Welcome to the Fanciful Stitches blog tour!

If you are a fan of bright hand dyed fabrics, fusible applique and beautiful embroidered stitching, you have arrived at the right place.

Today, I am sitting down with my good friend Laura Wasilowski for a little chat about her new book

Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts
11 Easy Appliqué Projects 
to Embroider by Hand.

Please, pour a hot cup of tea and make yourself comfortable.

Laura seated in the infamous blue chair

Judy:  Laura, your pattern transfer process, where you trace the pattern piece onto the silicon release paper and then iron it to the fused side of the fabric, is brilliant!

I am guessing, that was one of those happy accidents that you discovered along the way of making fused quilts?

Laura:  Yes! It’s a miracle! Discovering how to transfer a specific shape to fused fabric by drawing the shape on silicon release paper was a happy accident. I had written some numbers on release paper, then ironed fused fabric to that same paper. Voila! The numbers transferred to the fused side of the fabric. I then realized you could use release paper and a Sharpie marker to transfer pattern shapes to fabric. 

Here’s a link to my recent blog post on how to transfer patterns:

There are so many great stitching ideas!
with easy to follow stitching diagrams.

Judy:  Do you have another great tip or technique that you always recommend to your students for fusing success?

Laura:  Thou shalt not kill the glue. 

Fusible web is a heat activated glue. Every time it feels the heat of the iron, it melts, and then re-solidifies. Exposure to too much heat for too long will burn the glue into the fabric. When that happens the fabric gets really stiff, may look like it has oil stains, is hard to stitch, and may no longer glue into place.

Practice safe fusing. Apply only 5 seconds of heat at a time while building your fused composition. When finished with your art work, steam set it to the batting for 10 seconds in each spot. The steam sets the glue.

Go here for more fusing tips:    

Judy:  What is your preferred method for hanging your small fused quilts?

Laura:  My favorite method of hanging small quilts is a little loop that is sewn into place on the back in the upper center. These quilts have a wrapped binding around batting and Timtex so they are rigid and have wavy edges. They hang flat and I don’t have to deal with a stupid rod pocket!

Here are directions for the wrapped binding.

Judy:  Have you come up with a theme song to go with your new book?

Laura:  Of course! It is sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic:

Mine Eyes have seen the glory of embroidery on quilts,

How a simple stitch can take your quilt from flat to fabulous,

Whether running stitch or French knots, or the mighty herringbone,

One stitch is all you need.

Glory, glory to the stitcher,

May your quilt tops look much richer,

Be proud of what you do for your work is artistry,

All hail embroidery!

Thanks Judy! May your edges be free yet stuck for ages.

Leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of Laura's new book! (sorry U.S. residents only, publishers request)

Be sure and check back Friday when the winner will be announced and in the meantime check out all these other fun stops on the tour.

The Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts Blog Tour! rolls on:

April 19  Annie Smith 
April 23  Melody Johnson
April 24  Jane Moxey 
April 25  Lyric Kinard 
April 26 Judy Coates Perez
April 29  Jane LaFazio 
May 2 Susan Brubaker Knapp 
May 3  Frieda Anderson 
May 4 Connecting Threads

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