How to Make Padded Applique' Wall Hangings

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BEGIN BY MAKING A PATTERN

First make a small sketch of your design (and please , keep the figures simple). Then — when you've got something you like-redraw the scene on a 321 X 32" sheet of paper in actual size, leaving a 2" border around the artwork. (This gives you room for a 1" seam allowance and lets you top-stitch 1" in from the outer edge.) This sheet is your paper pattern.

The first thing you should do with the pattern is lay it down on your "background" fabric and cut around the pattern to make a 32" X 32" square of material. Do this with both the 36" X 36" pieces of heavy cotton fabric. (These squares will, of course, form the front and back of your finished wall hanging.)

Next, cut the individual design shapes from your pattern and trace their Putlines onto the scrap-bag pieces of fabric that will be used in your finished wall hanging. (Use pencil if your fabric is light-colored ... chalk when the material is dark.) Also trace the outline of each design element onto the back. ground fabric (again using pencil or chalk as appropriate).

As you trace around the paper patterns and cut out the applique pieces, remember that you'll achieve the best results with bold textures and color combinations.

EMBROIDERY

If you plan to embroider details onto any of your applique's components, leave plenty of room around the edges of each piece as you trace the design onto the fabric so you'll be able to get your embroidery hoop around the work. Then —after you've embroidered-you can cut away the excess material.

I used very simple stitches, incidentally, on the individual design elements of the "wood stove wall hanging shown in the accompanying photographs. Chain stitches, for instance, run in alternating colors across the rug, chain stitching makes up the stove's "burners", chain stitching and backstitching are used on the barrel motif, and backstitching and French knots on the kerosene lamp. (See the accompanying diagrams for information on how to do this embroidery.)

LAYOUT

Now snuggle up close to the fireplace, spread out one of your 32" squares of material, and lay the pieces of your design out on the fabric. (Hint: If you'll place a 32" X 32" or larger piece of plywood or cardboard beneath the square of cloth, your work will be easily portable for cleanup, and the back of the fabric will stay clean.) And by all means do experiment with different juxtapositions of design elements and different types of material ... you may discover some particularly striking combinations. (Originally, for example, I had planned to use a solid fabric for the stove doors in my "wood stove" wall hanging ... but after a little trial and error, I found that a print looked more interesting.)

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