Embellishing – Fabricate with Applique!

Fab-ri-cate (from dictionary.com unabridged – based on the Random House Dictionary)

1. To make by art or skill and labor; construct
2. To make by assembling parts or sections
3. To devise or invent
4. To fake; forge

That definition pretty much leaves the door open for ultimate creativity, wouldn’t you say? One idea includes designing your own fabric or altering a fabric into something totally different, which is what I did with the above jacket.

The fabric used for the applique trimming is a polyester / satin. A lightweight fabric with fabulous drape, perfect for a blouse or lining (both of which I plan to add to jacket).  That fabric, if left alone, would be a nightmare to create appliques or cut-outs, so I fabricated – sounds like a bad word 🙂 !

The trick – Heat N Bond, now available from my favorite place WAWAK Sewing and comes in 5 yard and 35 yard pieces. At first I wasn’t too sure about this stuff, but basically you iron it to the back of the fabric and it makes it easier for you to cut out an applique – especially if you are using the Brother Scan-n-Cut

This is how easy an applique can be:

• Choose a design – for the sleeve I enlarged a design already in the scan-n-cut memory.
• Place the bonded fabric onto the cutting mat (the paper backing on the heat –n-bond makes it easy to stick)
• Press the start button (told you it was easy!)

Peel off the backing and place the appliques on the garment.

Once you have the perfect placement, use a press cloth and press the applique in place.  Notice I attach the appliques before sewing the sleeve together.

Even though the cut of the scan-n-cut prevents the fabric edges from fraying, I still stitch the applique in place. I choose the blanket stitch and stitched around each applique. That took some time, but it looks great.  Almost looks like leather!

I followed all those steps for the jacket front and again used a blanket stitch.

Of course I could cut these appliques by hand, but I really like the fact that all the front pieces are exactly the same! By the way, don’t look too closely at my studio – can you tell I have been working 🙂

Well, that’s one fun way to fabricate. Have you ever tried appliqueing apparel?

Cheers,