Raw-edge applique from the back

These small flower picture quilts were all made with a method that involves stitching the raw edge appliques from the back.The process is as follows:

• Select a relatively simple photo with high contrast
• Use photoshop or an online tool to crop, skew, etc and then posterize to get more fabric-able colors and areas
• Make a tracing that will be reversed on stabilizer or muslin that will stay in the quilt

Columbine

Original photo

Posterized photo

• Make a reversed tracing on stabilizer or muslin, that will stay in the quilt
• The tracing goes on the back and can be layered with thin batting, and then the background
• The quilt is built from the background to the foreground by laying the next layer right side up on the background, turning the quilt over, stitching on the lines and then cutting away fabric on the front very close to the stitiching line.

Line drawing, reversed

Columbine quilt

Gaillardia

Original photo

Posterized photo

• Once the entire applique is stitched on, add a backing fabric and free motion quilt around the applique to secure and add details
• Add addition quilting in the background and embellish. In te Gaillardia quilt, I added tiny beads to simulate flowers parts and ants. Note that the leaves were reduced in number and slimplified.
• The binding is entire done by machine and includes a couched yarn edging. Fast fold corners provide a way to hang.

Gaillardia quilt with ants

Gaillardia quilt back

Dendrobium Orchid

Original photo

Posterized photo

Here the background was removed completely and the fabrics in the flower were carefully positioned.

Dendrobium quilt

Water Lily

Original photo

Posterized photo

I like the background and lily pads on this one, but am less satisfied with the flower. Generally, I like the black thread outlining the shapes, but here the flower is so light that the contrast is too high. A pink or white thread would probably have been better.

I used a polyester felt in this one and it made things very stiff and difficult to stitch. I think I like using a thin leave in stabilizer and no batting to the applique part. It is also important to cut away unnecessary layers from the top to avoid having many layers of fabric to stitch through. This one was also faced instead of being bound.

Water Lily quilt (11X12)

These little gems were relatively quick to make and a lot of fun.
Thanks for reading ...