Alabama stitch

So I found this new book, and I'm totally addicted. I think the projects are just the coolest! I immediately went thrifting, so I could "practice" this reverse applique technique on something that I hadn't invested a great deal in. So I picked up a size 3x pants that were a soft, tshirt knit and made 4 panels from the legs to make myself a skirt. I just barely got it to work.

The premise beheind the reverse applique is to stencil on a pattern and outline with a runing stitch {using a contrasting fabric underneath}, adding beads {as I did} if you want. Then cut away inside your stitching the top layer of fabric {that's been painted} to reveal your contrasting fabric.

So I found this nice stencil on the cheap at Michael's, but the "heads" of the flowers were so small that it didn't look right to do the reverse applique. I thought and thought and dreamed and thought until I finally saw this tutorial at Country Girl Couture

That was it!!! Those were the flowers I could do on my skirt. Luckily I had enough fabric leftover to make them :) Now I'm just trying to finish the applique {see stencil on right} so I can wear it this weekend! So I'm off to sew {hand sew...time consuming, hand sewing...but so worth it}.

I've entred my fabric flower at the Sew, Mama, Sew flower power contest. We'll see what they think. I've never really showed my work to anyone :) You can also check out what other people have been doing here.