How to Make Padded Applique' Wall Hangings

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WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO GET STARTED

If you do any sewing at all, chances you already have most of the necessary starting materials on hand. All I had to buy to make Rebecca's wall covering was [1] the solid white cotton fabric that constitutes the piece of work's front and back, and [2] a $2.88 package of polyester batting (from which I had enough left over to pad two smaller wall coverings later). By dipping into the scrap bag, its easy to keep costs to a minimum.

Here's a complete list of the tools and materials you'll need to make a 31' X 31" wall hanging:

TOOLS

[1] A zigzag-type sewing machine

[2] Scissors

[3] Straight pins

[4] Embroidery needles and hoop

[5] A yardstick or ruler

[6] Chalk and/or a pencil and pen.

MATERIALS

[1] One 32' X 32" sheet of heavy drawing paper (or several smaller sheets taped together)

[2] Two 36" X 36" pieces of heavy cotton fabric

[3] Odd scraps of material

[4] Regular sewing thread

[5] Embroidery floss in a variety of colors

[6] One package of 100% polyester fiber (layer-built batting)

[7] Seam tape (optional)

[8] A 32"-long wooden dowel (optional).

HOW TO SELECT FABRICS FOR MACHINE APPLIQUE

Applique — which began as a way to patch worn clothes — is simply a technique for applying one fabric to another. There are various ways to do this, but the method I use is the quickest and easiest: It's called machine applique.

In machine applique, small pieces of material are cut to shape, then zigzag-stitched along their rough edges to a larger piece of cloth. It's essential to use heavy cotton or firm, non-fraying fabrics for this method. By choosing firm fabrics from your scrap bag, you can avoid the laborious finishing off and handstitching operations that usually accompany applique. (Not that I don't enjoy handwork ... I do But I'd rather save this kind of work for decorative embroidery stitches, where I can get as elaborate as I want.)

HOW TO ADJUST YOUR MACHINE

I use a fairly wide zigzag stitch (four or five on my dial), and I recommend that you do likewise. (You can regulate this as desired, however.) Place the dial on "satin stitch" . . . close to zero on most machines. And be sure to use a medium to heavy machine needle (size 14 to 16) for this kind of multiple-fabric stitching.

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