Monday, June 4, 2007

Pin Collage Applique

I can't believe I'm working this way again...it has been thirty years. When I was in college and just starting to experiment with quilting--before I even had a sewing machine--I would pin bits of fabric to a foundation, composing little blocks entirely with a zillion pins before sewing it all down. I did this for a few years...then I was given a subscription to "Quilter's Newsletter Magazine" and by golly, I realized there are other ways to put fabrics together!
But the Floral 9 Patch center block called for exactly this process, so it was fun to revisit this old technique.

Here is a detail. Because nothing is fused, I can move stuff around, refine some curves, etc. It is composition taking place on the wall. There is no way I could have pieced this.

Here is the center block, all pinned and ready for some pleasant hours of hand sewing.
The fabrics for this quilt are so incredibly busy that I am trying to imagine how I can use the embellishments to "calm it down".
But that's probably not gonna happen!!!

10 comments :

Possibilities, Etc. said...

I love the flowers swirling around the center. I think may "anchor" is a better word than "calm it down." It's awfully pretty - as always. JAH

Debra Dixon said...

I love the old fashioned looking flowers on the hankies! They look so quaint and memorable.

Barbara C said...

How brave of you to cut up hankies. I love the swirling design.

atet said...

Oh, these are coming along so well. I've been busy with home stuff -- but look what you've been busy with!

Your garden looks just lovely -- and I envy you all of those blackberries!

Pamela Kellogg said...

Allison, your fearless use of color has always blown me away! Now, I say the same about your fearless use of prints! This will be breathtaking, I'm sure!

LouAnne said...

Allie: I made a piece once with lots of prints and ended up doing the stitching in all one color. Lots of stitch variations and threads, but all in one color family. Lovely stuff you are creating these days and congrats on the $100,000 thang! I still trying to find a copy of that issue!

Rian said...

I really love the randomness of this piece. I use this same technique to piece some of my stuff.

Marty52 said...

OH, so lovely... the center medallion is gonna be sweet!

Granny Fran said...

Just scrumptious; it is going to look so vintage, which I love.

Sandie said...

Allison, you always manage to do something so totally different - I'd not ever think of putting so many florals and busy fabrics together, however, this looks amazing. Your eyes just trail around and around, finding new things to sink your eyes into. Love it and can't wait to see it's progress.