Arrrgh!!!

Funny, Buffy, I always thought that the stitching in applique was SUPPOSED to show. Now you tell me! I guess this means that you are not blanket stitching them? If you have turned under the edges, that is a major PAIN. And, it means that you are probably doing a blind stitch. Also not fun. It really MIGHT be that you are being too picky?? Good luck and good speed.

Cop Car, if you are working on something where a blanket stitch enhances the design, then your applique stitch SHOULD show. It's not a matter of being picky. Using the blind stitch was a design choice. Because I haven't practiced enough with needle-turn applique, I used a freezer paper technique. You make a template of the piece out of freezer paper and bond it to the fabric with heat. The edges of the patch are turned to the back and glued to the paper, then you stitch it to the background. There are a couple of ways to remove the paper before the piece is finished. I use a blind stitch, catching just one or two threads on the back side of the edge of the piece.

You're right....this would have been done ages ago if I had done the blanket stitch, but I just didn't like that look. It's time to bite the bullet and learn grown-up applique!

Guess I'm safe - I can't draw so I won't be expected to do any fancy appiqueing!

Buffy--When I applique, it is USUALLY to cover a hole (or a bleach spot) in a garment that I refuse to give up. This means that I free-hand cut a bunch of flower petals and machine-applique them in a "pleasing" design to form a daisy or sunflower, and call it "beautiful". I've done this on several denim jumpers--admittedly a less formal undertaking than what you are doing.

Just yesterday I embroidered some navy & black straw flowers to cover bleach spots on the lower 6 inches of one sleeve of a denim shirt that I found for $3 or $4 at a thrift store. Since this collarless shirt is something that I throw on over a tee for working in the yard, I think it's gorgeous. There's a certain freedom in not having an artistic soul. You artists must suffer (I'm sure that's written somewhere!)

Bogie, I can't draw worth beans! I'm following a pattern created by someone else. Maybe one day I'll graduate to shaping my own designs. I'm surprised that Cop Car didn't teach you how to blanket stitch when you were a kid.

Cop Car, don't belittle what you're doing. That counts as appliqué, too. I have an overshirt waiting for the same treatment, and last year I extended the life of a sheet that had a tear with some machine appliqué. I've offered to appliqué designs on Dear Husband's work jeans, but he's refused. Too bad...he could have an original BUFFY! Don't you think that YOU have a certain artistic sensibility to be able to design the strawflowers to cover up the bleach spots??

You know how I feel about thrift....Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do or Do without! What you're doing may be how appliqué got it's start.

It isn't far off from how we used to patch our clothing when I was a kid (or when I was an adult, for that matter). I forgot to say that when I machine applique I just use a close zig-zag stitch.

I've also been known to (within the last couple of years), re-make a pair of heavy flannel pajama bottoms for Hunky Husband. The darned things were much to long from the waist to the crotch and much too short in the legs. I moved the waist down and added a couple of inches to the bottom of each leg. He was really appreciative. He brings me all sorts of exciting projects. Three times I've had to replace the velcro on one of his fake leather golf club head covers. THAT's real fun--not.

For myself, I took some mesh fabric and made 3/4-length sleeves for a knit nightgown of my own. It had those little bitty cap sleeves. I like my arms covered (but not hot), thank you. I've more mesh to do the same thing to some of my tee shirts. And, I usually have to modify the necklines of tee shirts so that I don't feel like they are choking me. I cut the front a little lower and put a new ribbed knit edging around the neckline.

I can dream up "fixes" to my problems. I just don't exhibit artistry in doing them; but, thanks for thinking that I might.

I hate that sort of alteration, Cop Car! I detest hemming pants, and do so under duress. You must really love HH to keep repairing his golf club covers, and the alterations on his jammies were a monumental task in my book!

I'll mend a tear on jeans, or cover a hole, but spare me the alterations!

Being nice to HH has its benefits. He bought me a (used) Bernina for my birthday about 10 years ago. (He about went into cardiac arrest when he called the Bernina dealer intent upon getting "the best" for me, only to learn that "the best" was in the order of $5000! I assured him that the used machine, at 1/6 the price, was still a big step up from any machine that I've ever had--and it has proven me correct! It had been used in a high school sewing program in Wichita, and it came without a book. I can't even figure out where to oil the thing! I traded my old machine to the dealer for a walking foot. I've only used the walking foot once--last year on a kitchen curtain--and I couldn't tell the difference between it and the regular foot. I still had to fight puckering of the upper material.)

Cop Car, I don't have a Bernina, but if I remember the scuttlebutt that I've heard, YOU are not supposed to oil your Bernina. Call a registered Bernina dealer and ask them about it. I think that they oil them at the factory, and that you shouldn't mess around with them. I know that sounds odd....but I'm pretty sure that's what I've heard.

Dear Husband purchased a sewing machine from a high school, but it wasn't a Bernina. He needed a machine to hem his work pants. He got an all metal industrial model that must weigh a TON!

I don't know what to tell you about the walking foot. I've only used them on quilts, and without much success on my machine. It was built before the walking machine was designed, so I have to use a universal walking foot attachment. I assume that your Bernina has a built in walking foot.

HH is a prince among men to have thought about getting you a new sewing machine! I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet soon, and buy a Bernina or a Pfaff so that I have a machine to fall back on when my old stand by dies.

I sorta assumed that if I couldn't find holes in what looked like appropriate places, they probably didn't expect me to oil the Bernina; but, you know me. I'd feel better if I poked some oil in it every so often. *g*

Wow! I'll bet the industrial machine is great for sewing leather and such. Wow!

As to the walking foot: The walking foot is an attachment that I "bought" with the Bernina--by trading in my Kenmore--or my Singer. I don't recall which machine I kept for myself. I think that I gave one machine to Bogie when she and her WS came to Albuquerque to drag off the freezer and bedroom furniture that I had no room for.

As to the walking foot: The Bernina doesn't have one "built in". It came with about 8 feet on an attached holder that I removed a few years ago and can no longer recall how to attach. You'd think an engineer could figure that out, wouldn't you? I THINK it used to be attached. Oh, me. *s****s****s*

Hunky Husband IS a prince among men; but, that doesn't mean that he would think to buy me a Bernina all on his own! (It WAS totally his idea, however, to think about getting top-of-the-line!)

DH has been thinking about that industrial sewing machine and sail fabric.

Have you thought about going to the Bernina website to see if you can get a manual for your machine? As complex as machines are today, I don't think I could run one without a manual to refer to. If nothing else, check to see if Chilton has a manual for your model.

I guess it's the Pfaff line that has the built-in walking foot.

The newer Berninas may well have the walking foot built in. Remember: 10 years ago my machine had already been used for a few years. Expert Seamstress (Elder Brother's wife) sent me a copy of the manual to HER machine--an even older model, I think. There are some differences, but I don't remember looking for oiling directions. I should do that! (Probably been there and done that and was told to keep my cotten pickin' hands off!)

At least your Dear Husband isn't asking you to sew his sail(s). Gad! You could make your own shoes/sandals. What an intriguing thought.

He hasn't ASKED....but he's suggested. I sweetly suggested that I could teach him how to do it.

you guys need pictures!

fish, you're right. I have most of the pumpkin done on my first applique, and then I'll be ready to take a picture. My stitches are fine. I wish I could say the overall applique was as good. It's not laying as flat as it should. :-(

I'm working my way toward a digital camera. Then my blog will be FLOODED with pictures! Come back to visit then.