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I have been learning to sew patchwork and simple appliqué, such as raw edge with fusible web. I think I would like to do more difficult things, but I’m really having trouble getting over my fears of not doing them well, because my patchwork and appliqué aren’t all that perfect. Can you give me any advice?

Thank you,

Sandy

Dear Sandy,

This is an excellent question! Once upon a quilt shop, I taught a once-a-month class making small quilts. I was happy teaching what I knew, which was just the basics in patchwork and wool appliqué. We had this wonderful needle turn appliqué quilt on loan hanging in the shop that I was in love with and wanted to make. I decided to make it. So, I went at it with what I knew, using a technique that I learned that was supposed to mimic needle turn appliqué. The first block was fine and turned out very pretty. When I got to the second block that had a lot of pieces, I suddenly decided it required too much preparation with the method I was using, even with fusible web. I decided right then and there I was going to make myself learn needle turn. I looked through all my books for explanations, and on YouTube, and decided to draw a simple design to start with. By the time I was done with that block, I was in love with how much simpler it went than any other method I had tried. And believe me, I tried them all! Was it perfect? Nope! But I was so happy that I made myself finish a block and realized that by the time I was done with the block, I couldn’t wait to do more!