piece into the background (a wee bit under the edge) then across the back
side to the next stitch bringing it up right thru the fold at the edge of
the top piece...so the thread doesnt show on the top side of the fabric at
all.
i hope that makes some sense.
i do better irl or even on the yahoo doodle screen.

jeanne
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar
real reply is san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz

"Sharon Harper" wrote in message
u...
I think Mardi means that after she's started appliqueing the
....er...applique, she finds it hard to get the needle point into just a few
threads of the applique bit once the seam allowance is tucked under the bit
but on top of the background. If that makes sense. Well, it did to me!

--
Sharon From Melbourne Australia (Queen of Down Under)
http://www.geocities.com/shazrules/craft.html

"nzl*" wrote in message
...
just sticking my nose in here...
i'm not quite sure what you mean by getting the needle thru both sides of
the folded fabric...even after reading back thru u'r msgs.
is this by hand or machine?
i'm confuddled a bit.
jeanne
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar
real reply is san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz

"Mardi" wrote...
Hi Gina:

I don't have a problem with getting the stitch in the background.
Where I have the problem is getting the stitch in the applique piece
when the seam allowance is turned under (after the first 5-6
stitches). I find it hard to take a stitch in the folded fabric and
not get it through both sides of the folded fabric. Any hints there?

Mardi

Just a thought:
If you usually go from right to left (or left to right, whatever), try
going in the other direction. Sometimes that gives a eureka moment!
..
In article , Sharon
Harper writes
I think Mardi means that after she's started appliqueing the
...er...applique, she finds it hard to get the needle point into just a few
threads of the applique bit once the seam allowance is tucked under the bit
but on top of the background. If that makes sense. Well, it did to me!


--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

Hi Jeanne:

This is a different kind of applique stitch. You draw the stitch line
on the piece to be appliqued and on the background. You stitch from
right to left (if you are right handed) and take a stitch in the
background, then a stitch in the applique piece just to the left of
the stitch in the background. Kind of like this:

_ _ _
_ _

where the top stitch is in the background on the line and the bottom
stitch is in the applique piece on the line. When you first start out
she has you where you can see the line on the background and the
applique piece is flat. That is easy to take a stitch in the
background and then one in the applique piece. But, after 4-5
stitches you pull the stitches up and the applique piece folds the
seam allowance under. From there on the seam allowance is folded
under on the applique piece. You have to move the applique piece out
of the way to see the stitching line on the background. Then you have
to put the needle into the folded applique piece along the line, which
at that time is on top of the fold. I find it really fiddly and
frustrating. I have the traditional applique stitch down and you can
hardly tell I have made the stitches. I just decided to try this
technique to see if it was faster (definitely not) or more accurate
(not sure since I stopped fiddling with it).

Mardi

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 19:17:09 +1200, "nzl*"
wrote:

rofl, uhhh, ok, if i understand what you understand,
i bring the needle point up thru the exact fold of the applique piece.
at first its really fiddly but after a while you will improve.

i was reading something today that said that when you make the next stitch,
you take the needle across about 1/8" and put it back down thru the
background then up thru the applique piece on top.
this means the thread shows on top of the whole piece.

i stitch so the thread on top goes straight off the edge of the applique
piece into the background (a wee bit under the edge) then across the back
side to the next stitch bringing it up right thru the fold at the edge of
the top piece...so the thread doesnt show on the top side of the fabric at
all.
i hope that makes some sense.
i do better irl or even on the yahoo doodle screen.

jeanne
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar
real reply is san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz

"Sharon Harper" wrote in message
. au...
I think Mardi means that after she's started appliqueing the
...er...applique, she finds it hard to get the needle point into just a few
threads of the applique bit once the seam allowance is tucked under the bit
but on top of the background. If that makes sense. Well, it did to me!

Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot com.
____________________

My Quilting page: http://www.mardiweb.com/quilts/MardiQuilts.html
Paint Shop Pro tutorials: http://www.mardiweb.com/web
Low-Fat Lifestyle Forum: http://www.mardiweb.com/lowfat

oh, i think i get it now, Mardi.
i'll have to re-read that a few times to be sure and
decide if i even want to try it, lol.
sounds a bit like a ladder stitch.
|_
_|
|_
_|
|_
_|
jeanne
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar
real reply is san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz
"Mardi" wrote in message
...
Hi Jeanne:

This is a different kind of applique stitch. You draw the stitch line
on the piece to be appliqued and on the background. You stitch from
right to left (if you are right handed) and take a stitch in the
background, then a stitch in the applique piece just to the left of
the stitch in the background. Kind of like this:

_ _ _
_ _

where the top stitch is in the background on the line and the bottom
stitch is in the applique piece on the line. When you first start out
she has you where you can see the line on the background and the
applique piece is flat. That is easy to take a stitch in the
background and then one in the applique piece. But, after 4-5
stitches you pull the stitches up and the applique piece folds the
seam allowance under. From there on the seam allowance is folded
under on the applique piece. You have to move the applique piece out
of the way to see the stitching line on the background. Then you have
to put the needle into the folded applique piece along the line, which
at that time is on top of the fold. I find it really fiddly and
frustrating. I have the traditional applique stitch down and you can
hardly tell I have made the stitches. I just decided to try this
technique to see if it was faster (definitely not) or more accurate
(not sure since I stopped fiddling with it).

Mardi

On Mon, 22 Mar 2004 19:17:09 +1200, "nzl*"
wrote:

rofl, uhhh, ok, if i understand what you understand,
i bring the needle point up thru the exact fold of the applique piece.
at first its really fiddly but after a while you will improve.

i was reading something today that said that when you make the next stitch,
you take the needle across about 1/8" and put it back down thru the
background then up thru the applique piece on top.
this means the thread shows on top of the whole piece.

i stitch so the thread on top goes straight off the edge of the applique
piece into the background (a wee bit under the edge) then across the back
side to the next stitch bringing it up right thru the fold at the edge of
the top piece...so the thread doesnt show on the top side of the fabric at
all.
i hope that makes some sense.
i do better irl or even on the yahoo doodle screen.

jeanne
--
http://community.webshots.com/user/nzlstar
real reply is san-fran at ihug dot co dot nz

"Sharon Harper" wrote in message
. au...
I think Mardi means that after she's started appliqueing the
...er...applique, she finds it hard to get the needle point into just a few
threads of the applique bit once the seam allowance is tucked under the bit
but on top of the background. If that makes sense. Well, it did to me!

Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot com.
____________________

My Quilting page: http://www.mardiweb.com/quilts/MardiQuilts.html
Paint Shop Pro tutorials: http://www.mardiweb.com/web
Low-Fat Lifestyle Forum: http://www.mardiweb.com/lowfat