To help me get used to my new sewing machine I knew I would need some more challenging projects other than just straight sewing. Searching the internet of course brings up some wonderful examples of work showing off the amazing talents of so many people! One series of projects that caught my eye were 'reading pillows'. Never heard of them before, but obviously now that I have a granddaughter there was no excuse for not making one! So after watching a few videos and looking at a range of different types I drew up my design. I have never done applique before, or done any piping so here indeed was a challenge to upskill myself. I saw a fat quarter bundle on ebay that seemed ideal for what I wanted (I got a surprise when it came next day!) and I bought some sets of machine applique from this site only because they had an offer on and they seemed good value for money and looked amazing!
I found some words on a number of pillows that I adapted and programmed into my machine. It took a while as again the machine is new to me and it is a case of getting used to it. I uploaded the file from my machine onto my computer and then loaded it into the free software that comes with the machine. I was able to jiggle things around but as the software is limited (you need to pay an arm and a leg for the full version) there wasn't much I could do. However, I was pleased with how it stitched out and the choice of thread colours that picked up the colours in the animal print fabric. I used a lightweight iron on interfacing and a layer of wadding and the stitch out didn't cause any puckering which was good. I had a practice run on some spare fabric for the applique as I had never done any before - again, thank goodness for videos on the internet!
The only thing I regret is not taking into account the curve of the cushion pad.....I should have had the applique and the wording nearer to the centre - I trimmed from the bottom when I should have trimmed from the top and that was a mistake too. Still overall I am sure my granddaughter won't mind. I am glad I decided to add the piping as it certainly finishes off the overall look. I used the same fabric as that on the raccoon. The fabric bundle came with 5 fat quarters that really toned well together, but I didn't use the green or the brown, instead added the turquoise spot and a darker grey from my stash. I used the spot as that is what features heavily in the futon cover I am making and I wanted this cushion to go with the colours in the wall paper too.
I knew I would have to add a zip, but I didn't want to add that along the edge with the piping. My solution was to add a panel with some more applique and put the zip along the edge.
At first I programmed my machine with all three applique toppers in a line and the plan was to use the super hoop that came with the machine but I couldn't get the hoop to cope with the material and wadding so in the end hooped with the small one and did each applique one at a time. I really cursed when I realised that the last one I did ( the owl) was not aligned correctly.....a silly mistake in mis-reading the marks I had put on the fabric. Nothing to do with the machine as that allows absolutely precise positioning (another lesson I had to do part way through the project!) Still, as you are instinctively drawn to the large eyes of the middle foxy lady perhaps no one will notice that the owl is a little higher than the other two!
So for my first major project getting to grips with the embroidery function of my new machine I am pleased with the result. Will now have to decide what I am going to do next.
The only thing I regret is not taking into account the curve of the cushion pad.....I should have had the applique and the wording nearer to the centre - I trimmed from the bottom when I should have trimmed from the top and that was a mistake too. Still overall I am sure my granddaughter won't mind. I am glad I decided to add the piping as it certainly finishes off the overall look. I used the same fabric as that on the raccoon. The fabric bundle came with 5 fat quarters that really toned well together, but I didn't use the green or the brown, instead added the turquoise spot and a darker grey from my stash. I used the spot as that is what features heavily in the futon cover I am making and I wanted this cushion to go with the colours in the wall paper too.
At first I programmed my machine with all three applique toppers in a line and the plan was to use the super hoop that came with the machine but I couldn't get the hoop to cope with the material and wadding so in the end hooped with the small one and did each applique one at a time. I really cursed when I realised that the last one I did ( the owl) was not aligned correctly.....a silly mistake in mis-reading the marks I had put on the fabric. Nothing to do with the machine as that allows absolutely precise positioning (another lesson I had to do part way through the project!) Still, as you are instinctively drawn to the large eyes of the middle foxy lady perhaps no one will notice that the owl is a little higher than the other two!
So for my first major project getting to grips with the embroidery function of my new machine I am pleased with the result. Will now have to decide what I am going to do next.