Here Comes the Sun

Is applique something you don’t do?
Our last block for the year is going to change your mind.

This Sunbonnet Sue is so easy to make. No placement of fabric, no exact pieces to cut out, and no careful ironing. You just baste fabric pieces with a machine and then the stitch line magically folds as you applique Sue onto the background. I first learned this method in the 90’s; but with hand basting. Rana Heredia took it up a notch with machine basting. I think this is the best way to applique. Give this little project a try and see if you don’t agree!

Sunbonnet Sue

Supplies:

9″ x 10″ or larger square of background fabric
fabric scraps for Sue
A window if the background fabric is light or a wheel and transfer paper if the fabric is dark
Print: Sunbonnet Sue pattern

Instructions:

Print the Sunbonnet Sue pattern page.
If your fabric is light, place your fabric over the pattern (with the wrong side facing up) and place both over a light table or tape to a window. Use a pencil to trace the design to the back of the fabric.
If the fabric is dark, lay the pattern over the wrong side of the fabric with a sheet of fabric tracing (transfer) paper between. Use a tracing wheel to transfer the pattern to the wrong side of the fabric.
Basting the applique fabric from the wrong side of the background fabric:
Take a piece of fabric you want to use for the shoe (make sure it is large enough). Don’t trim it and lay it on the table, right side down. Now lay the right side of the background fabric on the shoe fabric so it covers the area drawn as the shoe. Pin it from the wrong side.
Take the fabric to the machine, and, with a large stitch (4mm or 8), stitch the outline of the shoe following the line drawn on the wrong side of the background fabric.
Trim the shoe fabric between 1/8″ -1/4″ beyond the stitched seam. Don’t make the seam too wide as that makes it hard to turn under and be carful not to nick the background fabric while cutting.
Repeat the machine basting for all the applique pieces in numbered order given (the dress is#2).
After all the machine basting is done, you have a piece of handwork without pins and all the parts properly placed. Also nice, the applique pieces will tend to fold on the stitched line. You can applique Sue in any order you like but I suggest starting on a long straight seam so you can get a handle on the technique.
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Here is a sample to explain how to hand applique.

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Prepare to hand sew:
Chose a thin thread close in color to the applique piece. If you don’t have an exact match, go with a slightly darker and duller thread. Use a single strand of thread and as thin a needle as possible. I like embroidery needles in a size 10 – you may want a larger needle.
A good place to start is on the long straight seam of the dress.
Knot your thread and remove 3 or so stitches of basting. Insert the needle into the first machine needle stitch hole of the applique (see fig.#2 above) hiding the knot between the applique and background fabric.
Use your needle to coax the applique fabric under on the machine basting seam where the stitches were just removed. You should see the fabric fold along the stitch holes.
Stitch straight down at the very edge of the applique right where the needle came out. Let the needle travel below the fabric ~ ¼” further down catching only 1-2 threads of the applique fabric on the way up. Bring the needle back down very close to where it came up, but this time without applique fabric. This makes your stitches invisible – if you don’t use fat bright yellow thread!
If you turn your fabric over, you will see a running stitch (#8 – It’s a mirror image when turned it over).
When you come to a corner, trim the seam diagonally to 1/8″ and take an extra stitch at the corner. Sweep the fabric on the next side under. Use a needle to do this and spread the fabric all the way to the other seam. This makes a sharp less lumpy point. (#4-#6)
When you come to an under lapping applique piece, remove a few stitches of that piece near the intersection and fold under as if you were getting ready to sew it (you can of course sew it down if that is easier). Continue sewing over the underlapping applique.
When the other applique piece overlaps the piece you are sewing, take out a stitch or two so you can continue folding your piece. Then, let your needle skip to the spot where your piece emerges and continue sewing.
When you have Sue totally stitched you can frame the block if desired or save it for August when we will have a class on how to put all these blocks together in a quilt!