Design and Applique Sewflakes – A Review
July 24, 2024
Hi!
I hope it’s been a great week for you. This week I took another wonderful course from Creative Spark, and you too are going to love the designs possible when you’ve seen Kathy Wylie’s “Design and Applique Sewflakes” class!
So What are Sewflakes?
Remember folding paper as a child, and cutting it to make snowflakes or doileys or paper dolls? This is a fun technique further developed by Kathy Wylie and put firmly into the quilt-making arena.
Kathy calls them ‘sewflakes’, and demonstrates very well in her “Design and Applique Sewflakes” class, how to design, draft, prepare and sew your own, and I absolutely loved the possibilities for new applique designs that this class offers.
This is a very comprehensive class, and through a series of easy to understand videos, Kathy steps through her techniques for creating and making these fun sewflakes. Best of all – the downloadable version of her book is also included in this class, so you can download and save it (and check out the 5 quilt patterns included in her book as well!)
Kathy uses computer generated images and diagrams well, and this makes it really easy to understand the processes, and envision the design possibilities just from using a template slightly differently.
Talking computer assisted too – Kathy has a quick bonus video class included on using software to design your own. You can try the ‘wreathmaker’ function in EQ8, or Adobe Illustrator, or there’s even a free ‘paper snowflake maker’ online if you google it.
This class starts with how to fold your paper, and design your own sewflakes. I liked Kathy’s method for transferring the design to a Master Wedge for greater accuracy, and then using that master wedge to transfer the design as you like, in preparation for appliqueing it.
She covers symmetrical and non-symmetrical designs, and how to reverse them when needed, so you can easily create the wreath-like sewflake you want.
This course briefly covers how to use this technique to make frames for blocks too. It is only brief, and I would have loved a little more practical detail on this, but like everything else, it’s fun to play around and see just what you can come up with, and how those designs could be incorporated into new quilt blocks.
This hearts sewflake above is very effective when incorporated into the quilt below, and this idea of using this technique to create different frames or borders for blocks or quilts really has me thinking…
Kathy does extend well past the basics with other ideas though.
You can layer different sewflakes for stunning effect – For example in her Christmas holly and candle wreath. The leaves are one sewflake, and the candles a second one. Add a touch of applique, and it’s a beautiful design.
You can take these design elements further too. Try mixing different fabrics, and adding a touch of embroidery, as in her “Tools of the Trade” sewing machine block, with two different fabrics for contrast, and a hand embroidered thread at the top of the machines.
Or you may like to design a sewflake for use as a quilting motif template…
Watermelon anyone?
Kathy also shares a comprehensive guide to appliqueing your sewflakes too, ranging from using freezer paper through fusible webbing, and needle turn to cutwork, and she shows that there really is a style to suit everyone with this technique.
I couldn’t resist having a little play as soon as I finished Kathy’s “Design and Applique Sewflakes” class, and I think I’m a bit in love with making these little cutouts.
I scribbled a quick tulip design, and cut it out…
And when I opened it … (and that’s always the most fun part of this process anyway, right?!)
Ta dah!!!
Leave this one with me for now – I’ll make it into something pretty and share the full pattern with you in a future Online Quilt Magazine!
We have been fortunate enough to again have a FREE giveaway of Kathy Wylie’s “Design and Applique Sewflakes” Class to a lucky winner this week. To be in the running, please comment below with what you love about Sewflakes and why you’d like to take this class, and we’ll randomly choose one lucky winner on Tuesday 30th July.
Do check this out when you have a chance, at https://creativespark.ctpub.com/courses/sewflakes and remember to comment for your chance to win this class this week.
Enjoy your week!
21 responses to “Design and Applique Sewflakes – A Review”
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Thanks for the give away! The sewflakes look like a great opportunity for reverse applique as well as the overlays. My mind is racing with ideas for this technique!
It looks very interesting, thanks for sharing
My mind is racing with ideas! Amazing how such a simple childhood past time could yield some stunning quilting opportunities.
They look like fun annd I would love to take the class
Those paper snowflakes remind me of the teacher who showed us how to do it, she was a dear soul, and passed away soon after that art class.
I love snowflakes as quilting pattern because each is unique so there are no mistakes if I go off line on a pattern. Usually I just find a pattern so that will be fun to be able to do my own.
I’ve always wanted a ‘snowflake quilt’ – but haven’t ever ‘landed’ on what I wanted it to look like. I enjoy hand applique – these ideas might help me clarify what to design. 🙂
I like the beauty and uniqueness of each snowflake. I remember learning to make paper snowflakes in elementary school. I would love to learn how to do this with fabric and make a quilt.
This class looks like a lot of fun. Pick me pick me
Amazing patterns , I think they are very challenging for accuracy
These sewflakes are fantastic. They are mesmerizing and there are millions of possibilities just like snowflakes. I really like the Holly one. I picture these in raw edge applique. I would love to learn how to fold and cut sewflakes they are sew wonderful.
I love sew flakes
Wow! I would love to learn how to make these sewflakes and use them in borders, applique and templates for quilting. There are so many different ways you can incorporate them into your projects. I have always loved snowflakes and these sewflakes look like alot of fun.
This look like so much fun to do. I have always loved making paper snowflakes.
I have just recently picked up needle turn applique and this technique is making my mind swirl with ideas. I am not a fan of winter but when mother nature produces those big fluffy snowflakes it is not too cold and the look beautiful.❄️❄️
This looks like so much fun.
Facinating! I’ve been quillting for almost 50 years but haven’t seen anything like this. i am very interested in learning more about the class.
Great inspiration. I’m already thinking of a border of the hand holding dolls that we used to cut out as kids.
Looks like fun -and a variation on Hawaiian quilts, which I love.
This looks like a lot of fun. I’d love to learn more about the technique.
Snowmen and flakes have been my favorite for a long time. I love the idea of a quilt with sewflakes on it. Cute idea