A First...Applique!

Earlier this year, I took a class to learn applique. At the time, I was just curious about the technique. In hindsight, I think it might have been better to have a project in mind and go from there because by the time I did go to applique something, I had to give myself a refresher. Learning a new technique and shelving it probably isn't the best idea. Lesson learned.

In any event, I took good notes because I was able figure things out enough to successfully complete my first applique. I will, however, liken the experience to childbirth. In other words, I won't be appliqueing again until I forgot how painful this experience was! I had problems at each step, but most especially when machine sewing the applique. Every so many stitches, or rather, every NOT so many stitches, the thread would loop and I would have to be sure and pull the loose thread to the back. I'm hoping that having had the machine recently serviced will help the next time I attempt the technique.

My local quilt store had a sample of a Packer Snowman. I was tempted by it but could resist...right up until the woman I was shopping with indicated interest, too. That was all the justification I needed. Onto my tab it went!
 

All said and done, I think he looks adorable. So adorable that once I forget how painful the experience was, hopefully before next football season, I plan to make a couple more as gifts. I even did a pretty good job with the machine applique, despite all the threads I had to pull! And the numerous errors? Well, if you can't find them, I'm not telling! What can I say? Practice makes perfect.