About That Lipstick...

First you need an idea. Then you need a sketch. Or several sketches til you get it just right. I thought my first lips looked a bit like a weird bat of some strange sort so I tried again. And again.

Then you need some spray adhesive to put down that first applique, it keeps the stiffness down to a minimum. I hold the piece down in my waste paper basket to contain the mess of overspray. I personally hate the feel of fusible webbing...it's just like cardboard when you get a lot of layers. Stitch around the lips with a small tight satin stitch through a heavy stabilizer. I never applique without a stabilizer of some sort...it's a little rule of mine. Imagine. I've admitted it: I have rules!

Then you trace your letters in reverse on fusible web, cut em out and press them on. Here I used Steam A Seam Lite which was not terribly stiff and did a good job at holding those little letters in place. Lot's of intricate stitching gets the job done...stitch, pivot, stitch pivot...minutes seem like hours. Thank God for that little Pfaff 4.2 QE feature that lifts the foot every time you ease up on the pedal...that's a brilliant idea! Who ever the genius was that came up with that idea deserves a medal!

The worst part is pulling off the stabilizer. I hate this part. Just like in paper piecing, you've gotta get that stuff off. Painstakingly slow, but applique without it isn't easy or peazy.

 A quick press and we're ready for a smooch!

Linking up with Lorna over at Let's Bee Social!