Hello to anyone that can tell me how to get a quote in a box -

I am missing it somewhere.

Bonny

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Yes. I have the 440. It really does work well on this technique.[/quote]

Great I have the same machine. So happy you are taking the time to share your knowledge of the IMA method.

I have only heard rave reviews on this machine using this technique.

Miles of Smiles,
Bonny

jyates wrote:
Janice, I'm sorry we don't have a dedicated place for machine work, but we were trying to reduce the number of "threads" on this forum topic, and just keeping the months seperate seems to be working.

Things around here have been NUTS this week, and I really want to thank Bridget for volunteering to do some machine applique tutorials!! And thanks to EVERYONE for offering advice and anyone else with suggestions.....please jump right in!!!
I'll catch up with my tutorial in a few days...until then, I'm looking forward to seeing what shows up here!

Love your color choices Maggie.

Nice Maggie, very nice. I like your bright colors! I did raw edge (no fusing) on the center stars on March. I just put my stitches very close together! Hope it holds!
Lynn

The class I took in Paducah was basically a rehash of Sharon Schambler's technique. Trace the pattern onto dissolvable stabilizer, use a washable glue stick to turn the edges under, then stitch down. Either use a matching thread (Superior's Bottom Line is great for this) or a monofilament. You can do a blanket stitch or other decorative stitch, even the blind hem stitch reversed, or a small zigzag. In class I used a small sample of Ricky Tims' dissolvable stabilizer (which may not be available at present as they were having some problems with the product as it came from the factory) and I really loved it. For this project, I used paper Solvay, which I would not recommend. Much too flimsy.

Any hoo, my May block is done and posted on my profile. I ended up raw edge appliquing those circles. I left my vase very plain, as I thought the fabric was too pretty cover up.

Maggie

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement everyone! I'm about half way there!Yes. I have the 440. It really does work well on this technique.

Bridget,
Do you have a Bernina? That is what I have and I have heard this IMA method works beautifully. If I don't get this going I am not getting full use of my machine or so I feel. I still love hand stitched applique as it is relaxing but there are projects I have that the machine method would be great. I think I have the "wanta get it finished" thing nagging at me.

Appreciate your taking the time to give us the instructions.

Thanks bunches,
Bonny

Well I am also a newbie on MA - this quilt is my first project after doing almost all handwork, pieicing AND quilting.

I'm doing the Sharon Schamber method which uses her (or Ricky's) foundation paper which dissolves when you get it wet so it isn't stiff anymore. I use the paper under the fabric on wrong side, then use an Elmer's glue stick to turn the edges. Then glue to the background and applicque with a buttonhole stitch as narrow and close as I like the looks of. I don't think I would go as far as saying it is as invisible as HA but maybe I'm just too fussy! But, on the green leaves that I thought were too pale, I jazzed them up with darker thread in a creative stitch on the edges.

She always says you have to HEAT SET the Elmer's glue before you applique.

Would love it, Bridget. Sure don't know how you get everything in and done. You must be one of those superwomen that the rest of loved to hate, but sure am glad you are here and ding blast you are too nice to hate, LOL

Ann

Bridget, that would be great of you! I traced my master pattern on fp, but I also tried it for the first time on transparencies. Boy, is that the way to go!!!! Front AND back on one piece-wow! Can you tell it doesn't take much to entertain me? Really though, that's quite a break through for me with applique and the dreaded reverse image-lol! Now all I have to do is the work- I look forward to hearing from all of ya'll. I am also gonna work on getting pictures up on the site- Janice

Writing from work – shhhh. Computer still sick at home. More sewing time. J

Anyway, if you look at my sweet treats quilt in my profile all but one block was done by machine applique and let me tell you by the time I was done, I was an expert.

I used a buttonhole stitch or overcast and adjusted my stitch length and bite in proportion to the size of the piece I was sewing. Some of the writing I used a straight stitch. I always tested to make sure I had the right stitch length etc before I worked on the actual piece. Then made myself a cheat sheet on the pieces so I would know what the stitch looked like. Also, I did the donut method so that the center of the applique would not be stiff. I would cut out the middle section of the wonder/under and only fuse the edges on the wrong side. That way I would cut away the background once stitched in place being careful not to cut the underside of something I shouldn’t (ya I did it 2x on the April block) but managed to fix it.

Basically, fuse, start stitching. It’s your option to use matching thread to hide any mistakes or a thread that is high contrast to make it sing!


Having said that, this BOM is fused and hand stitched so I can do it at work during lunch hour.

Good Luck.

denise

Yes. That's the one! I used to use the blindstitch, but I like the variable overlock much better -- there are fewer "between" stitches. I do have to mirror it on my machine though. I'll see what I can get done and I'll post it over the weekend.

Bridget,
I would love for you to post the MA method. Now that scares me - hand stitch I love but I have a lot of hand stitching to do. I have a book by Karla Menaugh & Cheri Ralston "Quiltmaker's Guide to Fine Machine Applique". The girls that use this method say you cannot tell the difference between this an handstitch.
Do you use a the variable overlock stitch?

I noticed that Maggie took a class in Paducah on MA - would love to hear what type and how it went for her.

Thanks so much Bridget,
Bonny