January 3, 2010

Happy New Year appliqué enthusiasts!

Hey is anybody going to Road to California later this month? I got a call just a couple weeks ago offering me a spot as a vendor and I said yippee! If you’re going to be at this fabulous quilt show and conference in Ontario, California, in two weeks’ time, please come by and say hello! I’ll be in 806.

matqSharon Pederson is a Canadian quilter whom I’ve met a couple times, most recently when she came to give a talk at my guild. If you ever get the chance, be sure to go to one of her lectures because it is a highly amusing experience. Sharon’s book Machine Appliqué for the Terrified Quilter is intended for quilters who (like Sharon in a former life) “refer to appliqué as the A word.”

Sharon says that her book is for those who are attracted to appliqué but feel that life is too short to do hand work. Learning that she could appliqué by machine was what it took to make her a total convert! I’ll throw in my 2¢ worth and add that even if you like hand work, it’s great to throw more techniques into your appliqué bag of tricks.

rose-quiltLots of introductory information is given about fabrics, threads, needles, sewing machines, and stitches. Then Sharon takes you step-by-step through two methods: invisible machine appliqué, where the edges of the appliqué are turned and the stitches are unseen, and fusible appliqué, where the edges are raw and the stitches are visible. Reverse appliqué is also covered.

Sharon gives lessons on a variety of machine stitches, including the satin stitch, narrow zigzag, and decorative stitches, plus how to manipulate them in interesting ways. Great closeup photos accompany this information.

stained-glassThe projects in the book are mostly small and manageable, because after all, “you might be just a little bit terrified about the prospect of machine appliqué, so why further terrorize yourself by trying a queen-size project first?”

If you’re more of a visual learner, you might be interested in the DVD, a separate item. A sample lesson from it is available for viewing on the Martingale website.

Whether you’re terrified or not, this is one great resource for those interested in machine appliqué!

Until next time,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie

Comments

33 Responses to “Machine Appliqué for the Terrified Quilter”

  1. Ruth B on January 3rd, 2010 7:30 pm

    What an awesome giveaway! Sharon’s book looks wonderful and 2 books with 2 CD’s….awesome.

    Kay here… oops, Ruth… sorry, the Machine Appliqué DVD comes separate from the book and I have the book to give away. Still pretty awesome though, eh?

  2. SewLindaAnn on January 3rd, 2010 7:36 pm

    What a great giveaway to start the New Year off with!

  3. Cara on January 3rd, 2010 8:36 pm

    I’ll have to check this one out for sure!

  4. Hennie on January 4th, 2010 4:19 am

    Wauw what a great giveaway, i love to applique. And a happy new year to you.

    Hennie from the Netherlands

  5. Cathy Norris on January 4th, 2010 4:57 am

    I’d love to win Sharon and your book. Please enter me!

  6. Jeanne H on January 4th, 2010 5:37 am

    I have been doing machine applique but I have never done the needle turn invisible applique. Sure would love to learn this technique. Thanks for the chance to enter!
    Jeanne

  7. Sarah Vee on January 4th, 2010 5:41 am

    I have heard great things from my mother in law who went to one of Sharon’s workshops. She is still talking about it months later! This would be a great book to own. Thanks for the chance. Happy New Year!

  8. betsy on January 4th, 2010 5:42 am

    Kay I would love love to win this. PLease count me in.

  9. Bonnie on January 4th, 2010 6:01 am

    Finally, a phrase that describes me, “…Terrified Quilter”…I am nervous trying out new sewing/quilting techniques, so this book would be GREAT for me!

  10. Carol from Rock Hill, SC on January 4th, 2010 6:48 am

    I’ve always wanted to learn how to machine applique. I love hand work but I will never have enough time to finish all the quilts I’d like to do. Maybe machine applique is the way to go….add my name to the drawing.
    Thanks so much…I love your blog!

  11. Barbara on January 4th, 2010 7:03 am

    I would love to know how to machine applique with the turned edges. Please enter me into your drawing. Thank you for the opportunity to win such great items.

  12. Gloria Yates on January 4th, 2010 7:10 am

    I’d love to win both books. Please enter me in your giveway. Thanks so much!

  13. Jeanette Shouse on January 4th, 2010 7:28 am

    Thanks for offering these great books for your readers. I love applique and enjoy learning new techniques.

  14. Debbie St.Germain on January 4th, 2010 7:54 am

    That sounds like a book I could use. I want to learn how to use my machine more, so I can make more quilts and hopefully charity quilts, when I get better at piecing and finishing.

    Debbie

  15. Kathleen C on January 4th, 2010 8:03 am

    Oh, I would love to win both of these books, though that sounds very selfish. I’ve recently done my first machine applique–I’m a devoted hand appliquer, but I want machine applique to be part of my future quilts, too.
    One goal for 2010 is to donate quilts to charity, and mach. appl. would be great.
    Kathleen C.
    villagequilter@gmail.com

  16. Kim Jamieson-Hirst on January 4th, 2010 8:19 am

    This is right up my alley, Kay! As a devoted machine appliquér, this would be a great addition to my library. Please enter my name in the draw.

    Kim

  17. Vera Nugent on January 4th, 2010 8:57 am

    The book looks wonderful! I love hand applique but have also fallen for machine applique and can always learn more! Time is at such a premium and machine applique makes applique more within reach.
    Jenny

  18. Deb Lester on January 4th, 2010 9:52 am

    Kay
    Winning this book would be a great way to start the new year!
    Deb

  19. Barbara W Florida on January 4th, 2010 10:43 am

    Happy New Year !! Wonderful give away. I have projects that are sitting here because they are applique to be machine done and I have no idea how to applique by machine. I am a beginning quilter. Thank you !

  20. Dana D on January 4th, 2010 10:45 am

    Awesome prize! I was just watching Sharon on The Quilt Show and have added her book to my “gotta have” list!

  21. Cathy on January 4th, 2010 11:04 am

    Sharon’s book sounds like what I need to start tackling the A Word.

  22. DonnaP on January 4th, 2010 1:04 pm

    Well, I’m am a little afraid of machine quilting because of the curves and having the stitches get all jumbled up. I’ve done hand applique once and it wasn’t tooooo awfully horrible!
    Thanks for offering this giveaway. These will be great additions to anyone’s library!

  23. Jane Bissell on January 4th, 2010 2:34 pm

    I love the look of applique, but have only tried a couple projects so far. I still have so much to learn. I would love to learn some new techniques. Especially if they will make the process faster. But mostly I just want to get results that look as good as the inspiration that inspires my work.

  24. Mary on Lake Pulaski on January 4th, 2010 5:55 pm

    Happy New Year Kay! Thanks for the opportunity to learn more about applique!

  25. Carolyn on January 4th, 2010 6:35 pm

    I am a newer quilter and would love to win these books. I have wanted to try applique, but can’t do the work by hand due to carpal tunnel problems so this would be a fantastic opportunity for me.

  26. Bari on January 4th, 2010 8:32 pm

    I love Sharon’s work and would love to own one of her books. What a wonderful opportunity! Thanks for the chance.

  27. Aline Chan on January 5th, 2010 1:49 pm

    I am one terrified machine appliqué person – I have tried it and it never looks good. I usually throw the piece away. I must be doing something wrong. I waste a lot of thread and fabric with my efforts.

  28. Sue on January 5th, 2010 2:51 pm

    I would be thrilled to win this book! I like to applique, but can use all the hslp I can get.

  29. Chris on January 5th, 2010 3:16 pm

    I absolutely LOVE!!! to applique. I do machine applique only & would love any new ideas.

  30. Jodi Savage on January 5th, 2010 6:19 pm

    I love applique! Mostly hand but I also do machine. I have been collecting many books lately on the different methods. Have a great time at Road to CA. It’s my favorite quilt show.

  31. Lei Brown on January 5th, 2010 6:55 pm

    I enjoyed the review of this new book. Applique is something I really want to get the hang of but have not done well with yet. I will have to give this book a look-see in the near future. Thanks for having a great blog and giveaway. I am excited to have my name thrown in the hat for this one. Take care.

  32. anna lee on January 6th, 2010 4:33 am

    I’ve done machine applique for years-cant say that I realy `know’ what I am doing.I would love to really LEARN what I am doing what a super great opportunity.I am self taught from books & they are pretty much from the ’70’s.
    I have finally begun a blog thingy if you want to peek at my `works’ not much there yet
    http://bunnythreads.blogspot.com

  33. Sally Williams on January 6th, 2010 5:13 pm

    I love to hand applique but would love a quicker way. The book sounds interesting.