Baltimore Applique

Not much has been published here for a while but lots going on behind scenes.  the Baltimore Applique and 3D Applique for my course work took lots of time and effort.  I would not suggest that we try the formal Baltimore Applique for a while but I do think we will enjoy some dimensional flower applique quite soon as the results are so pretty and can be used in lots of ways.

 

The Baltimore Applique Block:

 Each stem and leaf and flower is made individually using freezer paper or plastic templates.  All sewn on by hand with tiny stitches.  It does take a long time but once done looks really pretty.

A lot of Baltimore work is dimensional or 3D. 
The complete album quilts made about 150 years ago in the USA were made up of blocks similar to this and all different.  One can only admire.

Perhaps old fashioned now but the 3D work done today is probably more to modern tastes and very interesting to do.



Here is an example of 3 dimensional applique and you can see it is made up of bias stems (very thin but easy to make by folding, pressing and tacking, then hand stitching on to the design you can faintly see on the material).  The flowers are made by ruching strips of folded fabric using a running stitch in a diagonal pattern from top to bottom.  The leaves are cut out around a freezer paper shape, tacked and then hand stitched to the background.  The centre can be a French knot or a bead.  We can do this!