This post is a tutorial for a careful technique, reverse applique dots. 
Two three inch squares are layered, basted together, and marked with a circle outline. A spool of thread makes a good template. 
The center of the circle needs to be removed with very sharp embroidery scissors. Then make several tiny clips that just touch the drawn line.
Thread the needle with silk applique thread. Silk thread is very strong, does not knot, and is nearly invisible once stitched. The above photo shows how the needle itself is used to create the curves. If you use the side of the needle rather than your fingers to manipulate the cloth, you will get a neater curve.
Firmly hold the two fabrics together with one hand, and then stitch the top fabric to the lower fabric with an invisible hem stitch. 
It's best to just relax with these dots, and work slowly and carefully. I'd say that each one takes at least ten minutes to make, perhaps more. 
When finished, bring the thread to the back of your work and make a knot before cutting the thread. At this time I also remove the excess bottom layer of fabric. 
This has become one of my favourite techniques. The dots give a strong graphic with minimalist strength. To make them takes practice, but there is a satisfaction in doing skillful work. 
Massed, the hand made dots are very powerful. Each unique. All the same.
34 comments:
The circle or dot is my favourite form I've discovered, thank you for your tutorial.Must try some reverse applique dots.
You've gone dotty!
Thanks for showing us. It's nice to see how small they actually are.
They look so wonderful all together like that.
Thanks for the tute and inspiration, Judy---a period can be the start of a sentence here :)
This I love: "To make them takes practice, but there is a satisfaction in doing skillful work."
Thank you! I can see that being so very helpful with other shapes as well.
very clear and clean tutorial. thank you.
i think i will make some just because i love your.
Long admired your "perfect" dots. Wonderful to see how you execute them. I must say that the other Jud-e over at Spirit Cloth has been doing rings and orifice/aperture devices this week via the eye. There is such a contrast in the two - the precision of your dots and Jude's almost automatic drawings of eyes. Both provide the same venture into the circular concept, and associated connotation, especially by chance with the looming full moon, but from different directions - contrast/comparison is interesting.
Is there circle, man's design, the perfect form that might not be found naturally in nature, I wonder. Thank you.
I just found your blog, Judy, and I love it!
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou...what a lovely, simple tutorial. I am going to try one of these now (and hopefully make lots more). I love repetition, pattern forming and those rows upon rows of dots on your cloth have always appealed to me.
I am working on a little memory cloth at the moment that was inspired by your work. I will photograph it soon.
Jacky xox
Thank you for this...I can see the power [possibility] in numbers.
Thank you for this. I often think the same thing about people - all unique, and yet all the same.
thank you. i'll keep coming back to this.
this is wonderful! thanks so much.
I think I MUST! try this. It looks sooo interesting and I can imagine experimenting with colours. Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have never visited your blog before, came across it by accident (?) and love browsing. Sending you greetings from Germany
I've seen this technique before but have never tried it - thanks for sharing with your tutorial.
So simple, yet as you say, powerful.
What a lovely idea, thanks for sharing.
Any time I have a chance to learn the proper way to do anything that emulates your work I am thankful!
You have sooooo simplified my quilting life. So clear, so easy to understand. One hundred thousand "thank yous" Love your quilt top too!!
Wonderful...thank you!
This is wonderful and I want to try it - your tutorial is so clear! Thank you!
Bravo ! C'esr superbe...
Amicalement
Thank you, I really want to try this!
:o)
gracias por las instrucciones, tenia mis dudas sobre hacer unos cÃrculos , en bajo relieve..
Un feliz sábado
Doris
This is precisely how I do RA. Actually, I enjoy RA more than regular applique, perhaps. It's a very satisfying technique!
wow! If each dot takes 10 minutes then we're looking at a minimum of about 14 hours of dots here.....
Just stumbled across this again ... I still haven't done it ... glad to be reminded ... it's so beautiful ... maybe I will start something this week. Wouldn't that be nice? xo
Very beautiful! <3
Beautiful! I love reverse appliqué!
Lovely, precise pieces, stunning when assembled. Also, your color choices are "spot on."
Just tonight, I found your blog! It is so unique and it encourages me to be still! Thank you so much for your tutorial! It has really peeked my interest and I am looking forward to trying it!
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