Patchwork Pup

I have been addicted to needlework my entire life. My grandmother taught me how to embroider when I was just four years old, and even then I knew it was my calling. As a kid I would collect pop bottles to earn money for yarn and bits of fabric. My babysitting money went towards patterns and fabric. I sewed my own prom dresses and knit aran sweaters for my boyfriend. (I married the boyfriend and kept the sweaters.)

Quilting entered my life when I was a freshman in college. While my friends were out creating memories for life, I hand pieced and hand quilted my first quilt. My other passion in life is teaching. I believe I was born to teach, why else would I have been given five younger sisters? (I think “teacher” sounds better than “bossy”, don’t you agree?) I have always felt that my knowing something was of no value until it was shared with someone else.

The Hand Appliqué by Machine technique is a result of years of looking for the easiest way to produce the best outcome. So much of appliqué is fiddly and frustrating. No wonder folks fear and loathe appliqué. My appliqué technique tosses the steps that waste time and makes beautiful appliqué something that anyone can achieve.

Now that we have the magnificent, fabulous and almost magical Wash-Away Appliqué Sheets, the technique is even easier. No more

worries about getting the freezer paper out of the project. The Wash Away sheets iron on, just as we’ve ironed on our freezer paper shapes, but they, well, they wash away! How cool is that!

One of my favorite projects in the book is the Calico Cat. She’s such a pretty thing. I thought that she needed a pal. So I’ve created a

Patchwork Pup to keep her company. Click here for the free pattern! Puppers is made following the directions for the Calico cat, starting on page 56 of More! Hand Appliqué by Machine.

Click the link to visit Beth Ferrier’s blog!

Calico Cat