Table Of ContentD G T
eborah ale irico
A New Dimension
in Wool Appliqué
Baltimore Album Style
Visual Guide Unique Embroidery
•
D G T
eborah ale irico
A New Dimension
in Wool Appliqué
Baltimore Album Style
Visual Guide Unique Embroidery
•
Text and photography copyright © 2016 by Deborah Gale Tirico
Photography and artwork copyright © 2016 by C&T Publishing
Publisher: Amy Marson DEDICATION
Creative Director: Gailen Runge
To my husband and friend, Frank, who has
Editors: Monica Gyulai and Lynn Koolish
supported me along every step of my stitching
Technical Editors: Nan Powell and Amanda Siegfried
journey. Thanks for all the Sundays we dyed
Cover/Book Designer: Page + Pixel
thread together, boxed and taped kits for shipping,
Production Coordinator: Zinnia Heinzmann
and rearranged my studio. Thanks for enabling
Production Editors: Jennifer Warren and Nicole Rolandelli
me to be true to my creative nature, even when it
Illustrators: Tim Manibusan and Deborah Gale Tirico
takes over the house.
Photo Assistant: Carly Jean Marin
Subject photography by Diane Pederson and instructional photography ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
by Deborah Gale Tirico and Diane Pederson, unless otherwise noted
To my two Franks—Frank James and Frank Luca—
Published by C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
who help me with photography, video, dying, kit
All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright
hereon may be used in any form or reproduced by any means—graphic, making, and countless errands that support me as a
electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping,
or information storage and retrieval systems—without written teacher, quilter, and author. My deepest thanks for
permission from the publisher. The copyrights on individual artworks
having both of you in my life.
are retained by the artists as noted in A New Dimension in Wool
Appliqué—Baltimore Album Style. These designs may be used to make
items for personal use only and may not be used for the purpose of To my mom, my greatest fan and supporter—
personal profit. Items created to benefit nonprofit groups, or that will
thanks for continuing to be impressed with me and
be publicly displayed, must be conspicuously labeled with the following
credit: “Designs copyright © 2016 by Deborah Gale Tirico from the encouraging me with kind words, tight hugs, and
book A New Dimension in Wool Appliqué—Baltimore Album Style
from C&T Publishing, Inc.” Permission for all other purposes must be gift certificates to Hancock’s of Paducah. I love
requested in writing from C&T Publishing, Inc.
you, Mom.
Attention Copy Shops: Please note the following exception—publisher
and author give permission to photocopy pages 19–23, 31–35, 45, 46, To my friend Sophia, a talented graphic designer
53, 58, 59, 64–66, 74, 75, 82, and 83, and pattern pullout pages P1–P4 for
personal use only. who illustrated my patterns and provided tons of
support as she helped me navigate Adobe InDesign
Attention Teachers: C&T Publishing, Inc., encourages you to use this book
as a text for teaching. Contact us at 800-284-1114 or ctpub.com for lesson and Photoshop—thanks, girl!
plans and information about the C&T Creative Troupe.
We take great care to ensure that the information included in our To my friend Susan, mistress of the word, who
products is accurate and presented in good faith, but no warranty
proofs my copy, helps me with name development,
is provided nor are results guaranteed. Having no control over the
choices of materials or procedures used, neither the author nor and shares the fun of chat over cocktails—thanks
C&T Publishing, Inc., shall have any liability to any person or entity
with respect to any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by for all you have done to make this book possible.
the information contained in this book. For your convenience, we
post an up-to-date listing of corrections on our website (ctpub.com).
To my Embroiderer’s Guild of America (EGA)
If a correction is not already noted, please contact our customer
service department at [email protected] or at P.O. Box 1456, colleagues who share their teaching and stitching
Lafayette, CA 94549.
lives with me, room with me at seminars, and make
Trademark (™) and registered trademark (®) names are used
throughout this book. Rather than use the symbols with every me laugh. Thank you, ladies!
occurrence of a trademark or registered trademark name, we are
using the names only in the editorial fashion and to the benefit To my community of stitchers, including my
of the owner, with no intention of infringement.
EGA chapter, Wyoming Valley; my quilt guild,
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
PA Quilters; my pilot students; and my bestie
Names: Tirico, Deborah Gale, 1953- author.
Helene. Thanks for the various ways you all have
Title: A new dimension in wool appliqué--Baltimore album style : visual
inspired me with your creativity, your energy, and
guide - unique embroidery / Deborah Gale Tirico.
your absolute love of holding a needle.
Description: Lafayette, CA : C&T Publishing, Inc., 2016.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016026013 | ISBN 9781617454639 (soft cover) My mom often tells me that I am lucky to have
Subjects: LCSH: Appliqué--Patterns. | Patchwork--Patterns. | Album this stitching passion in my life and I simply say,
quilts--Maryland--Baltimore.
“I know, Mom!”
Classification: LCC TT779 .T59 2016 | DDC 746.44/5--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016026013
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Foreword
I am so glad my sister Deb has written this book on For as long as I can remember, Deb has been adding
appliquéd Baltimore Album quilts of the antebellum flair to all her creations, including her sketches,
period of the American Civil War era. In A New drawings, illustrations, choreography, and, of course,
Dimension in Wool Appliqué—Baltimore Album Style, embroidery and appliqué. When I was nine and she
Deb has combined her flair for design, her passion for was eighteen, Deb showed me how to embroider my
history, and her signature appliqué techniques to give bell-bottom jeans. We made sunsets in the pocket
new life to designs and themes from a bygone time. stitching, added flowers to the fronts, and frayed the
hems to reflect the “haute couture” of the 1970s.
During the 1840s, Baltimore was a prosperous
seaport and the center of a growing textile industry. In the pages ahead, you will take a journey through
The Baltimore Album quilt blocks were each crafted time (and talent). Enjoy the stories, admire the photos,
to reflect a slice of life at the time—paying homage to follow the directions, and enjoy every stitch you take!
a soldier, a wedding celebration, or a baby’s birth, for
—Robin Keil
example. Women, who were not yet allowed to vote,
Montclair, New Jersey
sometimes expressed their opinions and even showed
their political leanings through their blocks.
The author (left) and Helene Maszeroski prepare to march in a 2015
Saint Patrick’s Day parade with the Pennsylvania 81st Volunteer
Infantry. They are fellow Civil War reenactors, history buffs, and
stitching friends.
Contents
6 Introduction
7 How to Use This Book
PROJECTS
9 The Table Rugs 84 Refresh Me
Sincerely, Mary Simon 10 Tools and Supplies 84
Celebrare la Cornucopia 24 Felted Wool 85
Make Your Own Felt 86
The Vine Divine 36
Dye Your Own Felt 86
47 The Pillows
Prework 87
Voting by the Stitch: The Whig Rose 48
Prepare the Base Fabric 87
Freedom Soars: The American Eagle 54
Make a Placement Guide 87
Romance in Baltimore: A Spray of Peonies 60 Make an Embroidery Guide 87
67 The Smalls
Freezer-Paper Patterns 88
Loyal Huswif: Civil War Sewing Kit 68
Appliquéing with Felted Wool 89
Petal Perfect Pincushions 76 Add Dimension 90
TRAPUNTO, 90 • LAYERING, 90 • NEEDLE SLANTING, 90
Red Majesty Pincushion 77
Purple Passion for Pins Pincushion 80
Perfect Pennies 91
93 Stitching Glossary
95 Resources / About the Author
Introduction
I once bought a paperback pattern book at a tag sale in
White Haven, Pennsylvania, entitled Baltimore Beauties
and Beyond, by Elly Sienkiewicz. I paid 25 cents for
this treasure, took home my new prize, and dove right
in. I did not realize at the time that I would take a
historic journey and ultimately become a part of the
Elly Sienkiewicz Appliqué Academy for the next eight
years.
I read every word in the book and was completely
amazed at what was involved in turning a perfect
corner in the craft of appliqué. That someone had
taken such care in the pedagogy of breaking down
that information for the interested needle artist
simply amazed me. Over the next year I stitched
many of the blocks in the book and thus began my
journey into the world of Baltimore Album appliqué.
I fondly remember my first class experience at the
academy with needle artist Jane Townswick. I was a
complete beginner, and the women who surrounded
me in class were infinitely more experienced. Over the
next several days, these women took me under their
collective wing and filled me with information, tools,
threads, and techniques. This community, including
Kristin Gowen, Shirley Bloomfield, and Darlene Neff,
nurtured me as I became a serious student of the art
of appliqué.
The following year at the academy, I took a class with
Elly and asked her to sign my tag sale book. She wrote,
“You’ll take Baltimore so beautifully ‘beyond’!” I hope
this book is her prophecy come true.
In this book you’ll find classic Baltimore Album In presenting these classic designs, I also include
designs—many from the antebellum period—translated historical vignettes, as most of these designs had social,
into my signature style of wool appliqué and made into political, or familial significance when they originated.
rugs, pillows, and pincushions. Through bold colors,
It is my hope that this book will inspire stitchers to
black backgrounds, matching wool threads, and even a
create these historic patterns and keep the historical
few beads and braids, I honor the legacy and history of
legacy of hand sewing alive and well in America.
the Baltimore Album in a modern and unique style.
Happy stitching!
—Deborah Gale Tirico
6 • A New Dimension in Wool Appliqué—Baltimore Album Style
How to Use This Book
Whether you are new to felted wool appliqué or a For those already familiar with my first book, Gorgeous
seasoned stitcher, you will find inspiring projects and Wool Appliqué (C&T Publishing), many of the tech-
the instruction you need to make them in this visual niques presented will be familiar. Feel free to dive
guide. A New Dimension in Wool Appliqué—Baltimore straight into the projects! But don’t miss out on the
Album Style was developed for those with various added instructions for how to felt and dye your own
levels of stitching experience and includes detailed wool. It’s not hard, and the rewards are huge.
instructions and helpful tips so you can meet the
For those who are looking for more of an introduction
challenges of each project.
to the world of felted wool appliqué, you may want
Projects to read through Refresh Me before beginning on the
projects. Gorgeous Wool Appliqué is also a great resource.
This book is separated into three sections: table rugs,
Stitching Glossary
pillows, and “smalls,” which includes a sewing kit
and pincushions. Each project has a difficulty rating,
At the back of the book is an illustrated stitching
illustrated instructions, and all the patterns needed.
glossary. Please refer to it often. When I design, I often
While all of these appliqué designs will add beauty to have a reference on embroidery stitches open to guide
your life year round, some speak to particular seasons: me in beginning a stitch that is in my memory but
Sincerely, Mary Simon (page 10) features a beautiful that I have not used lately. The projects do not include
spring bouquet basket that could grace your table with instructions on embroidery stitches, as I figure you can
beautiful color just when flowers are blooming in the just flip to the glossary whenever you need some help.
garden. Celebrare la Cornucopia (page 24) is a perfect
Full-Size Patterns
table topper for autumn and the fall holiday season.
The Vine Divine (page 36) might invite Easter guests
You will find full-size patterns in a pullout section
to your home, though it also is a perfect backdrop for
at the back of the book. These patterns serve two
any celebration involving wine and cheese.
functions: You can trace them onto acetate to use as
The patriotic eagle on Freedom Soars (page 54) could
a placement guide for appliqué pieces, or you can use
add a quiet pop indoors to echo the bang of fireworks
them as an embroidery key for which stitches and
outdoors. And any stitching friend would surely adore
embellishments to use. (Note that the full-size pattern
receiving the Loyal Huswif sewing kit (page 68), though
is not to be used for pattern piece creation.)
that shouldn’t stop you from making one for your own
Pattern Piece Pages
sewing basket!
Refresh Me
Patterns for the appliqué pieces follow each project
or are on the pullout. Use these when making your
After the projects is the Refresh Me chapter (page 84),
freezer-paper appliqué pieces. These patterns differ
where you will find detailed instructions for all basic
significantly from the pieces depicted on the full-size
felted wool skills including my signature slanted-needle
patterns because they include pieces that overlap and
technique, which enables you to give dimension to your
stack.
appliqué.
How to Use This Book • 7
Felted Wool Appliqué Mantras
As an instructor as well as an author, I have a few mantras that
I frequently use when I work. Adopt these maxims as your own
and you will be rewarded with beautiful felted wool appliqué.
EMBRACE THE BASTE
Basting is the most important part of appliqué. If you want accuracy in
your design, you need to hold the pieces in place, as wool can shift quite
easily in the warm hands of its maker.
If you are someone who likes to skip basting or who considers it a pesky
task that prevents you from getting right to the stitching, I encourage you
to learn to enjoy doing it.
Throughout the book are many illustrations that demonstrate basting
techniques. Although this may be a temporary stitch, it will be your
most important stitch … so, embrace the baste!
USE A FEATHERLIGHT TOUCH
Use a “light” hand and a stab stitch motion to appliqué wool. With the
stab stitch, stitches will be accurately placed, and you can carefully work
around any frays.
Pull your thread gently until a small loop is left and slowly complete the
stitch, allowing the thread to rest gently on the side of the appliqué pieces.
Never pull tightly! Pulling the thread tightly will bunch up the work and
make it less attractive. Often it is better to pull that extra last bit on the
next needle up, as the thread will have more drag and thus more control.
When you see a floating or falling feather icon, consider it a reminder to
use a light touch and to pull gently on your thread.
FOLLOW THE PLACEMENT GUIDE
When the project instructions direct you to place pieces according to the
placement guide, don’t try to eyeball it for the sake of speed. If you don’t
plan to position the next pieces of your appliqué using the clear placement
guide hinged to the top of your project, you will likely regret the shortcut.
Use the full-size patterns in the pullout section to make your placement
guides.
8 • A New Dimension in Wool Appliqué—Baltimore Album Style
TThhee TTaabbllee RRuuggss
9
