Applique the Sew Quirky Way: Fresh designs for quick and easy applique

by Mandy Murray

Overview

Learn how to do quick and easy applique the Sew Quirky way for fun, sewn projects. This collection of 12 designs for bright and bold machine applique patterns can be used to create bags, pillows, and quilts as well as to embellish clothes.

Author, Mandy Murray, has a very unique style and that is reflected in her irreverent, humorous approach to designing, so whether it’s a dachshund in a doughnut or a flamingo who likes to mingle, her designs can’t fail to make you smile. This collection includes 12 projects for homewares and wearables. Choose from a fun floor cushion to an apron, table mats, wall hanging and even a dinosaur inspired applique design for a denim jacket.

Mandy uses fusible applique to bring her designs to life and she explains this technique with step-by-step instructions and illustrations at the beginning of the book along with specific advice about getting the most from your sewing machine and using unusual fabrics – she loves to incorporate cork, vinyl and other eye catching fabrics into her designs.

Other applique and piecing techniques covered include fussy cutting, layered applique, fabric selection and fabric 'auditioning' so you choose the best fabric for your project; how to get the right tension on your sewing machine and which feet to use, as well how to choose the right threads and needles for the best results.

Other subjects covered include how to add hand embroidery and decorative stitches, quilting and finishing techniques and adding embellishments. Mandy also shares her techniques for different stitch styles, and shows you how to get exciting effects with even the most basic sewing machine. And she explains how to create her distinctive applique style using decorative stitches in the stitch library.

The full-size applique patterns are included on a pull-out pattern sheet so you don’t need to print them out and stick pages together, and all the applique templates are included at full-size so you can get going straight away once you’ve decided which design to tackle first!

As well as the main techniques section there are 12 exciting projects to choose from. Mandy is known for her fun and quirky designs: a dachshund in a donut, an otter on an inflatable and a flamingo who likes to mingle all feature in this fun pattern collection which includes wall art, embellishments on clothing, cushions, quilts and an apron.

The projects come together quickly and easily and make the perfect funky present for families and friends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781446308820
Publisher:	David & Charles
Publication date:	10/12/2021
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	1,041,086
Product dimensions:	10.90(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Mandy Murray is the designer behind the Sew Quirky brand. She is known for her bright, bold designs for animals and birds made with fusible machine applique featuring decorative stitches.

Table of Contents

Introduction 

Tools & Materials 

Modern Applique Techniques 

• Layered applique 
• Fabric selection & auditioning
• Fussy cutting 
• Applique on cork & vinyl
• Pieced applique 

Rad Tips Before You Stitch!

• Keep me stable, baby 
• Sewing machine feet & tension 
• Threads & needles for a sweet result 
• Oh sew glam decorative stitching
• Simple stitches 
• Hand embroidery 
• Make it shine with embellishments
• Quilting & finishing techniques

Projects 

• Otterly Adorable framed canvas 
• Hanging With My Gnomies floor cushion 
• Alpaca My Bag shoulder bag 
• Life's Short, Eat Donuts apron 
• Let’s Flamingle circle bag 
• Be-leaf in You wall hanging 
• Toucan Do It clutch 
• You Are Dino-mite jacket
• Rad & Fab backpack
• Koala Kool insulated bag
• Totally Bee-licious placemats
• Prickly Positivi-tea hoop art

Templates 

About the Author

Thank you!

Suppliers 

Index

Preface

As you flip through the colourful pages of this book, my hope is that the quirky designs stop you in your tracks and cause your face to light up with a huge smile. I hope your mind starts to tick with all the creative possibilities. Imagine all the projects you could make for yourself or those you love, and know that you are treating yourself to sewing just for fun, for you! This book is loaded with 12 appliqué patterns plus 12 projects that you can add the patterns to. You’ll find instructions to create a cork bag, clutch, floor cushion, placemats, apron, insulated bag, circle tote and numerous wall-art pieces. All this, along with techniques to apply my appliqué designs to pre-made items too! You can mix and match the appliqués and projects to create your own combos. With all the possibilities appliqué possesses, you’re only limited by your imagination. My technique is a fused raw edge appliqué, with the edges of the fabric secured with gorgeous decorative machine stitches. The shapes that form my designs are layered on top of each other to build up a modern and unique take on a traditional technique. In this book you’ll learn my methods for preparing, cutting and fusing appliqué together using an appliqué mat. I must warn you here, my friends… appliqué is highly addictive. I take no responsibility for lack of housework or avoiding a night out on the town. I will insist that appliqué enhances your originality, inspiring you to be an artist with fabric and thread. I hope my words within the pages of this book give you confidence to continue to grow your skills in many aspects of the design process. So, sit in a happy place, grab a cuppa and let me take you on a journey through my magical world of appliqué. Explore the many forms of this technique, discover my favourite supplies that will give you a fab finish, and enjoy every element in between! You’ll learn how valuable stabilizers are, experiment with different feet for your sewing machine, and find that these often overlooked aspects of sewing can be surprisingly fun. I encourage you to trust your instincts with colour, rummage through your rainbow of scrap fabrics and turn them into textile art through my appliqué designs. This book is all about filling your soul with every feeling you enjoy about sewing. Do you have built-in decorative stitches on your sewing machine and wonder what the heck to do with them? I’m here to help you see their value too! I’ll inspire you to try them out in your appliqué, as they play a mega role in my style of sewing. There is nothing quite like seeing decorative stitches flow out from behind your needle, with shiny threads enhancing the design. This is my favourite part of the process, and I can get quite lost in the joy of stitching. This is why I love appliqué so much and I hope that I inspire you to sew for no other reason than your own mental and creative wellbeing – to sew for FUN and EXPRESSION. Now that is a rad reason to sew, don’t you think? Whether this is your first time encountering the wonderful world of appliqué or you’ve had experience with this technique, you’ll find projects in this book you’ll love! Feel free to start at any project that makes you smile the brightest, and refer back to the technique section in the front of this book. Enjoy, my lovelies, it’s a pleasure to inspire you!