Congrats to yesterday’s winner, Patrice, on winning Day 25’s daily giveaway! Congrats also to Wednesday’s winner, Angela! We will be in contact so that you can claim your prize.
It’s Day Twenty-Six of National Sewing Month! Don’t forget to visit Seams and Scissors every day to find daily giveaway opportunities and sewing ideas! To enter today’s daily giveaway, find the contest rules and leave a comment below. Also look out below for details on how to enter our National Sewing Month grand prize that includes a BERNINA 215 Sewing Machine! Too see the daily blog posts, projects of the day, and more National Sewing Month details, click here.
Today’s National Sewing Month post is brought to you by Anorina from Samelia’s Mum!
Butterfly Snack Mat
Measures 12” square
Pattern by Anorina Morris of www.sameliasmum.com
Materials:
- 12” square charcoal linen
- Various fabric scraps for butterfly applique
- 3 ½” x WOF red solid (binding)
- Double side bonding paper (eg Vliesofix)
- Sewing Machine and quilting foot
- General Sewing supplies
*Butterfly Pattern sheet available here: http://bit.ly/1uNirFT
*This is a Google doc; you will need to create or log into your gmail account in order to access this.
Method:
Print the butterfly pattern (from the link provided) and trace the small butterfly 12 times on to the paper side of the vliesofix.
- Roughly cut the butterflies and press them with the glue side down, to the back of the various scrap fabrics.
- Cut out the butterflies on the traced pencil line.
- Remove the paper backing and arrange the butterflies on the top of the linen square. I decided on a circular layout but random placement would work well also.
- Press the butterfly shapes with a hot, dry iron.
- Lower the feed dogs on your sewing machine and using the quilting or applique presser foot, applique around the butterfly shape. Stitch close to the edge of the fabric without going over on to the linen.
- View the YouTube video I created to show my process in this butterfly applique process: http://bit.ly/ZkZHE5
Binding
- Cut the binding fabric into 2 strips measuring 1 ¾” x WOF.
- Join the binding strips together end to end with 45-degree seams, then trim the seams and press them open.
- ** Starting about halfway along one side of the snack mat and leaving a tail for joining, sew the binding to the right side, mitering the corners as you go. Stop approximately 6” from the starting point, join the ends neatly with a 45-degree seam, trim the surplus and finish sewing the binding to the mat.
- ** I use between a 3/8” to ½” seam when sewing the binding as I like the look of the wider binding.
Don’t miss all of Anorina’s amazing projects at Samelia’s Mum!
Also remember to check out the Project of the Day right here!
To enter the daily giveaway, leave a comment below telling us:
Be honest: is appliqueing easy for you, or too scary to try?
Official Rules for Daily Contest
- There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
- Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
- You have until tonight, September 26th, 2014 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
- Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.
Enter here for the National Sewing Month 2014 Grand Prize Giveaway.
- DIY Envelope Pillowcase - September 26, 2020
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- Sewing for Beginners: 10 Best Basic Sewing Tutorials - September 20, 2020
I would say it is not easy but not scary either. I am no expert but I get better with every project I do.
Scary but I have made felt Christmas srockings that I appliqued. I should try again as practice makes perfect.
A bit scary. I’ve never appliqued, but I’ve seen it doneand it’s a lovely result.
I am learning to appliqué and I find it fairly easy. It is relaxing to me and I love best of all the finished project!
I like applique. It can be time consuming, but I don’t find it too difficult.
Hmmm well I’ve had mixed success but I’ve tended to do it a bit more since I got my embroidery machine – is that cheating :o))
I like applique – I do not find enough time to do a lot of it – I would like to start doing smaller projects with it! thanks!
I have just started using it again as my 18 year daughter loves it! I was rusty yet every project I get better.
One tip that helps before embarking on the finished project, do a small sample first.
I enjoy it and love the results! Just give it a try and use some kind of iron on interfacing.
I am just learning applique and trying all types. I love it.
Scary, no. Callenging, yes. It does take more skill, but the end results are so pretty. Using the machine I have had to redo things as my older machine sometimes will act up. Maybe I should try some hand appliqué.
I love to applique! Thanks!
Too scary to try
I haven’t tried appliquing yet, I’m not really sure how to do it!
I am a butterfly fanatic, love this and can’t wait to make it.
I don’t find it scarry,nor too hard. Just finding time,any more, is hard.
The technique for appliqueing is like anything else … It is the unknown that is scary. Invest time with a good instructor, book, or video and then experiment with good tools on a small project so you don’t get overwhelmed or discouraged.
I love to applique. I just need to get better on my turns when doing a blanket stitch.
I learned applique and did it a lot on my Kenmore Sewing machine when kids were little (35 & 32 now). I like doing it much more now that I have an embroidery machine.
Applique’ has its place in my projects. I just used applique’ on some baby items…so not hard or scary…useful.
It’ snot scary but not my favorite either. Take it slow and sure and it will be ok. Practice.
At my beginner level, I think it’s too scary.
I LOVE to applique, it is so relaxing for me!
I love applique. It’s my favourite quilting technique so I don’t mind if it’s hard sometimes to get points turned under neatly.
I Love Applique! By regular sewing and by Machine Embroidery 😉 Thank You!
I’ve done applique, its not my favorite thing. Now I use the technique for something special, but avoid it most of the time. Its just too time consuming
I’m 60 years old and never tried applique. I’ll give applique a try. I’ve made some baby quilts and clothes but, hey, you’re never too old to learn something new. I have recently became a grandmother for the ninth time and rediscovered my love of sewing for grand babies!
Interesting but I’m not sure if I would try it
I’ve not tried machine applique …only hand ..so by dropping the feed dogs this enables you to move the fabric slowly with the correct foot?..yes think I’ve answered my own question … looks lovely! love those butterflies 🙂
I have done hand and machine applique on small wall hangings and sweatshirts. It is always little scary until I get started.
I’ve never appliqued but am in the process of making a sun bonnet sue quilt. I am very excited but not scared at all,
It doesn’t intimidate me but I do stay away from it mostly.
I love to hand sew, will be adding this to my list of to do’s
“To appliqué or not to appliqué. That is the question.” Lol. I am quite good at appliquéing but it scares me to go into a project like a quilt because it may not look good then I have wasted a lot of fabric, so I avoid appliqué. I love to look at finished pieces that other people have done.
Love background fabric! Really makes the butterflies pop.
Hey girls I have read the comments and just wanted to say Once I thought appliqué was too hard……. ” But” please try to have a go at this or one idea you can come up with “I CAN DO IT” is your next catch phrase! I may just have to start this or a similar one now
Appliqueing is frustration. It never comes out as perfect as I want.
I don’t do applique, but I love butterflies, so I am going to do this one. Thanks for showing it.
I don’t find anything scary about applique ..Have been doing it for a few years now.
I like to applique, but at the moment my singer sewing machine quit, Had it for a long time. I need a new one with all the fancy whistles to make sewing easier. I love butterflies and this place mats are adorable and would be fun to make.
Applique is very scary for me. Haven’t tried it yet but I will some day.
I love it, I am not scared to do it !
But I have never done a successful one 🙁
Cute design and not a huge project, good way to get one started in applique, repeating doing the butterflies over and over. Just right for a small table or for child to also enjoy. Thank You!
Cute design and not a huge project, good way to get one started in applique, repeating doing the butterflies over and over. Just right for a small table or for child to also enjoy. Thank You!
Before seeing this project, I considered applique too difficult to do. But…..I love butterflies. I want to do this applique, so I will teach myself to do it with all the tutorials that are available. The instructions on this one are particularly well written. I will do this!
I love to quilt and try different things, I;m not that good at applique, but am getting better and I love butterflies. Thank you.
this one I WILL make
I love to applique I am not that good as of yet, but I am trying!
I love to play around with appliques. I am still learning. That is how you learn.
I enjoy appliqué, I learn more every time I make another item.
I wouldn’t say it’s scary as much as a challenge. I love the butterflies in the project and would definitely do this. I love the challenge.
i have not tried machine appliqué work yet . But the design is so beautiful and tempting I have to practice and perfect it .Thank you for sharing …….
I have done quite a bit of machine blanket stitch appliqué. I love the finished projects. It can be hard on the old neck, I have to pace myself these days. Love the butterflies, what a cute project.!
I haven’t tried applique in years but used to enjoy it. May have to try it again now that I have a grandchild to sew for!
New at quilting. Haven’t done a lot in applique. Do know that to do it correctly you need to go slowly. Learning something new everyday. Love the butterflies!
I love this but am afraid about small applique but will give it a try. My fat fingers seem to be my worst enemy but I will give it a try love the effect.
I guess I am rather lazy. Applique is not that hard if I can get into gear and plan something out.
Appligue is easy for me to do. Because the pieces are small and easy to handle, I find myself working on applique while watching tv instead of sitting at the machine. Although I have done machine applique, I prefer the old fashion way of hand stitching. Once you learn the basic steps of applique, the rest is just repetitive which makes it easy. I am sure to be machine stitching again when I need to finish a project quicker than with the hand stitching. There are so many supplies on the market today to make it easier than ever. Please don’t be afraid to try it.
I love the idea of applique. I want to be really good at it, but every time I try it looks just like the amature look it is.
Too scary for me.
I think applique jazzes up any project. I do a lot of hand applique. I like to create 3D effects using different materials including buttons, charms, yarn and threads of variety of thickness. Though I do quiet a bit hand sewing, I haven’t used my machine for 2 decades. It is about time I get back to it.
I have not done too much appliqué but really like it so far and hopefully will do more
Looks like something I could do. It’s difficult getting fabric )we don’t have a fabric store here!)
I haven’t really done much appligue projects but I love anything with Butterflies so I’m gonna give this a shot.
Thanks
One of my favorite things to do!! I just made a quilt for my daughter’s dorm room that was appliqued.
I like applique. You can do so much with it. I find it easy.
I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m going too. I don’t think I will be any scarier than than cutting up beautiful fabric and sewing it back together. I learned to quilt. I want to learn to appliqué.
I love to applique! It adds so much in the way of colors and shapes. I also love to stitch around the shapes using a zigzag, satin, or blanket stitch. I made both placemats and mug rugs with appliques back in the fall and was able to add pumpkins, leaves, and apples to the items I made. Mostly it is fun!
Appliqueing is a lot easier if you have a scan n cut and cut out your appliques before sewing. I try to do this all the time and make extras for future repeats.
Love applique and love to do it, especially by hand.
I’m scarry to try your butterflys as my sewing machine has 30 years old! But I’ll try, I am a fan of butterflys.
At my age and all I ever seem to do is hand quilt and hand piece, getting a machine to applique is still intimidating. I have sew-many projects I would love to do however, I am stopped in my tracks because of all the applique that they all seam to want/need/require to be oh-sew-cute!
There is nothing in sewing so scary that I won’t try it once. how do you know what your limits are, if you don’t try each thing at least once. By the way, I’m 73 yrs. old, been sewing since I was 5 yrs. old, and haven’t found my limits yet!!! I LOVE everything about sewing, some more than others, and love teaching it. Applique is one of my favorite ways to embellish.
I feel that preparation is the key to anything sewing. If I have everything I need in one area for appliquéing, I can sit and work at my own pace and not be interrupted. I have been sewing since I was 13 years old and have never given up on any project. Sewing is so relaxing for me. I have always like appliquéing and I think the colors used also make or break any project when doing appliquéing.
I’ve done a bit of applique, so it’s not THAT scary! But I do need more practice. This is a lovely project to try applique with.
I do find it a tad scary, but I also find that practice makes perfect. I am no expert but love to appliqué and love when my project turns out almost perfect. 😉
I love appliqué. however, I’m new at the sewing machine and it is not easy. I’ve tried hard but results haven’t been the best so far. I’ll just have to keep trying, right?
I have only done small projects , but they were rough . Think if I do more will get better. So not so scary , well , maybe a little
I love applique. It depends on the type of applique. Multi-Layer applique is time consuming. Until about a year ago I only did zig-zag overlock applique. I really enjoy the single or multi straight stitch applique. The results have gotten better with each project. Thank you for the applique pattern, This will be tonight’s projects.
I love the look of applique and would hope to someday master it, but for now…it scares the stuffin’ out of me! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love applique. The first tabke runner i made I did as appliqued blocks., the quilt shop ladies that knew my friend teaching me thought she was crazy, i loved it and I love it still, if you want to do it. You will. Dont panick. Not as hard as it looks. If you have quilted is even easier.
This is adorable. I’m going to make them for my kitchen table.
I have been learning to do it for some time. I would improve faster if I did it more often. I do have an Edyta Sitar project that I am working on that will help.
Not scary Love to applique!!
i do it but just not great with it yet
I like doing applliques – they give you a variety of choices with the same pattern
I love doing applique quilts. However, I may not do them ‘correctly’. I like to draw my own pictures and applique them. Most times it’s rough edge appliqueing . I am afraid of doing it turning under the fabric, I’m just not that good at it.
I love doing applique quilts. However, I may not do them ‘correctly’. I like to draw my own pictures and applique them. Most times it’s rough edge appliqueing . I am afraid of doing it turning under the fabric, I’m just not that good at it. It’s too bad we can only enter once!! This would be phenomenal to win!!
I’ve steered away from machine applique, basically doing all mine by hand. I enjoy the challenge of making my stitches as invisible as I can. I guess it’s the perfectionist in me. Who knows, maybe after this I might give the old machine a try.
Scary! I like clean edges (bound) edges on my work, and would be afraid the edges would start fraying!
I’ve done it once. Kind of scary for me.
Just beginning to learn to appliqué which is a little nerve wracking at first, but practice makes perfect!
I Love the look of applique, but It is a little scary for me.
haven’t tried it yet but am definitely going to , don’t have a machine though need to get one your newsletter has so many adorable projects my granddaughters will love going to try by hand but a machine would make it easier
I love to do hand applique. There are different options to try and you just have to find the one that works best for you. There are many helpful tutorials or find a person who is experienced at applique to help you. There are many ladies who would love to assist and share their expertise.
I enjoy machine quilting too. I often use my machine embroidery stitches that give that crazy quilt look.
Hi there, I have done appliqué a couple of times and find it a little scary. I have to get myself worked up to just start my project. I prefer piecing quilts but really like the look of appliqué if it’s done well! I’m working on it…….
I have done it by hand but not really with machine. This is cute. Great too for a young child or baby.