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Materials:

" Design to applique. Can be fabric, embroidery, or shapes (like the bows in Colour Purple)

" Open Toe Foot

" 60 weight bobbin thread

" Steam A Seam or Steam A Seam strips

" 505 Spray Adhesive

" PolyMesh or Soft n Sheer for light to medium knits or wovens

" Heavier cut-away for heavier knits

" Rins-Away stabilizer

" Applique Scissors if you have them

Procedure:

1. If your applique has straight lines around it, you may put a 1/2" strip of Steam A Seam all around the edges. (If it's a shape, trace the shape on the Steam A Seam and adhere it to the back of the fabric and cut the shape out.)
2. Position the appliques on your shirt or project, leaving space between them for rows of stitching. Press them in place. I used a very light spraying to adhere the cut away stabilizer to the back, and put Rins-away underneath that (not sprayed).
3. For your first round of stitching you need a satiny stitch, like a regular applique stitch, a "grass" stitch, circles, etc. It needs to hold the applique in place, just like regular applique. At corners, you might need to fake it a bit, pulling a little or slowing the fabric down a little. Mine aren't perfect- see the samples on the back.
4. Choose another stitch to put around the outside of the first. It can be the same, or another color. If you want more stitching, choose a third.
5. Carefully tear away the Rins-Away and cut off the extra cut-away with an applique scissors.

Notes:

• Play with your stitches! Have a practice piece, preferably the same kind of fabric, stabilized the same way, and try you stitches first on the scrap piece. Make a note of the stitch number and the length and width on the fabric next to the stitch. The more stitch building you do, the more creative you get.
• You can also start with a stitch that's even on both sides and add stitches to both sides to make a braid look. Many of Jenny Haskins' designs on clothing use this technique. Some are done all in a metallic thread, as borders on garments, and they're exquisite! There are also some Viking books by Country Stitches that show stitch building, for every day and for holiday.
• I've shown the stitches I used with my kitties to get you started. Warning- this can become addicting! So have fun, and show me what you do!