Sharon's Dear Jane Pages

How I Appliqued E1 - Aunt Exie's Phlox
This was the block after I finished my recent appliqué class. Two melons on and two to go.
The fabric was marked by ironing in 4ths diagonally.

I ironed my freezer paper templates to my fabric.

Note: The blue fabric was used in this scan to show the appliqué piece better. You will trace the freezer paper on the appliqué piece. This is your turning line. Cut away a seam allowance of 1/8th to 1/4th". Do not clip the points.

Your appliqué piece now looks like this.

Using your background pressed lines as a guide. Place the appliqué piece on your background. Baste the unit to the background. I think this was the really good tip I learned from the class. Basting keeps the piece in place while you stitch. Fold your side of the piece on the traced turning line. Line up the point with the other pieces. You start with the center point. Take 2 stitches in the SAME place to anchor your starting appliqué. The 1st stitch should be at the pencil mark in the center. See how the fold is at the point. Don't worry about the other side of the point until you come to that place. Taking small tiny stitches, sew the right side (or left side since your left-handed) of the piece to your background. Using your pencil marks as a guide, sew a few stitches and then turn your seam allowance on the pencil mark. Finger press to get a smooth sharp seam line. Keep sewing until you get to the top. When you get to the top, take 2 stitches in the SAME spot at the place where the marking stops. Now the tricky part is to get the point to fold under smoothly. You may have to clip a little of the seam allowance. Clip only a little amount. Using your needle, force it under and pinch VERY hard. You may have to "jab" your needle under several times to get the fold to turn under the point. Smooth out until you have a nice sharp point. Take 2 stitches in the same spot on the "other side of the point." Finishing stitching the other side of the appliqué piece. Do the needle turn method for the point at the center. Smooth out until you have a nice sharp point. When you get down to the center point, take 2 stitches in spot at the center point.

Tada! A finished E1.