After a year of sewing, embroidery and applique I think I have learned a few tricks that I can share! It's been an incredible year of growth and discovery for me and I'm do things I never thought I would be able to. It has been so fun (and really amusing at times) to look back and see all that I have learned.
Many of the applique designs I use are small and some can get pretty detailed. That creates some really tricky areas of fabric that need to be removed. The last thing you want to do is get half-way through your project only to cut a hole in the shirt (yep, I have done it and I might have cried a tear or 2). There are a couple kinds of scissors you can buy that are meant for trimming the excess fabric on applique designs. I bought a different kind first but found these curved ones are more versatile and can reach places the other ones can't. The pointed tips on these help you get in little corners and small spaces. When you have areas that are surrounded by stitching you don't want to use your scissors! You risk cutting your shirt that way. Get out your seam ripper and carefully lift the applique fabric away from the shirt just enough to slip the seam ripper in there. Cut a slit up the middle of the area you need to remove and then you can take your handy little curved scissors and cut away that fabric. Make sure you go slow and check to see that your shirt isn't caught it the scissors. I always take the frame off of the machine and sit down to do this part so that I am paying complete attention and being careful. I tend to be a multi-tasker and that isn't always a good idea! Now I am off to go make another adorable outfit. Happy sewing!
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