Easter Appliqué With Island Batik Fabrics

Close up of quilted reverse appliqué lettering saying "He is Risen"
Man holding up appliquéd quilt saying "He is Risen"
It is Finished

The April challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors is “Adventurous Appliqué'” and since Easter is in April this year I wanted to make an Easter Appliqué reflecting the meaning behind the holiday. I found the perfect Island Batik fabrics in my stash to represent the idea in my head….

First off I need to apologize to those who have honed their skills as experts in appliqué – for as you will see, I am still at the bottom rung of the ladder. I’ve quilted your beautiful creations admiring your perfectly stitched needle turn appliqué, both hand and machine…sigh…

You’d think as much as I enjoyed handwork as a youth – embroidery, counted cross-stitch, needlepoint, needle punch – that I would have embraced appliqué. I adore looking at it! I appreciate the time commitment…which is why I stick to piecing as I’m a smokin’ needle and want to “get’er done.” In my opinion, appliqué is time-consuming, but as I’m learning, worth the investment.

Raw Edge Appliqué Combined with Reverse Appliqué

"he is" lettering cut out of fabric in preparation of raw edge appliqué for Easter appliqué project
Island Batik fabrics are perfect for raw edge appliqué

In my way of thinking I figured a fused raw edge appliqué would fit the bill for my idea and skills. Even with my limited knowledge of appliqué, I do know that batiks are wonderful for this process as they don’t fray as much as other cotton prints.

I also wanted to experiment with a process I’d read about called reverse appliqué.

Preparing the Design For My Easter Appliqué

So I gathered my supplies and set out to work on this Easter project on Palm Sunday….(kinda cutting it close for Easter, but I tend to work better with deadlines).

Using letter stencils purchased at Walmart, a roll of newsprint and quilting stencils purchased years ago I set out to draw my idea. Once drawn, I flipped the paper over and darken the lines with a sharpie. Reverse appliqué is just that – reversed, or mirror image.

photo collage show tracing letter stencils on newsprint in preparation for tracing onto double fusible interfacing for reverse appliqué process
Tracing stencils for the design then reversing the design in prep for fusing to fabric for reverse appliqué

I then traced the design on double fusible interfacing on the paper side. So far so good. Fast, simple, quick….Next step – fuse to my fabric. This is from my personal stash, it’s an Island Batik fabric called Storm, and since it’s a “basic” you can ask your local quilt shop to order a bolt. I find that I use it a lot as a backdrop to the other beautiful Island Batik fabrics I’ve “collected” through the years.

Designed traced in reverse on double sided fusible is applied to the wrong side of fabric with an iron
Iron the double-sided fusible to the wrong side of the fabric

And then came the trimming.

The Right Tools for the Job

There’s something to be said for having the right tools for the right job. I’m pretty good with scissors and I thought surely I could cut out the project in nothing flat. I then realized it was awkward to hold the project in my hands so I switched to a teeny tiny rotary cutter, something else I was pretty good at using…it wasn’t until our son Jake came by to check on my progress and said “mom, you need a razor blade to cut that out”. Ah ha! Lightbulb moment!

Now you have to realize that I’m not a hoarder or anything. My husband says I’m a “just in-caser” as in I have lots of things “just in case”….which proved to be a blessing as I remembered during my recent deep cleaning of the studio I discovered the perfect Olfa cutter which at some point in my quilting career was my “just in case” purchase.

Photo collage showing multiple cutting tools used to cut out fabric with a raw edge reverse appliqué method
Trying out several tools to find the best method of cutting out Reverse appliqué

Yes, the right tools make life much easier!

Choosing Fabric

Next, I needed to audition fabric for the “show through” windows of my reverse appliqué. Again, shopping my stash, I found the perfect print. Now I have to add here that when I purchase fabric I like to write down the name or number from the end bolt “just in case” I run out and need to try to find more. It’s proven beneficial more than once. The fabric for my design is Island Batik #121515164 which I just looked up and it’s from a line called Jersey Shore that may or may not be at your local quilt shop but a good substitute could be from the current line Pressed Petals. I received a 10″ precut package of Pressed Petals in my Island Batik Ambassador box and will be using this in an upcoming project scheduled for June…so stay tuned for that one.

Anyway….back to the current project. I also happened to have a small hand-dyed fabric in my stash from a 2008 workshop in my studio with my longarm friend Jamie Wallen. I thought it would be perfect for the backing.

Photo shows two different fabrics, one is Island Batik fabric used for the top of a project and the other is hand dyed fabric by karen Overton for the backing of an Easter project
Beautiful Island Batik fabric for the top and hand dyed fabric for the backing

Beginning to Look like an Easter Appliqué

Next step was to pull away the paper backed fusible and press to my beautiful colorful fabric….It was a little precarious. I either had the iron too hot, because at places it didn’t adhere properly, or I had the wrong type for the job. Something that I need to ask my more experienced friends for future references.

Don’t forget to use an appliqué pressing sheet to protect your iron!

Photo shows an Appliqué pressing sheet as a protection from sticky fusible transferring to the iron when adhering any sort of raw edge appliqué
Anytime you work with fusible you should protect your iron with an appliqué pressing sheet
Photo shows layered top fabric cut out with windows of the easter appliqué design allowing the bottom fabric to show through the window in a process called Reverse appliqué
I love the way the fabrics show through the “window” created by the reverse appliqué method

Time to Quilt

photo collage showing longaram quilting of a reverse appliqué Easter project
Easter Applique on the longarm

Since I’m not well versed in appliqué I’m also not well versed in machine appliqué on my domestic sewing machine – on to the longarm it went!

I used a double layer of batting, with 80/20 batting on the bottom and  Hobbs Tuscany Wool batting on top, to give a raised padded look with the lettering and scroll work design.

My goal was to “nail down” the raw edges with what I call artist sketch stitches and then do background fill. I tend to be a dense quilter as the stitch counter on my A1 Platinum Elite documented.

Next Step: Binding my Easter Appliqué

Machine Binding using Wonder Clips and colorful Island Batik Fabrics
Colorful binding made from the focus fabric

Binding was done on my domestic sewing machine and in no time I was finished with my Easter project. I’d like to say it was completed in one day, but alas, it wasn’t. At least it was completed before Easter! It is now hanging in my entryway for the world to see!

 

Appliqued words "He is Risen" using Reverse Appliqué method with beautiful Island Batik Fabrics
Original Easter Appliqué by Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler

Visit All Island Batik Ambassadors for Their Adventurous Appliqué

Appliqué graphic with song birds for Island Batik Ambassador program

I am truly enjoying the monthly challenge projects with being a part of the Island Batik Ambassadors. Don’t forget to check out the other ambassadors to see their monthly creations. There are a lot of fabulous designers in this group all sharing the same passion as I do –  Island Batik fabrics!

 

Here are the links to others!

Nan from Purrfect Spots Designs
Turid from Den Syende Himmel
Stephanie from Quilt’n Party
Pamela from Pamela Quilts
Anna from Ark Angel Creations
Kathy from Kathy’s Kwilts and More
Jessica from Desert Bloom Quilting
Connie from Freemotion by the River
Kate from Seams Like a Dream
Sharon from Yellow Cat Quilt Designs
Tina from Quilting Affection Designs
Jennifer from The Inquiring Quilter
Barb from Bejeweled Quilts
Sally from Sally’s Quilting Corner
Jeanette from Inch Worm Fabrics
Connie from Kauffman Designs
Joan from Moosestash Quilting
Bernadine from Needle and Foot
Bea from Beaquilter
Cheryl from Cheryl Lynch Quilts
Maryellen from Mary Mack’s Blog
Joyce from Hearts Creations
Marlene from Kissed Quilts
Karen from The Quilt Rambler (this is me!)
Marian from Seams to be Sew
Laura from Slice of Pi Quilts
Linda from Inspired Layers
Vicki from Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting
Nancy from Masterpiece Quilting
Carol from FunThreads Designs
Terri from Meanderings Along Lizard Creek
Alison from Little Bunny Quilts
Suzy from Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Jean-Sophie from Sophie Junction
Janet from Whispers of Yore

Please share in the comments below about your Easter projects or your favorite appliqué project. Tag me on social media too! @thequiltrambler

This is Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler, Telling HIS Story in My Quilting

SaveSave

This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies.