Your Applique Attitude…
Posted By margaret on August 29, 2009
This is the first article of a six part series that appeared in Cotton Spice Magazine…
If someone told you all you needed to complete something you thought was too difficult to try, was a pencil, scissors, iron, and a sewing machine, would you give it a try? Why not, as a quilter you’re familiar with each of the items, right?
Let’s see, a pencil. It’s not a difficult thing to use, just press on it and move your hand, that’s it! You could use a pencil to sketch, but that’s not required for the project. You could use a pencil to write, but that’s not required for the project. A really simple use for the pencil is to trace. Tracing just involves putting paper over something and moving the pencil, now that’s easy enough, right?
How about scissors? So, scissors…hmmm…another easy item to use; just put your thumb and finger in the holes and open and close, the scissors do all the work. You could use scissors for cutting hair, but that’s not required for the project. You could use mock scissors for playing Rock, Paper, Scissors, but that’s not required for the project. How about using scissors to cut out the traced paper, now that’s easy enough, right?
An iron. Now, that’s a tricky one. It does have a plug and an on/off button, but I have confidence in you. Just plug it in, turn on the button and don’t touch the bottom of the iron, it gets hot! You could use an iron to press wrinkled clothes, but that’s not EVEN required for this project. If you pressed another button on the iron, steam would shoot out! You could use it to steam veggies, but that’s not required for this project. For this project, the iron is used to adhere the traced paper to the back of fabric.
Ok. If you can plug in an iron and push the button to turn it on, I know you can do the same for a sewing machine. There are lots of different types of machines, some fancy, some plain. You could use a fancy machine to sew clothes, but that’s not required for the project. You could use a fancy machine to embroidery decorative stitches on pillow cases, but that’s not required for the project. All you need for the project is a plain sewing machine with zigzag stitch capabilities, and you have one of those, for sure! Even the most basic machine offers a zigzag stitch. Just press the button and it zigs, and zags. Since you learned how to press the button way back at the iron, I know that can’t be used as an excuse. The machine does all the work, just like the scissors. All you do is hold the fabric and it sews for you, that sounds easy enough, right?
By now you have undoubtedly realized you have mastered the use of all the elements needed to successfully complete the project. Well, there might be just one more item I forgot to mention, attitude.
Oh dear, is that a positive or negative attitude required for the project? Duh, why a positive attitude, of course. Why would anyone think of beginning a new project with a negative attitude, why bother, why not skip the project all together? It was probably too complex anyway.
Whoa! What just happened? What made a new project too difficult? Perhaps it was because it was difficult to completely understand the project, or it looked overwhelming and complicated. How did the amount of time to complete the project play into the decision to participate; we’re all conscious of a lack of time and commitment, was that the gremlin?
Why did just looking at something immediately persuade someone to determine its level of difficulty, especially if that person knew how to use all the elements needed to complete the task? What happened to learning how to walk, remember those baby steps? Ride a bike, or roller skate, or drive, all had a learning curve; but, the one thing needed to successfully complete the task was a positive attitude.
So it is with the project I’m encouraging you to try, appliqué. Appliqué means to “put on”. That’s right, just “put” one piece of fabric “on” the other. There are several methods to appliqué, but since your machine is capable of a zigzag, and you already know how to use it, why not let the machine do it!
Trace the pattern on the paper side of sticky backed paper; use the iron to press the traced pattern onto the fabric, and the scissors to cut out the pieces. “Put” the cut pieces “on” the background and position into place; press again and zigzag away. Before you know it, your quilt top is complete.
Remember your commitment to attitude. Fight off those gremlins of doubt. If a project seems overwhelming, read the instructions completely prior to beginning, then go back and read them one step at a time. By accomplishing one step, you have assured yourself you can do it! Then, proceed to the next step. The project does not need to be completed at one sitting, work on it over time. Plan a small goal and try to reach it, then set another one. Reward yourself with at least 15 minutes a day to reach the goal. Small successes breed larger successes; and you can rid yourself of those awful gremlins! You can do it!
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