This big grouse was an interesting technical experiment. I love applique and use it in most of my designs. However I don’t like the way so many applique designs use borders of fat lines of satin stitch to hide the raw edges of the cut fabric. Sometimes I use this technique if it suits the design, but I’m always looking for ways to do things differently.
This grouse is made from a single piece of appliqueed fabric, but it doesn’t have a fat embroidered border covering the raw edges. Rather, the appliqueed fabric is overstitched with intricate patterns, which come right down to the cut edges of the fabric. There are a few very narrow borders in some places, but these are intended to indicate shadows rather than bind the raw edges, and there’s no wide border stitched around the piece of fabric
The borderless grouse
I thought that in a subject like this grouse it wouldn’t matter if some of the raw edges showed a bit, but I was really surprised to find that the overstitching itself was enough to bind the applique edges, and the finish of the raw edges is really very neat. In any case, it’s a lot better than a fat satin stitch border running all the way around the bird! As you can see, the overstitching is very dense. The grouse isn’t a very colourful bird, but it does have a lot of subtle textures on its feathers, so a lot of subtle texture in the embroidery is called for
And in case you were wondering, The Famous Grouse is a well-known brand of Scotch whisky
What an awesome technique! I love the grouse. Bravo!
I wouldn’t have thought to try the overstitching as applique binding. Looks great!
For a plain bird, this grouse is certainly regal!
That’s beautiful! I really like the look you achieved. 🙂
You are so skilled! Thanks for the interesting reading.
Another beauty! I’d never guess that this was applique, the edges are perfectly hidden yet, as you say, not with the obvious satin stitched give-away. Have you tried using ultra suede for applique? I used it once for a pony and it gave it additional dimension and an interesting texture.
Love it and all of your birds! Please share your design.
The subtlety of the edging makes your grouse more real. You are so good at experimenting with techniques to change the final appearance. Nice!
What a beautiful design. I would be happy to have this design to try your technique. Thanks for considering me.
Mia, great applique job, love your technique! What a handsome bird. Thanks again for a great blog. Deena
YOU ARE SO TALENTED! GREAT JOB
The grouse is superb. Are you going to be offering it? I like the idea of not killing the design with a lot of satin stitches. Nice concept.
A really unique way to make the grouse look very life-like. The pattern stitching really brings out the feathers. Another great jobQ
!!
Jane in KS
elegant, gives it the softer look of brushtrokes !
Love the technique you used to bind the applique edges. Your grouse is a thread painting work of art!
Gail
I love this technique! Thank you for showing it to all of us!
Linda Hudson
I love this grouse! I like that there’s no satin stitch border around the applique fabric.
My husband sucks up single malt scotch like a baby and its bottle! This is one bottle that sits in the center of his “Scotch” shelf. BTW, I also drink it!