Techniques

Lauren uses two techniques in creating her quilt tops by hand:

appliqué and reverse appliqué.

In each of these methods the edges of fabric are needle turned under and sewn in place. They each start with two pieces of fabric, placed one on top of the other. However, the purpose of the top fabric is different for the two methods and this requires a unique mind set for their execution.

In appliqué, a shape is cut out and placed on the background fabric to be sewn in place. With reverse appliqué, the background fabric is placed on top of the fabric which will become the shapes. The top fabric is cut away in the shapes desired and turned under to reveal the fabric underneath.

As an example, I planned a design where both of these methods could be worked at the same time. It was drawn out on the darkest of four lengths which would gradually get lighter with each step. (see left photo)

Appliqué is in the center column. The dark shapes were sewn in place on the next lighter color. Then the shape was cut out (so it looked like it was outlined with a lighter color) and that larger shape was placed on the new background. This was repeated a third time as if to build, or add, to the original shape. So, you have dark shapes with two colors that outline the forms and rest on a pale yellow background.

Reverse appliqué, on the right, has the opposite effect. It is a method of subtraction, taking away from the top fabric. A shape was (carefully!) cut from the solid dark color. The edge of the shape was turned under to anchor it to the lighter color and a second fabric was placed under that to repeat the process. The end result was a light shape, twice outlined, against a dark background.