Merricks Nth: Month Two, Post Two

Well, they're done.

But, please, don't look too closely. 

Applique, friends, simply isn't my thing.

I didn't loathe doing these. In fact, I really didn't mind. And, yes, three of the blocks called for replacing one piece with a similar fabric. But the thing is, there was no improvement in my technique. In fact, the very first block I did has turned out to be the best.

I'm not sorry I took that one-session class on applique. Because these really did need to be done that way. I'm scared to look at the whole pattern to see if there will be more applique later on!

The next installment of Merricks will be here in about two weeks. Or a little less. Meanwhile, Month Five of Pick A Petal has come and as I mentioned earlier, it is very demanding with a bazillion minuscule applique templates and some intricate but beautiful embroidery. I've pondered this assignment for a bit and here's what I've come up with:

I'm going to do the applique by the hand-done buttonhole stitch method, one of the things I really enjoy doing. To that end, yesterday I started tracing and cutting, but not bonding just yet. The instructions provide full-size illustrations for the embroidery but they seem to think that everyone has the ability to look at those drawings and copy them onto the fabric. Obv, they haven't met me. Or I'm a nobody. But Himself is an artist and he has agreed to copy those designs for me when the time comes (which isn't going to be this week). My opinion is that the embroidery and the buttonhole stitching on the same blocks will be compatible.

It's most unlikely that this month's assignment will be completed this month. And I'm perfectly okay with that. My schedule for early winter, like January and February, is such that a major handwork project will fill the bill nicely.

Remind me, please, not to do two BOM projects at the same time ever again.