To say that I am not a master of hand applique is truly an understatement. My skills, while improving, are nowhere near where they should be. I'm sure this will look better after pressing and quilting, but I feel like it's kind of a mess right now!
I now have almost 75% finished though! (The pieces at the top aren't tacked down yet.)
ETA: I hope I haven't given anyone the idea that hand applique like this is difficult. It absolutely isn't, and I really encourage you to try it, if it interests you! My problem is mainly my attitude! I just find the process a bit tedious and tend to fuss a lot over the way the stitches look and the points match up. (I feel the same way about English paper piecing and most other handwork.) I figure that I'll only get better with practice though, so I'm making myself work on some handwork projects. Thank you for all your words of encouragement!
I saw something yesterday that made me think about this project of yours and wondered how it was going - thanks for the update! Looks lovely from here.
Posted by: Christina | August 25, 2010 at 08:25 AM
Coulda fooled me! Looks great, I'd say:)
Posted by: Carmen | August 25, 2010 at 08:31 AM
It looks awesome!!! :) Love the colors and the layout!
Posted by: Emily | August 25, 2010 at 08:34 AM
It looks great! I am digging the orange.
Posted by: Jandi | August 25, 2010 at 08:37 AM
I think it's beautiful! I'm almost inspired to try some hand applique myself.
Posted by: Tamar | August 25, 2010 at 08:41 AM
It looks really good! We're all critical of our own work but give yourself some credit!
Posted by: Audrie | August 25, 2010 at 08:42 AM
I think it is gorgeous--and it looks good. Now, my hand applique is truly bad. I need Wonder Under for any hope of eliminating puckers.
Posted by: Dree | August 25, 2010 at 08:43 AM
I think it's beautiful! The other thing that is beautiful is the enormity of your open heart to give this type of effort as a gift to someone you just picked. I'm truly moved. It's a wonderful antidote to my dismay over the selfishness I'm seeing daily elsewhere. Thank you.
Posted by: Alice R. | August 25, 2010 at 08:53 AM
It looks wonderful!! I love the orange!
Posted by: Melissa Corry | August 25, 2010 at 08:55 AM
I think your stitches look great. Your colors and fabrics are very nice and so pretty.
Posted by: Annette | August 25, 2010 at 08:55 AM
Yay! I was wondering how this was going - and it looks great! It's amazing to me that you tackled both hand applique and all those curves.
Posted by: Megan | August 25, 2010 at 08:57 AM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Mary on Lake Pulaski | August 25, 2010 at 08:57 AM
My best pointers...
Always use a thread that best matches the applique, not the background. Use a 60 wt thread because it will disappear the best (common ones I have found are a bottomline quilting thread by Superior and ones by Mettler). And take very tiny stitches, only grabbing 1-2 threads of the applique fabric each time!
Keep it going - love the orange :-)
Posted by: margaret | August 25, 2010 at 09:13 AM
You feel about handwork the way I feel about the sewing machine... But I'd say you're doing just fabulously! Keep at it, are you at least enjoying it a bit?
Posted by: greetingarts | August 25, 2010 at 09:38 AM
It looks great to me. Your color choice are lovely!
Posted by: Jill Majers | August 25, 2010 at 09:42 AM
I have dubbed today Orange Wednesday (long story), so how fun to see this! I have a love/hate relationship with applique. Love the way it looks, but it stresses me out to do it. I took a class from a master applique artist at my LQS thinking I just needed to learn technique. Still stresses me out. But I sure love the way it looks!
Posted by: Liveacolorfullife | August 25, 2010 at 09:46 AM
I usually don't care for needlework, too detailed for me, yet handsewing the last part of the binding is my favorite of the entire project...after picking out the fabric, of course!
Nice work!
Posted by: Debora | August 25, 2010 at 10:22 AM
I can be kind of fussy about my handwork, too; especially since I did lots of handwork (different types of embroidery and needlepoint) before I started quilting. It's kind of like FMQ in that with practice, you get into a kind of rhythm and it becomes a joy rather than a chore or a frustration :)
joan
Posted by: wishes, true and kind | August 25, 2010 at 10:27 AM
Slow going is much better than no going. Can't wait to see it when it's complete.
Posted by: Suzanne | August 25, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Even if you think differently, I think even without pressing that it's a beautiful start. I'm jealous of what you have done so far. Can't wait to see the finished quilt
Posted by: VickiT | August 25, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Well I think it's FABULOUS! I can't figure out how you do your stitches. They look so perfect on the front and back. i've never tried hand applique. I'd love to someday. I just don't know how. Do you have a post on here explaining how you do the stitches? can you share that w/ me? Thanks!
Posted by: Jen | August 25, 2010 at 11:13 AM
It looks great and I love the orange! Hang in there, Elizabeth!
Posted by: Katy Yo | August 25, 2010 at 11:18 AM
I feel the same way about applique. I find it tedious and can't often force myself to finish things. However, I do LOVE the way it looks. I love your Clementines quilt.
Posted by: Jessica C | August 25, 2010 at 11:20 AM
check out this book by Ami Simms. You will love it. http://www.amisimms.com/inap.html
Another quilter taught me this method at the International Quilt Festival in Houston when I was working on the Dear Jane Quilt. Good luck. I love your blog!
Posted by: kelley mcdonald | August 25, 2010 at 12:36 PM
Very inspiring to see that someone else also have dove into hand applique! I did so myself this week after falling in love with an antique quilt I saw on another blog... I'm one square down, probably have another 34 or so to go, who knows! I'm hoping that my technique will improve as I go, this being my first attemt at it...
Posted by: mille | August 25, 2010 at 12:49 PM