As you may have noticed, Block 7 has pointy flowers and leaves. Since I’m trying to add video to the blog I made a small video about appliquéing points at which point I fell into a technical abyss only to emerge 12 hours later. It turns out that I couldn’t find a way to upload the video no matter what I tried. I finally asked my kids and when they found out I was trying to load a 555 megabyte video they both clutched their sides and fell over laughing. Long story short, I learned about compression and discovered how easy it is to use youtube. I keep telling them that when I was in college we still had to program computers using punch cards. They have no pity, this makes them laugh even harder. Yeesh.
While I was figuring out the whole compression thing I decided to do some pictures of how I do my points in case I never figured out how to get another video on the web.
Here we go:
Here’s a picture of my general approach.
Once I’ve appliquéd up to the point where the fabric is peaking out I park my needle. I then pinch the point with my left thumb and tuck the fabric in like this.
When I get to the point I take a slightly longer stitch (this gives the illusion of sharpness) and come right back up from where I started the stitch.
After securing the point in this way I continue down the other side.
Now if you are ready for ANOTHER very amateur video here I am doing this real time. I’m still working on the video editing thing so bear with…PLEASE.
That was a really nice video. I hope you do more in the future. And about the computer problems, I don't know what I'm going to do when my kids move out. They are my free, resident techies that help me all the time!
Posted by: Paige Johnson | 07/21/2010 at 07:19 AM
Love the Video...please do more!!! Don't you just love those kids? If it weren't for us parents, what free entertainment could they possibly have in this world? PS: My girls are cut from the same cloth!
Posted by: Debbie Short | 07/21/2010 at 07:38 AM
what an awesome tutorial...I have another question. How close do you cut the fabric at the point??
I used to just turn with my needle and then I started turning with the wooden tool and found my fabric does grab that better.
Also the thimble (finger tip) you are using on your right middle finger.. what is that?? and what do you use it for??
Thank you so much from someone that has appliqued for a very long time but always learning new and wonderful methods. your patterns are just so fantastic!!
Posted by: deb | 07/21/2010 at 10:18 AM
Thank you for sharing.... great tutorial. I am curious as to what you have in your shapes... do you use freezer paper?
Posted by: Nancy | 07/21/2010 at 12:10 PM
Hi there,
I just wanted to say thank you for your tutorial. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, well, then a video must be priceless! :)
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy Mitchell | 07/23/2010 at 08:34 AM
curiosità! ma tu togli l'eccesso di stoffa dietro l'appliquè una volta finito il blocco?? è possibile vedere il retro del lavoro??? Grazie ti seguo con passione! e non vedo l'ora di arrivare al blocco centrale!
Posted by: flavia | 07/27/2010 at 03:48 AM
I starch my shapes using templar and take that out.
Hope that helps
Posted by: erinrussek | 07/27/2010 at 06:12 PM
Thanks
I use thimble pads and I think you can find them online at softexpressions.com
I need some protection or I get a very sore finger.
Posted by: erinrussek | 07/27/2010 at 06:13 PM
actually here is a link
http://www.connectingthreads.com/tools/Quilting_Thimbles__L60050120.html
Posted by: erinrussek | 07/27/2010 at 06:15 PM