Reverse Appliqué With No Brakes: Teaching Notes

Each Reverse Appliqué With No Brakez class that I teach has a strong link to the next. The ‘show & tell’ that I start with varies little - I show samples and talking about variations of the processes involved before moving on to cover the work of the day.

My show & tell is extensive - too long for some, too short for others- it depends on how quickly their ideas flow. You won’t have the number of samples that I have but you will have the book to work them through. Point out variations through the chapters.

I suggest that you have at least two samples for your class - one finished and either a set of step-outs or a sample showing the work in progress.

QUICK IN-STORE CLASS
I used the kits listed below to get students into Reversing mode at Spring Quilt Market in Portland. The secret layer was to be pieced, the appliqué itself hand-stitched with floss and a large running stitch. After a quick explanation of the freedom of my methods, and a show of samples, students eagerly started cutting and stitching to produce works that diverged from my sample and satisfied them. Straight away they were thinking for themselves.

Supplying a kit takes away the fabric choice quandary. Giving them binding fabric immediately gives them a reason to finish the blocks. For you, the store owner, this type of small project not only informs and educates your customers but they would also make a great display. Perhaps borrow your customers samples or have all your staff stitch one then string them festively across the store!

*The kit contains the major ingredients for a 10” reverse appliqué block.
*The secret layer can be pieced in a variety of ways - strips, scrap, squares etc.
*The secret layer and top layer could also be reversed with the top pieced!
*The appliqué could also be done by machine if that is your store preference in which case I suggest giving them a choice of practical and decorative threads.

STARTER KIT FOR REVERSE APPLIQUÉ
Batting - 10” square
Secret Layer - four fabrics each 10” x 5”
Top Layer - 10” square
Binding - 2” x 50”
Floss - 1 yd, and a needle!

ALL DAY CLASS
In this class I have both experienced stitchers/quilters and raw beginners each encouraged to work their own way;
*to appliqué by hand or machine,
*to launch into major projects or to just play
*to extend themselves trying a new technique or learning within their comfort zone
*to use their own designs, often stylised/simplified with my help or to use my templates that move them quickly on to the process (Specimen Daisy is the most popular)

I have taught Reverse Appliqué this way for years. Basically it becomes a one-on-one class, demanding of the teacher but amazingly rewarding.
The order of the day goes something like this;

1. Show as many samples as possible, talking them through the layers and possibilities that make up Reverse Appliqué. Touch on each of the main chapters to cover the basic technique - the secret layer, the top layer and the appliqué itself - and you will have their brains whizzing.
Many of my samples are small and mounted on foam core board for easy presentation. I also make sure that I have an unfinished piece that shows the layers and various stages of preparing and starting a ‘running stitch’ hand appliqué.
I only touch on some of the many techniques possible so they aren’t too overloaded. Technical questions are best dealt relating to individual design as they occur.

2. I spend time individually on design which can be a major stumbling block for many. It is advisable that they initially keep their design simple. Some choose a design that is too complicated or that has too much detail. I show them how to stylise designs, to round edges, to remove extraneous detail and to accentuate important details. Realism isn’t always the best option.
*When working by hand and turning raw edges under reverse appliqué is excellent for executing curves, so encourage these rather than lots of points.
*If students are happy to work with a machine and fusible web, then intricacy a plethora of points don’t matter!

3. I work the room constantly looking for ways to make processes easier, to simplify images, help them with color and fabric editing, problem solving and discussing alternate ways to achieve their designs.

PROJECT CLASS ‘Getting Started’ - 3 hour or 1 day
‘Specimen Daisy’ p53, and ‘K is for Kitty’ p.56, are the best projects for this. Both are an ideal way to introduce students to both the concept of Reverse Appliqué and interesting yet simple ways to achieve difference.
Supplying a kit, perhaps in a few colorways would be a good option.

It can be kept as a hand appliqué class covering;
-the making of the secret layer
-tracing/marking the design
-cutting and pinning
-reverse appliqué by hand (choice of threads and stitches perhaps)
-quilting by hand or machine
-making and applying a floating border

It could easily be appliquéd by machine (buttonhole stitch is a good initial choice) covering;
-the making of the secret layer
-tracing/marking the design onto fusible web
-cutting out the fusible web
-reverse appliqué by machine (choice of threads and stitches perhaps)
-quilting by machine (perhaps freehand like mine)
-making and applying a floating border

PROJECT CLASS ‘Baltimore Quilt’ - 3 hour or 1 day
‘From Baltimore to Freo’ can be taught as one simple block, a set of three or four which may be finished in a day, or the whole nine blocks.
We’ve made great cushions and placemats out of single blocks!

You’ll need to cover;
-the making of the secret layer
-drawing the design freehand onto fusible web
-cutting out the design
-reverse appliqué by machine (choice of threads and stitches perhaps)
-quilting by machine (perhaps freehand like mine)
-making and applying a floating border

PROJECT CLASS ‘Functional Flannel’- 1 day
Warm Spotz p.61, is the most functional project in this book. Despite being a large quilt it is easily made. With its graphic simplicity it would appeal to young homemakers in decorating mode. With its cuddle factor it would also appeal to youngsters.
Although I appliquéd Warm Spotz by hand it could be made even sturdier if stitched on the machine.
You’ll need to cover;
-the making of the secret layer
-the making of the top layer
-cutting out the design
-reverse appliqué by hand or machine (choice of threads or stitches perhaps)PROJECT CLASS ‘Kids’ Art’ - 1 day
Everyone will be working from a different design source - a childs’ drawing to work from. You will need to talk about copyright as well as ways to keep the integrity of the the design intact.
I suggest that you teach it as a machine class so that the design can be traced onto fusible.

You’ll need to cover;
-simplifying the design
-the making of the secret layer
-tracing the design onto fusible web (mirror image etc.)
-cutting out the design
-reverse appliqué by machine (choice of threads, stitches, couching perhaps)
-quilting by machine (perhaps freehand like mine)

PROJECT CLASS ‘Twinkle, Twinkle’
- 3 hours or 1 day
This class is of the ‘artier’ variety and combines contemporary crazy piecing, free machine stitching, hand stitching and using unusual fabrics and decorator threads.
Use my simple design and theme as a starting point but it could be taken a lot further either in design or embellishment.

You’ll need to cover;
-working with or changing the design
-the making of the secret layer
-tracing the design onto fusible web (mirror image etc.)
-cutting out the design
-reverse appliqué by machine and hand (choice of threads and stitches perhaps)
-quilting/decorating by machine and hand