When I do machine applique, like the almond blossom in the image above, I typically secure the applique to the background fabric with iron-on adhesive web and then finish the edges of the applique with zigzag stitches. Several sewists have asked me if I’ve ever tried a fabric adhesive stick instead of iron-on adhesive web. … Continue reading
The Jewish new year is on its way –challah dipped in honey!– and the autumn holiday season is right behind it. It’s a time for new beginnings, and a great time to start the year with a new challah cover. So I’m releasing the challah cover pattern from the Sew Jewish book as its own … Continue reading
In this video, I show you how to get beautiful results when finishing sharp corners with machine applique. The video covers the classic method as well as a technique I developed (stumbled onto) out of necessity while appliqueing lots of Stars of David with lots of sharp corners. It’s slightly faster than the classic method … Continue reading
You’ll find a new video tutorial for finishing machine appliques on the Sew Jewish YouTube channel. It’s a sewing topic I’ve covered in earlier project videos, but I figured that if I made a video dedicated to the topic, I could refer to it in future project videos — and making shorter project videos is … Continue reading
Have you ever gotten an itch to stitch but were afraid you wouldn’t have time to finish a project, so you didn’t start? This cute little pomegranate pillow is perfect for those times, because it doesn’t take long to sew. I originally designed it for a hands-on workshop to teach beginner-level applique and sewing techniques, … Continue reading
Prints help make life fun. Polka dots, florals, checks, batiks, abstract designs — all add dimension to applique projects. We’ve collected our top tips for choosing them and using them: Match the scale of the print to the size of the applique. Small appliques call for small prints, otherwise the pattern will overwhelm the applique, … Continue reading
Sewing enthusiasts who want to try their hand at making Judaica have a new online resource: Sew Jewish’s Maria Bywater just became a teacher at the online learning site Curious.com. The site was launched just last year, and it was named one of Time’s top 50 websites. We’re kind of excited they invited us to … Continue reading
