I’m sewing another picture by the Oyster (the first one being the dragon). This one uses fabric as well as surface embroidery.
In the photo you can see me starting the reverse appliqué on one of the main sections. I’ve tacked the pattern piece behind the background, then cut out the centre to within about 6mm of the marked outline, and clipped the curves. Now I’m tucking each clipped section under and slipstitching the folded edge to the pattern piece.
I’m loving it. I find hand sewing intensely relaxing, and I’ve enjoyed working on this piece out of the hoop. I imagine you can do appliqué in a hoop, but I’m not sure how you handle the difference in stretch between the background fabric and the pieces you’re applying.
The pattern of the fabric I’m using means that each appliqué section has been pieced. That part was a lot of fun (and actually took way less time than I anticipated). Have I mentioned that I love sewing? Squee!
I’ve finished the appliqué sections, and am now considering whether to hoop the piece up again to do the surface embroidery. I prefer to embroider in a hoop, but I don’t want to pull my slipstitching too hard. Perhaps I’ll experiment with a very loose hoop.
Then I’ll figure out how to finish the thing off. It’ll need some kind of border, and I’ve been lying awake at night (yes, honestly) dreaming up ingenious and elegant methods of achieving what I want.
Much more of my sewing happens in my head than ever gets out into the world, come to think of it. Working on that…
Oh, why the hole? Is it going to be lined? *total ignorance*
@Ailbhe: It’ll be clearer when I post a picture of the finished section! I’m just playing with appliqué, really. (Not obsessed, though. Nonono.) Normally, you lay a pattern piece on the main fabric and sew it down – no holes. But with reverse appliqué you cut through the main fabric to reveal a piece underneath. This tutorial shows how to do it with machine stitching on a knit fabric, but the principle’s the same.