How to Free Motion Stitch and Applique in 10 easy steps

Ice Cream Hoop Art

This is a quick and easy free motion and applique project I designed on a hot day recently using the tiniest of scraps.

Ice Cream Hoop Art
What you will need
5 inch embroidery hoop
fabric scraps in red, blue, cream and brown.
back ground fabric measuring 8 x 8 inches
fabric glue
ice cream template
black thread
darning foot
hand needle.

Instructions
1. Using the template cut out the ice cream scoops and cone.(or you could cut out the shapes free hand)
2. Assemble  and glue the ice cream shapes  in the centre of the background fabric.
3. Place the fabric into the embroidery hoop, (the opposite way to normal, so the inner ring is on the right side of the project)
4. Lower the feed dogs, change to a darning foot, place the hoop under the darning foot.
5. Using black thread begin free motion stitching around the ice cream shapes. For a bolder look stitch  over the original stitching again. Don't forget the cherry stem.
6. Remove the hoop from the machine and remove project from hoop.
7. Place project back in the hoop, this time the right way ( as seen in the photo above)
8. Trim excess fabric to 1 inch around hoop
9. Hand baste around fabric edge. Gather the fabric into the back of the hoop. Tie off the thread.

wrong side of project with fabric gather

10. Hang up your new art work and enjoy.

Founation Paper Piecing

Foundation paper piecing always looked difficult and confusing to me until I tried it for myself this week using the Thread Spools Pouch project from Quilt Now issue 22.
My thoughts on Foundation paper piecing now are:-
1 this is a good project to use up small fabric scraps
2 very time consuming cutting all the tiny squares and rectangles
3 with the paper guide stitching accurate and straight seams is easy
4 NOT difficult or confusing.
My finished pouch measures 3 x 7 in. A perfect size to store my pens.
You will find more information on this technique here.
What new technique have you tried recently?

Pouches and pouches

My recent makes. The patch pocket was added as an excuse to use some pretty trim. Enjoy!