Chapter 10: Inlay Appliqué

This chapter was something of a challenge, although once I figured out what I needed to do, it was pretty straightforward. Sometimes the beginnings of new sections, with their call for a new approach to producing samples is a little nerve-wracking, at least until one figures out what one needs to do. Having stitched my insertion stitch sampler (see previous post), I began to work on the three individual samples. Simple Counterchange Sample #1 – paper design Since this was my first sample for this chapter and I had no idea what I was supposed to do, I decided it would be wise to begin with a paper design of my first sample. Having created this, I was much more confident about what was required.

Actual fabric sample: Using richly hued tones of my chosen colour scheme, I bonded bits of threads and fabrics, including dyed muslin torn into pieces, to previously painted Bondaweb. This is a method of background fabric construction which I love, not least for the sheer richness of the completed fabric. I then cut out the design from each piece and swapped them around to form the design. Next came tacking all the pieces to tissue paper, followed by joining the edges with a simple twisted insertion stitch. The designs were embellished with parallel rows of running stitch, and completed with blanket stitch around the outer edges.

Counterchange Sample #2 For this sample I used pieces of the first two bonded felt backgrounds as well as creating two new ones – four different bonded felt fabrics in total. The design I used was taken from Design Sheet C, ‘i’. (See earlier post.) A quarter of the design was cut from each piece and swapped around. I joined the edges with a simple cross stitch and completed the sample with blanket stitch around the outer edges.

Counter-Interchange Sample #3 This sample is based upon a previous exercise from Design Sheet B – exercise vi. (See previous post.) Felt is bonded as in other samples. Shapes joined with simple twisted insertion stitch, while the four squares were joined with machine feather stitch. Individual sections embellished with a variety of machine embroidery stitches and free machining. Finally blanket stitched outer edges to pull the sample together into a cohesive whole.