Holiday Project and Gift Ideas

If you're like us, I'm sure you have a lot of quilting related tools and gadgets around the house. And maybe you've made all the quilt-related gifts you can...
Over the next few weeks we're going to be posting some ideas so that you can use those gadgets and make some gifts and holiday decorations.

But, before we get too far away from their original purpose, here is our latest Christmas applique project of the moment.

We used Perfect Shape No Melt Applique Circles and a 6 pack of green fat quarters from JoAnn's Fabrics

First we chose a few different sizes of circles- the 3", the 1 1/2" and the 1".

We laid the applique circles out on our fabric and used them as a template to trace the circles.

Here we used a General's Sketch and Wash Pencil, which does remove with water or an eraser, but since we're appliqueing the circles, it really doesn't matter if the lines don't come out as they'll all be covered up.

After tracing, we cut the circles out about 1/4" away from the line.

When all the fabric pieces were cut out, we then reused the applique circles, since they are no-melt, and used them to press the edges of your applique shape. Place the template back on the circle, and then using the iron on a medium setting (or an applique iron if you have one!), press around the template until all of your edges are flat.

After you press around the circle, pull out the plastic applique shape and use it to repeat the step for the next circle.

Another good tip for getting really crisp edges is to use a little bit of liquid starch (1/2 liquid starch, 1/2 water) and using a small paintbrush paint the edges with the mixture before ironing. This will keep the edges crisp and flat, even after you pull the applique template out.

Once all of our circles were ready we traced a large circle onto our white fabric and appliqued our circles around- starting with the larger circles on the bottom, working up to the smaller circles on top.

Here is the wreath after we appliqued all the circles on...

For a finishing touch, we went through our stash and found some really neat buttons that we've been saving since the 80's for that "special project".

We used ours for a small wallhanging, but you can also do this on a shirt, blanket, tote bags, table runner...there are lots of ways to use applique in unique ways.

What are some interesting ways that you have used applique?