Coming to you fresh from the sachet project, heretofore known as the People Actually Love This Applique Stuff? Project. Because I’m not sold on it. Maybe my upcoming owl will change my mind. It could possibly drive another nail in the coffin, though. Not to say it won’t ever grow on me, but I think I can attribute my current distaste for it to the following:
- My Book. It was all about how awesome applique is. It talked about what it is (FYI: it’s sewing one fabric onto a different fabric to make your own design). Then it talked about fusible web (not to be confused with fusible interfacing, which gets ironed to fabric to make it sturdier.) Fusible web is basically a sheet of glue you melt to your fabric shapes, and then you can place those shapes on OTHER fabric where you want and then iron them down so they stick. However, it failed to mention that fusible web comes in varieties with AND without a paper backing. Me being me, I naturally bought the kind without a paper backing. So the 3 application techniques described in yonder book were clear as mud until I read more about fusible web online in other places. Have no fear, Deb, for the paperless web you bought can still be used. Sandwich it between parchment paper and iron away! Visualize these things layered as if you’re looking at your ironing board:
Iron
Parchment Paper
Fusible Web
Fabric Shapes (Wrong Side Up)
Parchment Paper
Ironing Board
Once that step is cooled off and done, here’s the next stack:
Iron
Parchment Paper
Fabric Shapes (Right Side Up, Wrong Side with Post-Melted Fusible Web Down)
Fabric You’re Sticking the Shapes To (Right Side Up)
Ironing Board
- The complete lack of tips for sewing irregular shapes. “Sew along the edges of the applique fabric, covering the raw edge of the fabric” is really not that helpful. Neither is Step 1: “Sew the applique fabric to the right side of the sachet fabric.” Mmkay…more please? That’s like handing a gun to someone who has never held a gun and telling them “Shoot that tree.” Good things will definitely follow. The “Sewing Curves” section that came AFTER this project was also kind of laughable with tips like “Stay in control” and “Guide the fabric by turning it one direction or the other.” Thank you, Captain Obvious. What about presser foot pressure? I feel like I’m battling it to make a decent turn. *crickets* Is there a trick to timing my movement of the fabric? *crickets*
- The basic fact that I’m just not good at it right now. That’s always a downer (although the things look passable in that photo above. I more or less followed the shape. It could have been way worse.)
A Note About Stabilizer
Stabilizer is like another layer of fabric that goes under everything else to keep your stitches flat. After sewing, you tear it away, or wash it away, or whatever-it-away depending on what kind of stabilizer you used.
I didn’t use any. My book says nothing about it. But poking around online, some people say they ALWAYS use stabilizer. My major question was: Do I need to use stabilizer if I’m using fusible web?
Not clear, but based on how things turned out for me tonight, I want to say no. My fusible web held stuff down pretty solidly so I don’t know why my stitches wouldn’t lay flat (aside from the fact I’m wrestling to make turns and trying not to bunch up the fabric.)
This seems to have become a pretty negative post, so I’ll end on an uptick here: I’m happy with how the sachets turned out, and even though my book left a lot to be desired, I still had fun. That, and the potpourri I crammed in them will hopefully be beneficial hanging out in our closet to combat the disgusting dude downstairs that smokes like a chimney.
Ah, apartment living.
Stay tuned for the Owl Applique. I’m kind of excited about it.
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