I love working with applique – the combination of several different fabrics can give such interesting effects, and when you combine applique with embroidery, the result can be quite exciting.
My only problem with applique is all that heavy, stolid satin stitching that’s usually used to finish off the “join” between the applique, and the background fabric. That heavyweight outline can be OK if you’re working with a simple cartoon image, but if you have something a little more delicate and subtle, the thick border can really destroy the effect you’re looking for
So I’ve been playing around with ways of finishing off that rough applique edge, and recently have come up with what you might call a “natural frame”. It’s an embroidered motif that dodges around the rough edge of the applique, inside and outside, and spreads its pattern around the edge of the appliqueed fabric
Here’s one of the first ones that I did. It’s not perfect, but all the same it’s interesting. The two kinds of green pond weed frame the frog, and in doing so they distract the eye from the rough edge of the applique. They don’t disguise it entirely, but they do makes it look a little more natural
Frog among the pondweed, version 1
And here’s a version stitched by Cherri, where the vivid pattern of the background fabric adds even more drama to the little scene
A more dramatic version
I’m quite pleased with this approach and at the moment am engrossed with ways of applying this technique to other designs. More results will appear in the coming weeks!
This looks great! I am just beginning to work with appliqué – and I appreciate folks like you pushing the design envelope. This gives even more options for those learning this technique. Much appreciated!
Ingenious! It’s so exciting to see something actually NEW! This is such a beautiful idea – the sinuous pond weeds are lovely on their own, and add so much interest and motion to the frog. It’s effective on a plain background, and awesome with the printed fabric. Wow! I’m so looking forward to see what else you come up with. In the meantime, congratulations!
I love this. Like you, I’ve been dissatisfied with only using the dense satin stitch to keep the appliqué fabric from fraying and coming loose. This looks like it would work for that purpose at least as well, and is so much prettier! Great solution! Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
I agree about the heavy-looking satin stitching around appliques, so I’ve experimented with a small blanket stitch and the blind hem stitch on my sewing machine — both seem less heavy-looking on applique. And even a small zig-zag often works. But your pond fronds do the trick quite nicely!!! Good job Mia!
Wow Mia!, so different and so effective, brilliant idea of yours. You have pushed the boundaries once again, and have made a stunningly big difference to this design. I look forward to seeing, what next. Love the more dramatic one.
Hi Mia, This is absolutely stunning! Your creative ideas to add new ways to add special effects to machine embroidery is amazing. The idea of a natural frame that blends in and becomes part of the thick satin stich edges of applique designs is a brilliant concept. The natural frame that you developed for your frog applique not only partially hides the satin stitch, but blends in and becomes an intrical part of the scene. Have a great weekend.