How Does Your Garden Grow?

"How DoesYour Garden Grow" is a quilt kit by Pat Wys I started back in 2005.  I had some of the blocks made but none of the applique'.  I wasn't really a fan of applique' back then but over the years I have come to really enjoy doing all types of applique'.

On this quilt I decided to try something I hadn't done before  - Hand applique' by machine.  Instead of using freezer paper to make my shapes I used a wash away fusible material sold by Jenny Haskins called Tearaway Magic.  This material is supposed to dissolve when washed so you don't have to cut your background to remove the paper.

I traced my shapes onto this fusible -cut them out- ironed them to the wrong side of the fabric and used Elmer's glue stick to turn the edges.  I then placed them on the border and used an invisible thread with a very small blind hem stitch to sew them down.
Tearaway Magic makes the pieces quite stiff even more than freezer paper and so it is easy to turn the edges but it is also very nice to sew through.
After making all the pieces and sewing them to the quilt I thought maybe I should have tested this material to see if it really does dissolve.  I always seem to do things in reverse.

Most of it dissolves but it does leave some little fibers which I think add to the applique' as it gives a little body.  I will use this technique again.

I also found a new applique' pattern here to add to my pattern collection.  Take one away- add one - I'll never get to the end this way.

Happy stitching,
Nancy