Hi sewists, fabric wizards, and all round lovers of fabric, thread, and maybe paint for making something fun or beautiful. Do you admire those beautiful wool applique items that are often made all by hand, but would like to try making something similar by machine? I am going to present a free video class with multiple videos on YouTube in the next few weeks (I’ll announce exactly when shortly), and I hope you will join me.
I am planning on presenting a simple shapes project in wool applique. It will be easy and fun, but it requires some complexity of teaching to cover it adequately so I will be dividing this in three or four video classes on YouTube. This will provide the techniques for making a beautiful small machine appliqued and embellished wool wall hanging to celebrate Fall.
If you want to participate in this, you will want to gather the supplies for this free class. I am thinking the first video, which I have already shot and am currently editing will be ready some time next week.
Sew here is the list of what you may wish to gather (with links) if you want to make one or two. Mine is 22 by 25 inches, but you can make yours the best fit for where you want to place it. It is kind of free style field of flowers using simple shapes and the result will make a nice gift or decoration for the fall season. You probably have a lot of these supplies already, so check your stash first, but here are some links to what I use if you need to do some shopping.
- Background piece…I recommend a yard of melton wool (boiled felted wool) in a dark or deep color: Black wool (this linked page has other color options); or you can use a solid quilt cotton if desired. A yard of the wool is 58 inches wide and so it will make two or even three small wall hangings and it has a lovely look when complete. You can also use a less expensive wool blend coating with real success.
- Six or more colors of small pieces of wool felt. Be sure to include some green if you like green stems and leaves. I have found precut sets for somewhat reasonable prices in two places and there are several selections for you to choose from. You may have trouble picking because they all look lovely, so maybe buy more and plan on making two. Here are some suggestions:
- Blues and Purples
- Yellows and Golds
- Teals
- Greens (for stems, and leaves)
- reds
- Two yards of fusible lightweight interfacing to stabilize the background fabric. Either of these will work.
- sf101 black pellon interfacing
- sf101 white pellon interfacing
- Steam a seam fusible
- A selection of your favorite 40 weight embroidery threads, light weight bobbin thread that matches the background, Superior Monopoly, and 12 weight wool threads (if desired). I use a wide variety. Wool thread is expensive, so I suggest you start with the small spools set that will be suffecient for you to do this project and lets you see if you like using it before investing in larger spools.
- Aurifil 12 weight wool (blend) thread small spools set
- Superior Monopoly
- High quality Sewing Machine needles (these are the ones I use):
- Universal variety pack
- 80/12 titanium coated topstitch needles
- 100/16 titanium coated topstitch needles
- Sew check my page Aids and Links at the top of this blog or on the menu if you are reading on a phone. There you will find a pdf file with simple shapes for wool project that provides patterns for simple shapes if you need them. Download this and print it. Or, you can use your simple circles, leaves, and vines you may have in Accuquilt Cutter dies instead if you have these.
- A piece of batting that is not very thick large enough for the background piece. This is a good place to use some of that leftover batting.
- Cotton quilting fabric large enough for the back of this little quilt and binding (if desired, though you may wish to do a finish edge with decorative stitching).
I am still very new at making these videos, so that is why I can’t figure out exactly when I will be able to publish them. My tentative deadline for this is next Wednesday. Of course, since it is a YouTube video, once it is published you will be able to use it any time and watch more than once. This first class and the downloads are free, but it would be lovely if you use my links for your supplies.
Sew happy everyone. Spend some time in your studio.