Raggedy Reverse Applique

Figure A

2. Cut one 15-inch square piece of fabric from each of the three fabric colors. Reserve the second blue fat quarter fabric for use in step 8.

3. Trace the pattern onto a 14-inch square piece of tracing paper (figure A).

Figure B

4. Lay the yellow fabric square on the table face up, place the red fabric square face up on top of the yellow fabric square, place the blue fabric square face up on top of the red fabric square, then place the tracing paper on top of all three layers and pin together (figure B.

Figure D

5. Stitch through the paper and all three layers of the fabric on the traced design (figure D). Lock the stitches in place when starting and stopping.

Figure F

6. Remove the paper from the arms and face. Cut through the top and middle layers of fabric to expose the yellow layer for the arms and face. Trim the excess fabric leaving enough fabric around the edge—about 1/4-inch (figure F). Snip into this fabric area approximately every 1/4-inch to 1/8-inch--this will allow it to fray.

Figure G

7. Remove the paper from the hat but NOT the shirt (figure G). Cut through the top layer of fabric to expose the red fabric for the hat, using the same process as in step 6. The shirt will also be red but, there is not a bottom seam yet, so do not cut this area.

Note: To make a pillow, see step 8. To construct several quilt blocks, the bottom seam forms when strips are attached between blocks.

Figure H

8. To convert the quilt block into a pillow, construct two back pillow flanges. To make these, cut a 15" x 6" piece and a 15" x 14" piece from the second blue fat quarter (figure H). Add a seam to only one side of each of these. On the 15-inch side, fold over 1/4-inch and iron; fold over again approximately 1/2-inch and iron, stitch along the first folded edge for a finished seam. Repeat for the second pillow flange on the 15-inch side.

Figure I

9. Remove all of the paper from the block top and lay it face down. Lay the small pillow flange face up (figure I), placing the unfinished 15-inch edge to the bottom of the block. Lay the large pillow flange face up, placing the unfinished 15-inch edge to the top of the block. Machine-stitch around the entire outside of the block using a 1/2-inch seam--this will be frayed. The bottom seam of the shirt is complete.

Figure K

10. Cut through the top layer of fabric to expose the red layer (figure K) of the shirt. Trim and snip the same as in step 6.

11. To fray the pillow, snip the outside edge of the pillow and pin the pillow flap closed. This prevents it from turning inside out in the wash.

12. Place the pillow cover along with an old towel in a cold water cycle in the washing machine. The towel helps with the fraying process during the full cycle of agitation. Remove the pillow cover and dry on a low setting. Remove the pillow cover, unpin and insert a 14-inch pillow form into the pillow cover.