Applique Group - 1st Meeting

Today was the first day of our newly formed Applique Group.  Susan, Rosie, Carol and I met for an enjoyable two hours to discuss potential applique projects.  It's clear who the expert is (Susan) and who should probably consider trying something less challenging (me!). 

Susan has a table runner project all picked out.  Rosie has some thoughts about a project, perhaps using a pattern she bought from Ginny Keiser at the CSQ Quilt show last month.  Carol has worked on her applique pieces started at the Beaver Island Quilt Retreat.  And I have grand and glorious ideas about either a Baltimore Album quilt or a Hawaiin quilt for my masterpiece!  Now all I need is lots of practice before I start either one of those projects.  Perhaps a small wall hanging first?

Rosie and Carol talking about potential projects.  See the fabric and books scattered across the floor?

Susan brought books to look through.  Carol brought project ideas and managed to rule a few out.  Rosie brought a quilt to bind - don't think she got even one stitch done.  I had books checked out from the CSQ library, a wonderful quilting resource thanks to our Librarian.

A selection of books, Susan's table runner pattern on the left, a calendar from the Victoria & Albert museum with wonderful designs and Carol's clippings for potential projects just below her shoe.  Okay - I need to work on the layout when I take pictures but you get the idea.

In the midst of all the books, I dragged out my collection of SewBatik fabrics and we found one that would work with Carol's project in the works.
 

Susan found the perfect SewBatik fabric for one of her projects.  The Color Blend Applique book on the table has wonderful patterns for flower applique blocks.

A tip from a fellow longarm quilter made Susan's day.  Harriet had suggested using a piece of plexiglas and a dry erase marker to audition quilting designs prior to quilting them out.  Susan jumped on this as a way to trace a current quilting design that she loves from an heirloom quilt.

I only have a small piece of plexiglas - need to get a larger piece for it to be really useful.  But you see the idea.  You also see the hair clips that Rosie uses to keep the binding in place in preparation for stitching it down.

We also talked about tracing applique patterns.  A fairly standard technique for tracing patterns is to place a light source under your dining room table, pull the table apart as if you were going to add a leaf,  and lay a piece of glass across the gap with the pattern on top of the glass.  Then with your tracing paper on top, you can follow the lines as the light shines up from below.  Rather than use glass, which has a tendency to break in my hands, use a piece of plexiglas.

It is strongly suggested that you tape the edges of the plexiglas and write TOP on the tape of one side.  When using the plexiglas to trace patterns or for testing designs on a current quilt top, the tape is a visual clue that you're nearing the edge so you don't draw on the quilt and also prevents the plexiglas from snagging the fabric.  Identifying the TOP of the plexiglas keeps you from laying a previously used side next to the quilt.  Even though you've wiped the dry erase marker stuff off, there are likely still remnants of the color left.  Finally, a way to use those small scraps of batting - as erasers!  Use them a few times and then you won't feel guilty about pitching the used scraps as more will have accumulated in the meantime.

All in all, a wonderful afternoon sharing tips, techniques and dreams.