My most favorite applique is Bird of Paradise in the American Folk Art museum. It seemed way beyond my ability until I attended a workshop at the Long Island Applique Society. I started with the apple leaves on the Girl block below, using the back-basting technique. What an improvement over my old method of marking! It is much neater, smoother, and more accurate. I'm definitely a convert to this new technique. Diane Rode Schneck (best applique teacher ever) made these blocks and showed us her process. Says this is her favorite method and I expect it will be mine as well. She also recommended working on it while watching the daily news. Surprising how much gets done in only 15 (or 30) minutes a day!
Never heard of back basting. I'll have to find out more. Those are very sweet blocks.
ReplyDeleteI have learned this method just this year too from doing the "Just Takes 2" quilt along online. It sure makes applique a lot more fun doesn't it? I can't tell you how many hours I spent marking, cutting out shapes, gluing down fabric before I learned back basting.....think I can get all those hours back?
ReplyDeleteLovely block Helen, you are keeping those fingers very busy :0).
Happy Sewing
Now I am so curious about back basting. I wonder if it's a technique I already know, by a different name, or whether my applique world is about to be revolutionized!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you like back basting - have been a convert for some time and it is wonderful for accurate placement. As you say - it goes so quickly in front of TV! and is very portable. Love this pattern and your blocks are beautiful :)
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