Madeira Applique

No phone pics today I promise

I belong to a little quilty group.

We thought it would be fun to do a Round Robin quilt.

It goes like this...

You make an 18" quilt square. 

You give it to a friend she puts a border on it.

She gives it to another friend on the list who adds another border.

So on and so forth.

We got together the other day to say goodbye to a friend who is moving.

It was sad and tragic because New York is a long way

away from Utah, and Maggie is fabulous.

Anyway at this little shindig we were all discussing our squares,

because the swap begins next month. 

My friend April wants to use the Ghastlies.

Aren't they cute?

She wanted to make a frame around it,

but couldn't figure out how.

I told her that she should do a Madeira applique.

She had never heard about this type of applique.

I told her I would find a tutorial for it, the problem is 

I could not.

I found an old episode of Martha Pullen,

she gave a teaser and then wanted you to subscribe for $99

Sorry love you Martha but that is not happening.

So I told her I would do it for her so here you go April

your Madeira applique tutorial.

Since she is using Alexander Henry, I pulled out some of my old scraps.

And since she is wanting to make a frame.

 I thought I would frame his cute face.

Hey good looking, how you doin'.

I first made a "frame"

I folded a piece of paper into fourths.

Drew a corner that looked good.

folded it back up and cut it out.

Looks like a good frame to me.

I got my square I am using for the frame and folded it in half.

Traced my frame shape on to it with a pencil.

Here is the secret ingredient.

Disappearing thread, you get it wet and it disappears.

I think I found mine at Joann's. 

I've had it for years, I mean really how many times do you want 

what you sew to disappear?

I remember thinking it was easier to find than I thought it would be.

Anyway back to business.

With your magic thread in the bobbin, and the top sew on your line.

Just a little FYI, you either want to mark your bobbin or strip it when you are done.

You really don't want to start a project with that thread in your bobbin.

There you go all done.

Next trim away a seam allowance.

Turn it inside out, I did clip the corners for turning

it's just hard to see.

Press

Soak it, press again.

Just like magic it will fall open.

I tried pressing it again at this point,

but it lost it's shape a little.

Maybe wait until it is sewn down. 

Sewing it down couldn't be easier.

Your raw edge is already turned in for you.

Just place it where you want it and sew it down.

You can do it by hand but with the clipped corners I would

do it by machine.

I changed my needle position over a little close to the edge

just to be sure about the clipped corners.

Nice tiny stitch and all done.

This is an awesome technique to know for sewing dresses.

 You can do scalloped hems, and a little scallop along the edge of a sleeve.

With heirloom you can use a wing needle and a star stitch to have little pin holes along the border.

Super cute.

Let me know if this helped, 

and if you have any questions let me know how I can help.

Go forth and be AWESOME!

Fourth of July

How was your fourth?

I am posting this from my phone so wish me luck.

We went to the Stadium of Fire.  It's a big fireworks spectacular that is held here in Utah every fourth. 

Kelly Clarkson and Carly Rae Jepson performed. It was a lot of fun.

I of course did some sewing, I used to make whole entire Fourth of July wardrobes for the girls. 

This year since we weren't going to the parade, I just made dresses for that night.

The little girls Lala and Baby Sister got the same dresses. 

I got this super cute fabric last year from Riley Blake. 

I ran out of time to make dresses last year so I did it this year.

I love the ombré poke a dots. 

I love this dress. 

I really love the baby piping.

Baby Sister was still asleep when I was taking pictures. 

I thought for sure I would have time to take a group shot, but I was wrong.

Gowyn wanted me to make a '50's style sundress, but I didn't have time for that. 

I also didn't have time to get a picture of her in her dress. 

Isn't it cute, I think it is perfect for a twelve year old princess. 

Want to know what is cuter? 

Those little Polk a dots are really little stars.

I finished sewing Gowyn's dress at about 11:30 on the morning of the fourth. 

I'm really good at last minute things.

Baubi had told me that she didn't want me to make her anything. 

She wanted to wear her cut off white shorts. 

As you might have guessed I was not happy about that decision. 

So as soon as I was done with Gowyn's dress I started Baubi's skirt. 

I had seen skirts like this on Pinterest and wanted to try to make one myself. 

I love it!!

 Most importantly the teenager LOVES it!!! 

She has worn it three times since.

Here is a close up. 

The skirt is made with lace yardage that I layered up the length of the skirt.

The best thing about this skirt was that it was free!! 

The skirt fabric was scraps, and the lace was given to me from when I worked at Jolene's. 

I love free.

I hope you had a happy and safe holiday. I will see you soon.

Oh my goodness, blogging from my phone was a bad idea.

All these pictures are from my phone and I thought that might work.

Man oh man was I wrong.

I will try again.

Let me know if you want me to do a tutorial on Baubi's skirt.