Focus on Applique: Ugly fabrics = great for applique

I'm borrowing Pat's Focus on Design idea for a series of applique
oriented discussions. I don't know how many I might come up with but
here is the first one.

Ugly fabrics are often perfect for applique. The very reason they
won't look good in a pieced block, as sashing strips, or as border
fabric makes them good for applique uses.

Muddy brown colored fabrics can be used as walkways, tree branches,
fall leaves, acorns, animal bodies, freshly plowed fields, buildings,
furniture, and insects. Ugly blue prints can be lakes, creeks, stormy
skies. Ugly greens can be fields, tree covered mountains, frog ponds,
leaves and stems, lizards, frogs, turtles, and bugs.

Prints that are too big for other quilting uses can be used for
applique too. That print of large pumpkins can be cut to make
pumpkins for applique onto a fall or Halloween wall hanging or
calendar quilt block. Oversized flowers can be used the same way.

But every now and then there is a print that just stumps you. I've
inherited just such an ugly print, and ugly as it is I couldn't bring
myself to toss it out. I think I know how to use it now. It's from
the 1970s; medium blue background with large ugly green, red, and gold
flowers with navy colored stems. There are also large squares with a
navy hexagonal pattern inside them. I think this fabric was supposed
to look somewhat Asian, but it falls short by a long shot. I've found
the flowers don't lend themselves to applique use at all. I was
thinking that I could use some of the hexagonal patterned parts for a
block that features a honey bee. Oddly enough when I cut off a small
part of the honeycomb the thought of shoe treads and the tops of flip
flops came to my mind. So now this fabric that has stumped me for
years has presented me with more than one possible use.

Has anyone else had a fabric stump you, only to realize part of it is
perfect for a particular applique?
Debra in VA
See my quilts at
http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere

Ah, yes. Did it this week. I was gifted with a yard of orange. Not just
any orange, mind you, but one that is so loud it makes you think of the
sound of fingernails screeching across a blackboard. Not just any print,
either. The orange is exploding in fireworks rounds. Almost every quilt
can enjoy a bit of orange but a l" square of this one would have been
plenty.
Finally, I needed a special orange for Bert. Please do notice that I
spelled my new friend from Sesame Street's name right. The Bert appliqué
now has a very fine bright orange nose. Yes. Just right. You would really
have to be in an extremely foul mood not to smile at this guy. Polly

"Debra" wrote in message
...
I'm borrowing Pat's Focus on Design idea for a series of applique
oriented discussions. I don't know how many I might come up with but
here is the first one.

Ugly fabrics are often perfect for applique. The very reason they
won't look good in a pieced block, as sashing strips, or as border
fabric makes them good for applique uses.

Muddy brown colored fabrics can be used as walkways, tree branches,
fall leaves, acorns, animal bodies, freshly plowed fields, buildings,
furniture, and insects. Ugly blue prints can be lakes, creeks, stormy
skies. Ugly greens can be fields, tree covered mountains, frog ponds,
leaves and stems, lizards, frogs, turtles, and bugs.

Prints that are too big for other quilting uses can be used for
applique too. That print of large pumpkins can be cut to make
pumpkins for applique onto a fall or Halloween wall hanging or
calendar quilt block. Oversized flowers can be used the same way.

But every now and then there is a print that just stumps you. I've
inherited just such an ugly print, and ugly as it is I couldn't bring
myself to toss it out. I think I know how to use it now. It's from
the 1970s; medium blue background with large ugly green, red, and gold
flowers with navy colored stems. There are also large squares with a
navy hexagonal pattern inside them. I think this fabric was supposed
to look somewhat Asian, but it falls short by a long shot. I've found
the flowers don't lend themselves to applique use at all. I was
thinking that I could use some of the hexagonal patterned parts for a
block that features a honey bee. Oddly enough when I cut off a small
part of the honeycomb the thought of shoe treads and the tops of flip
flops came to my mind. So now this fabric that has stumped me for
years has presented me with more than one possible use.

Has anyone else had a fabric stump you, only to realize part of it is
perfect for a particular applique?
Debra in VA
See my quilts at
http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere

Polly, when you mentioned fingernails screeching across a blackboard, it
reminded me of the last time my nephew visited. We were fixing breakfast,
and the eggs were in one of those styrofoam-like containers. When he was
putting them away, he said the sound the container made when he closed it
gave him chills. I said, "I know - sort of like fingernails scraping on a
blackboard, right?" He looked at me like I was crazy! Turns out they don't
have blackboards - only white boards!

--
Louise in Iowa
nieland4 at mchsi dot com
http://community.webshots.com/user/louiseiniowa

"polly esther" wrote in message
.net...
Ah, yes. Did it this week. I was gifted with a yard of orange. Not just
any orange, mind you, but one that is so loud it makes you think of the
sound of fingernails screeching across a blackboard. Not just any print,
either. The orange is exploding in fireworks rounds. Almost every quilt
can enjoy a bit of orange but a l" square of this one would have been
plenty.
Finally, I needed a special orange for Bert. Please do notice that I
spelled my new friend from Sesame Street's name right. The Bert appliqué
now has a very fine bright orange nose. Yes. Just right. You would
really have to be in an extremely foul mood not to smile at this guy.
Polly

"Debra" wrote in message
...
I'm borrowing Pat's Focus on Design idea for a series of applique
oriented discussions. I don't know how many I might come up with but
here is the first one.

Ugly fabrics are often perfect for applique. The very reason they
won't look good in a pieced block, as sashing strips, or as border
fabric makes them good for applique uses.

Muddy brown colored fabrics can be used as walkways, tree branches,
fall leaves, acorns, animal bodies, freshly plowed fields, buildings,
furniture, and insects. Ugly blue prints can be lakes, creeks, stormy
skies. Ugly greens can be fields, tree covered mountains, frog ponds,
leaves and stems, lizards, frogs, turtles, and bugs.

Prints that are too big for other quilting uses can be used for
applique too. That print of large pumpkins can be cut to make
pumpkins for applique onto a fall or Halloween wall hanging or
calendar quilt block. Oversized flowers can be used the same way.

But every now and then there is a print that just stumps you. I've
inherited just such an ugly print, and ugly as it is I couldn't bring
myself to toss it out. I think I know how to use it now. It's from
the 1970s; medium blue background with large ugly green, red, and gold
flowers with navy colored stems. There are also large squares with a
navy hexagonal pattern inside them. I think this fabric was supposed
to look somewhat Asian, but it falls short by a long shot. I've found
the flowers don't lend themselves to applique use at all. I was
thinking that I could use some of the hexagonal patterned parts for a
block that features a honey bee. Oddly enough when I cut off a small
part of the honeycomb the thought of shoe treads and the tops of flip
flops came to my mind. So now this fabric that has stumped me for
years has presented me with more than one possible use.

Has anyone else had a fabric stump you, only to realize part of it is
perfect for a particular applique?
Debra in VA
See my quilts at
http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere

I wanna see Bert!!!

--

Cheryl & the Cats
o o o o o o
( Y ) ( Y ) ( Y )
Enness Boofhead Donut
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau


"polly esther" wrote in message
.net...
: Ah, yes. Did it this week. I was gifted with a yard of
orange. Not just
: any orange, mind you, but one that is so loud it makes you
think of the
: sound of fingernails screeching across a blackboard. Not
just any print,
: either. The orange is exploding in fireworks rounds.
Almost every quilt
: can enjoy a bit of orange but a l" square of this one
would have been
: plenty.
: Finally, I needed a special orange for Bert. Please do
notice that I
: spelled my new friend from Sesame Street's name right.
The Bert appliqué
: now has a very fine bright orange nose. Yes. Just right.
You would really
: have to be in an extremely foul mood not to smile at this
guy. Polly
:
: "Debra" wrote in message
: ...
: I'm borrowing Pat's Focus on Design idea for a series of
applique
: oriented discussions. I don't know how many I might
come up with but
: here is the first one.
:
: Ugly fabrics are often perfect for applique. The very
reason they
: won't look good in a pieced block, as sashing strips, or
as border
: fabric makes them good for applique uses.
:
: Muddy brown colored fabrics can be used as walkways,
tree branches,
: fall leaves, acorns, animal bodies, freshly plowed
fields, buildings,
: furniture, and insects. Ugly blue prints can be lakes,
creeks, stormy
: skies. Ugly greens can be fields, tree covered
mountains, frog ponds,
: leaves and stems, lizards, frogs, turtles, and bugs.
:
: Prints that are too big for other quilting uses can be
used for
: applique too. That print of large pumpkins can be cut
to make
: pumpkins for applique onto a fall or Halloween wall
hanging or
: calendar quilt block. Oversized flowers can be used the
same way.
:
: But every now and then there is a print that just stumps
you. I've
: inherited just such an ugly print, and ugly as it is I
couldn't bring
: myself to toss it out. I think I know how to use it
now. It's from
: the 1970s; medium blue background with large ugly green,
red, and gold
: flowers with navy colored stems. There are also large
squares with a
: navy hexagonal pattern inside them. I think this fabric
was supposed
: to look somewhat Asian, but it falls short by a long
shot. I've found
: the flowers don't lend themselves to applique use at
all. I was
: thinking that I could use some of the hexagonal
patterned parts for a
: block that features a honey bee. Oddly enough when I
cut off a small
: part of the honeycomb the thought of shoe treads and the
tops of flip
: flops came to my mind. So now this fabric that has
stumped me for
: years has presented me with more than one possible use.
:
: Has anyone else had a fabric stump you, only to realize
part of it is
: perfect for a particular applique?
: Debra in VA
: See my quilts at
: http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere
:
:

Other uses for Yucky fabrics -

a lot of the yucks will also overdye to make some
interesting fabrics. I often have a pile of yuck standing
by to go in the left-over dyes. The darker the fabric, the
darker the overdye. Worst case scenario - you finish up
with a heap of really dark fabrics that can be crazy pieced
for backgrounds or backings, or appliqued over in bright
colours. If they're dark enough, use them as the "black" in
some of the new iron on stained glass designs.

if you mix all your left over dyes together you usually end
up with a murky sort of mud colour. But this can be great
for creating shades of taupe to use in one of those gorgeous
monochromatic quilts. By overdyine fabrics the one lot of
"murky mud leftovers" can create a lot of different shades
and tones.

if the design lines on them are suitable, put them on the
back and quilt from the back, using the print design to
provide the quilt lines. Big bold 70s florals are great for
this. You finish up with a big floral quilting pattern on
the front and - NO MARKING! It's not an applique use, but
it is a use.

in desperation - use as layers in chenille or as "batting"
in tile blocks



I don't think I ever met a (cotton) fabric that was so yucky
that it couldn't be used for something!
--

Cheryl & the Cats
o o o o o o
( Y ) ( Y ) ( Y )
Enness Boofhead Donut
http://community.webshots.com/user/witchofthewest
catsatararatATyahooDOTcomDOTau


"Debra" wrote in message
...
: I'm borrowing Pat's Focus on Design idea for a series of
applique
: oriented discussions. I don't know how many I might come
up with but
: here is the first one.
:
: Ugly fabrics are often perfect for applique. The very
reason they
: won't look good in a pieced block, as sashing strips, or
as border
: fabric makes them good for applique uses.
:
: Muddy brown colored fabrics can be used as walkways, tree
branches,
: fall leaves, acorns, animal bodies, freshly plowed fields,
buildings,
: furniture, and insects. Ugly blue prints can be lakes,
creeks, stormy
: skies. Ugly greens can be fields, tree covered mountains,
frog ponds,
: leaves and stems, lizards, frogs, turtles, and bugs.
:
: Prints that are too big for other quilting uses can be
used for
: applique too. That print of large pumpkins can be cut to
make
: pumpkins for applique onto a fall or Halloween wall
hanging or
: calendar quilt block. Oversized flowers can be used the
same way.
:
: But every now and then there is a print that just stumps
you. I've
: inherited just such an ugly print, and ugly as it is I
couldn't bring
: myself to toss it out. I think I know how to use it now.
It's from
: the 1970s; medium blue background with large ugly green,
red, and gold
: flowers with navy colored stems. There are also large
squares with a
: navy hexagonal pattern inside them. I think this fabric
was supposed
: to look somewhat Asian, but it falls short by a long shot.
I've found
: the flowers don't lend themselves to applique use at all.
I was
: thinking that I could use some of the hexagonal patterned
parts for a
: block that features a honey bee. Oddly enough when I cut
off a small
: part of the honeycomb the thought of shoe treads and the
tops of flip
: flops came to my mind. So now this fabric that has
stumped me for
: years has presented me with more than one possible use.
:
: Has anyone else had a fabric stump you, only to realize
part of it is
: perfect for a particular applique?
: Debra in VA
: See my quilts at
: http://community.webshots.com/user/debplayshere

Hi Debra
I do almost exclusively applique, and more often than not, those "odd"
bits find a home. The latest piece was a weird burgundy and green plaid,
with some sort of holly on it, but it was perfect for the heel and toe
of a Christmas stocking I was doing. Sometimes too, if you use the wrong
side of an odd fabric, it works perfectly.

Patti in Seattle

This is so funny....I was going to suggest the very same thing! I've
overdyed several largish floral prints that I would never have used
otherwise. I'm never sure what I'm going to end up with, but generally I've
been happy with the results. It's always fun to see what happens!
--
Donna
http://community.webshots.com/user/donna9736

"Cats" wrote in message
...
Other uses for Yucky fabrics -

a lot of the yucks will also overdye to make some
interesting fabrics. I often have a pile of yuck standing
by to go in the left-over dyes. The darker the fabric, the
darker the overdye. Worst case scenario - you finish up
with a heap of really dark fabrics that can be crazy pieced
for backgrounds or backings, or appliqued over in bright
colours. If they're dark enough, use them as the "black" in
some of the new iron on stained glass designs.

if you mix all your left over dyes together you usually end
up with a murky sort of mud colour. But this can be great
for creating shades of taupe to use in one of those gorgeous
monochromatic quilts. By overdyine fabrics the one lot of
"murky mud leftovers" can create a lot of different shades
and tones.

I persuaded Bert to pose on the scanner and sent it to you. It bounced
back. Don't know if I had your address wrong or it the file was simply too
big. Polly

"Cats" wrote in message
...
I wanna see Bert!!!

Once I was in a challenge where we had
to use a certain large print of fruit
and flowers. The fabric is quite pretty,
but the whole challenge was difficult.
The other requirements: that fabric must
cover about 1/5 of the surface,
medallion set, and 'looking ahead,
looking back.' Well, I wanted to make
lots of tiny houses for one of the
rounds. I used the challenge fabric by
cutting different parts judiciously. A
leaf, green roof; a large grape, a
purple house, etc. It is one of my
favorite quilts. PAT in VA/USA
PS: This new focus is a great idea, Debra!!

Debra wrote:

I'm borrowing Pat's Focus on Design idea for a series of applique
oriented discussions. I don't know how many I might come up with but
here is the first one.

Ugly fabrics are often perfect for applique. ...cut...

Polly if you don't have a place to upload it to so we can all see it,
send it to me and I will put it on my website and you can post a link
to it there. Cause I wanted to see him too and after she wrote it I
just knew I would.

Have a great day, evening or whatever time of day it is in your land.

Jacqueline

On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 03:15:31 GMT, "polly esther"
wrote:

I persuaded Bert to pose on the scanner and sent it to you. It bounced
back. Don't know if I had your address wrong or it the file was simply too
big. Polly

"Cats" wrote in message
...
I wanna see Bert!!!