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Ann Fahl: Applique Ann’s Way
I’m so happy to be able to share with you a lovely little booklet by art quilter Ann Fahl: Applique Ann’s Way, A New look at Machine Applique, which you can order directly from Ann, here. This little gem is small but absolutely jam-packed with information, tips and ideas for machine applique. I can totally see why Ann wrote it; as a teacher, you want to share so much in a class, but there often isn’t enough time, plus people don’t remember all those hints and tips. In this modestly priced booklet ($10), her students (and now you!) can get all of that including photos. Ann’s website is here.
Ann Fahl’s Machine Applique booklet, available for just $10, here.
One of the first things I need to do, though, is apologize to Ann! She sent me a review copy in early April; I warned her I was swamped and wouldn’t be able to blog until probably June. Ahem. It is now early September. I’m SO SORRY to be SO LATE! But the good news is that it is a great little book and totally worth tucking onto your shelf.
The booklet is 36 pages long (18 sheets of paper, folded in half and stapled so it stays together). The outside–the cover and inside of the cover–is printed in color so you can see a range of the techniques Ann teaches in the book. The inside of the booklet is printed in black and white, but even when you are looking at the detail photos, you can still see the stitches clearly. Ann covers:
- Supplies
- Fusing instructions
- Using decorative thread
- Thread and needle chart
- Satin Stitch applique
- Refinements of the satin stitch
- Starting and stopping
- Stitch placement
- 90 degree corners
- Tapering points
- Creating bold lines
- Open zigzag stitch applique
- Decorative stitch applique
- Messy stitch free-motion
- Straight stitch free-motion
- Florentine edge applique
- Trimming tip
- Problem solving
I was really pleased to see how many things she and I teach the same way from supplies to tapering at points, from decorative stitches to troubleshooting. My only addition would be a caution about ironing; Ann recommends giving your applique a good pressing with steam. I’d caution you to TEST that level of heat on a sample scrap first. Many of the threads I use are delicate and would shrivel and/or melt with steam! So just as with any sewing project, be sure to TEST your stitches and methods on a sample before you do it on the real thing! If you need to apply more heat, try using a press cloth and ironing from the back, but whatever you do, TEST!
All in all it’s a great little book. As a teacher, I wish I had thought of doing something like this to have for my students who want something in writing, on paper, but don’t want to spend a fortune. There is as much packed into these few pages as in MANY full-length applique books. A great book for those learning to machine applique!
PS: if you are a member of AQS, check out Ann’s great article in the September 2013 issue of American Quilter on Florentine Edge Applique, one of the techniques covered in the book; the article is on p. 24.