Creative Fiber Fabrications - elegant machine applique

It's Friday so it must be Creative Fiber Fabrications! And today I'll share another one of my favorite techniques with you. I can remember the first time I saw this book, it was on a file cabinet in the offices of a wholesale supplier. I loved it at first site. Devoured it from cover to cover. Not until someone said to me that I couldn't read that and I heard my boss say oh yes she can did I realize it was in French. The book was translated and it became a best seller on this side of the pond.

Elegant Machine Applique is all about taking little pieces of fabric, fusing them to a backing fabric, zigzaging them in place and then adding the icing to the cake! Interesting bits of cording, ribbons, and yarns are added over the "seams" to create stunning pieces of art. Supplies are minimal: fabric bits, fusible web, some yarn, ribbon and cording odds and ends and a great monofilament thread. I am partial to YLI monofilament. It's fine and I have experienced no sewing complications in all the years I taught with this thread. It's heavenly, so don't let anyone fool you. Monofilaments are not all created equal and you have to find the perfect marriage between your machine and the thread.
After all your little squares are fused to a backing fabric, then gather the tidbits in your stash and begin the embellishing process.
This piece has a few decorative stitches and threads mixed into the yarns and cording.
I used this technique in the upper portion of this art quilt.
Once I had embellished the squares to my heart's content, I added beads. This piece is titled "Winter". You can almost feel the wind whipping through your hair as you see the ribbon buildings, the stray threads and the mini glass leaves fall..
The buildings are made of silk ribbons, ribbons, fabric piecces and whatever fit in the "theme".
Try this technique on a pillow, it's quick and easy and uses up all those little pieces we can't bear to throw away.
The little fabric squares are comprised of kimono fabrics, ribbons, silks, linens, brocades and a bit of velvet.

Now for a give away! I have a copy of the booklet "Elegant Machine Applique" for one lucky person. Just leave a comment by Monday morning July 27, 12:01am. Good Luck and


Be Creative!