First Attempt- Applique

     I skipped out of work today- to sew!

My Block of the Month includes applique, 

and a free class on how to do it.

 Having worked there for over 12 years,

I am blessed to have 26 vacation days

on top of the 8 or 9 regular corporate days off

so I can take some fun days throughout the year.

(Susie Q's - before hours, she normally has a bench

draped with a quilt and a quilted bear outside)

I  don't know how to applique.

I don't know how to change any settings on my machine either

so off to the quilt shop I went, instruction manual in hand.

The class of 10 turned out to be only two of us,

which was great- two instructors, two students. 

It can't get any better.  Good thing too!

After fiddling around for about 15-20 minutes 

to select the proper program, change the tension

select the right foot and test the stitch,

I was ready to begin.

We were to bring some scraps.

They showed me how to use the interfacing,

how to sew around the tracing line, 

cut open the interfacing and turn the piece inside out

(right side out?) and then press to the base using

a foundation piece beneath the fabric and

a Teflon ironing cloth to keep any stickiness from

oozing onto the iron.

I  made my leaf

and stitched around it.

The leaf shape may not be perfect

but that was user error!  I don't think I cut it straight.

The first point was a little off because

I didn't understand how the blanket stitch would work

but it got much easier.  The foot I chose, 

base on what Pfaff recommended, has a guide

to keep the stitch in place.

It's not perfect but for the first time I ever did this,

I would have been happy with only slightly horrible.

They actually were complimentary!

I didn't know to bring contrasting thread

that was thicker and a needle to accommodate it

so we just worked with what I had.

I also made a circle but decided to finish the 

stitching at home since it was going well.

 I have purchased lots of fabric from this shop,

she carries the really good stuff.

I can't afford all really good stuff so I wanted to also 

hit a fabric sale a couple of towns over,

which from my house is not really all that far.

They had fabrics marked down to $3/yard

with 1/2 yard minimums.

I selected 1 yard each of these black & whites 

  

Several 1/2 yard fabrics

 I

I had to get the cats  - love cats!

Who could pass up these frogs?

I may be able to use them along with the

Real Tree deer panel I have.

  I selected some orange/yellows

and some purples- you can hardly see the 

purple plaid but it's there.

  Some blues and reds

 I added more pinks.

A few fat quarters, just because.

Plus a stencil to use as I try quilting.

All in all it was a very productive day.

Tomorrow we are having an ice storm

so I will make my first attempt to work from home

since I have a laptop and shared documents are

on our SharePoint sites.

My work phone is already forwarded to my cell.

  Our highway department is calling for people

to stay off the highways .

Hopefully this works out well 

because I can do this once a week and 

with gas the way it is,

it will pay off since I drive an hour to work

on a good day!

Now I'll have to get some applique

gear and start making some pretty things!

 Linking to Country Homemaker Hop