Supply List

2 Fabric Appliqué

Nancy Chong, Instructor

       
Mini Blossom with dark appliqué (left) and with light appliqué (right)

You will be provided with the 2FAQ pattern in class.  If you are a beginner, please make the Mini Blossom pattern shown above.  This incorporates all the different stitches taught in class.  The other two patterns can be made later, if you desire.

       
Mini Candles and Mini Rose patterns are shown here with dark appliqué fabric

FABRIC**

Top - One fat quarter appliqué fabric and one fat quarter background fabric
If you choose a directional print for your appliqué fabric, where the print is running parallel to the selvedge, then use 5/8 yard (and this will include enough for the binding). 

Back** - 1 fat quarter

Binding - 1/4 yard (or 1 fat quarter) of either appliqué or background fabric

Sleeve** - 10" x 8"

Label - Light cotton or muslin.  Size will be determined by how much you want to write.  6" square usually works for me.

NOTIONS


 Blunt-nosed or duck-billed scissors work particularly well for cutting appliqué fabric

OPTIONAL ITEMS

Notes on Supplies

Quilt Back   I like to use print fabrics that are color-coordinated with the two fabrics that appear on the top of the quilt, or have the same theme as the pattern.   You will not need your backing fabric until the appliqué is finished, but you might keep your eyes open for the perfect fabric now. 

Sleeve   I put a 4" wide sleeve on my quilts, even small ones.  That size sleeve works with  thin rods or large PVC pipe.  To make a 4" sleeve, you will need a piece of fabric that is 10" x 8".  It can be a scrap, the same as your backing fabric or a color coordinated fabric that is similar to your binding.

Wash your fabrics to make sure they are colorfast and preshrunk.  I wash every fabric I buy in my the sink, using hot water and Synthrapol or Orvis (sometimes spelled Orvus).  Synthrapol is a chemical soap that washes any excess dye molecules down the drain.  If you cannot find it, we sell it at www.prqc.com or you can get it from www.dharmatrading.com.  Orvis was originally a horse-washing soap that works much the same as Synthrapol.  It is found in fabric stores or at your local farm supply store. 

I use hot water to make sure the fabric is preshrunk.  I want to treat my fabric as badly as anyone else might after the quilt is made.  Then no one is surprised with shrinkage or running dye when they wash the quilt.  The experts disagree on whether to wash fabric or not.  You and the people who inherit your quilts live by the choices you make. 

Fabric Considerations

I prefer to use 100% cotton fabrics because they are user friendly, last a long time, are readily available, are easy to care for and are easy to hand appliqué.

It is very important that you choose fabrics that allow you to see the appliqué design clearly.  The best way to accomplish that is to choose two fabrics that contrast strongly with each other.  Avoid pairing medium value fabrics or using printed fabrics that distract from the image being appliquéd.  Select fabrics that read as one color or value when viewed from 10 feet away.  The fabric can be a solid, tone-on-tone, texture, hand-dye, batik or subtle prints.


 Even though they are prints, these fabrics read as nearly solid


 It would be nearly impossible to find a background fabric that would show off the appliqué design using these high-contrast prints 

As you decide on your two fabrics, remember that you should use your most attention-getting fabric as the appliqué fabric.  With the 2FAQ quilt concept, you can use either the lighter or darker fabric for the appliqué.  There are no rules about this decision.  The viewer’s eye will always be drawn to the busier of the two fabrics, and you want that eye to go immediately to your appliqué design, not the background.

            
Attention is drawn to the background on the left.  Reverse the same two fabrics (right) and while your eye is drawn to the same fabric, now it is the design you see, not the negative space surrounding the design.

I usually select my appliqué fabric first.  It is the attention-getter I cannot live without.  Then I find a background fabric that makes my appliqué fabric look stunning.  My backgrounds are often solid or very subtle prints, so everyone’s eye will be drawn to the appliqué fabric. 

I will give you more instruction in Lesson One about selecting your two fabrics, but this should point you in the right direction. 

Directional Prints - For our project, your appliqué fabric should measure about 18" x 21".  If you have chosen a directional print that runs parallel to the selvedge, you need to buy 5/8 yard, instead of a fat quarter.  You need the added width of the fabric.

Batting -  I use very thin batting so the quilt will lay flat against the wall.  Hobbs’ Thermore  is the thinnest batting I can find.  You can use a thin cotton batting, flannel, needlepunched polyester batting or any other fiber content you want.  These designs would look great with a medium-weight batting if you wish to show off your quilting design.

Marking Tools - Depending on your appliqué fabric, you will choose one of three methods for marking.  Lay the pattern on the table and place your fabric on top, both facing right side up.  See which option below applies to your situation.

Tracing  -  Test your fabric and pattern to make sure you can see the dark solid lines through the fabric.  You will be drawing the cutting lines and the lines will not show once the seam allowance is tucked under.  You can use a chalk marking tool, pencil, colored pencil or liquid marking tool.  

If you cannot see the pattern lines through your fabric, you have two alternatives. 

1.  Light box - If you have a commercial light box, use it.  If not,

Test your fabric and pattern to make sure you can see the lines through the fabric.  The brighter the light is, the easier it will be to see the lines through the fabric.  It can help to turn off the overhead lights.  Use one of the marking tools discussed above.

2.  Pattern Transfer Paper -  If you cannot see the pattern lines with a light box, Pattern Transfer Paper (PTP) is a great alternative.  PTP is a paper coated on one side with a chalk-like substance.  There are many brands on the market.  All work well if you follow the instructions.  Some choices are: Pacific Rim Quilt Company’s Pattern Transfer Paper; Clover Chacopy; Saral; Transdoodle; Dritz Transfer Paper, Single Sided.  (Do not use the Dritz Mark-B-Gone Transfer Paper as lines disappear within 20-24 hours.)  PTP is reusable. 

If using PTP, you will need to use a stylus. This can be a slightly blunt pencil, ballpoint pen or  embossing stylus.  I prefer a pencil or a colored pen because I can tell where I have marked.

Hand appliqué needles - The most important notion you will select is your needle.  I strongly recommend a long thin needle.  My favorite is the milliner’s or straw needle, size 10 or 11.   In the US, milliner and straw needles are two different names for the same needle.  Technically, there are many types of milliner's needles, all designed for sewing hats.  I think the straw needles (those used to make straw hats) are perfect for needleturn appliqué because they are thin and long.

I suggest size 10 or 11 because they are thin.   They pierce the fibers with less effort or strain on your hand and arm.  The higher the needle size, the shorter and thinner the needle is.  A long needle makes it easier to manipulate the seam allowance with the needleturn method.  Some suggested brands are John James, Foxglove Cottage, Richard Hemming & Sons, Bohin (appliquér longues, not available in size 11) and Milward (outside the US).   We sell them on our website if you can’t find them elsewhere. 

Thread  - The second most important decision is the thread color and value (the lightness or darkness of a color) that best matches your appliqué fabric.  I always take my fabric to the store when choosing thread.  Lay one strand of thread against the fabric.  Do not lay the entire spool of thread next to the fabric; you are merely seeing the thread lay against itself. 

If you find two spools close in color, but not perfect, consider the color and value of your two fabrics.  If your background is darker, choose the thread that is slightly darker.  If your background fabric is lighter than the appliqué fabric, select the thread that is slightly lighter.  The lightness/darkness of the thread is sometimes more important than the color.  If you have a blue fabric that you cannot match, find the value of gray thread that best matches your blue fabric.  That matching value gray thread will disappear better than a blue that is a too light or too dark.  When looking for a good thread for a red fabric, try mauve or dusty rose colors.  

I prefer to use thin 100% cotton thread, because it is easier to thread the thin needles I use.   I use Aurifil thread (size 50/2), but you can use any brand with in size 60/2, 50/2 or 50/3.   Machine embroidery thread is 60/2 and all-purpose sewing thread is 50/3.   As with needles, the higher the size of the thread, the thinner the thread is.   The first number (50 or 60) is the weight of the thread, and the second number /2 or /3 is the number of individual plies used to make the thread.  Together, they determine the thickness and strength of the thread.

Silk thread is also an option.  YLI size 100 is extremely thin and will disappear along the appliquéd edge.   Silk thread is very slippery, however, and may cause frustration which cotton does not.   If you buy YLI silk thread, you do not need to match the color of the appliqué fabric, just match the value.   Silk thread acts like a chameleon, and changes its color depending on its surroundings as long as the thread is a similar value to the fabric.   It is an excellent choice if you are using a multicolored piece of appliqué fabric.

OPTIONAL NOTIONS/SUPPLIES

Needle Threader  - I use the Clover Desk Needle Threader and suggest you invest in one, too.  They make threading the tiny eye of the #11 straw/milliners needle a pleasure.

If you have problems finding any of these supplies, please visit our website www.prqc.com.  We ship around the world and try to get your order in the mail within 24 hours. 

OUTLINE

Lesson One

Lesson Two

Lesson Three

You may check the Class Supply Glossary in the Library for generic descriptions of products that may be sold under various names in different countries. 

If you have trouble finding your supplies locally in the US, many of our items are available online at Batiks Etcetera & Sew What Fabrics.  International students can check our Class Supply Sources.