View of the Past - Does anyone remember? Before home embroidery machines, before fusible web, before some of you were born, we used thin drycleaner bags cut to the shape of an applique and put it between the applique and base fabric and then ironed to set applique before stitching?

Yes, the ARMSTRONG method where you used a hand embroidery hoop with your fabric, sketched the design, and then taught yourself to move hoop depending on motor speed. Had a special coil I used on my featherweight and did the cutest kitten. Now with shakes and crippled hands let my embroidery machine do the moving.

SQ

yes i had and maybe still have a book full of these type of patterns Somewhere lol

I remember! Appliqued for my first baby boy in the early 70s using the thin plastic bags from the fruit & veggies section at the grocery store. I cut the fabric applique, put the plastic bag between the applique and the garment, covered with a brown paper bag and ironed. The bag around the applique stuck to the brown bag and the applique was stuck to the garment. Zig zagged around applique for the finish. Was super then, but sounds like so much trouble now....LOL!!! Yes thankful that we have come a long way!!

2 comments

by jobaby 09 May 2013

Yep, that is what we did and thought we really HAD discovered something.,

by justsew 20 May 2013

good idea.
Hugs Pam.

I don't remember using dry cleaning bags but I sure remember patching pants.

I am not sure how far into the past you are going but a dear friends late mother was a wiz at recutting garments into something else. Like a adult coat to a childs coat and mens trousers to childrens dungarees. When I was taught how to sew an applique I just cut the design out, pinned and then tacked it into place before hand embroidering it in place. If there was any ironing it was when the sewing was done

We take for granted the lovely materials and equipment and designs we have available to us these days.