Custom Applique Quilts from Simple Drawings

Custom applique quilts are easy to design - with a littlechanges.
inspration from simple line drawings.For example, if you want a custom applique of Santa
If the traditional appliques just don't excite you, makeriding a reinderr, but the one you've found has
your own custom applique design. It's as easy asornaments hanging from the reindeer's antlers,
flipping through a child's coloring book or searchingungroupling will probably let you delete those
through clip art.ornaments from the design. Don't forget to save your
Custom appliqué quilts are perfect gifts (andart once you've completed your editing!
prized heirloom treasures) for celebrating the birth of aMany quilters prefer to assemble the custom applique
new baby. When the mom-to-be picks a less popularseparately, then finish by stitching it to their quilt top or
nursery theme, it can be hard to find a coordinating gift.quilt block. Others, however, like to assemble piece by
That will make your custom appliqué quilt extrapiece onto the quilt top or block by basting, then
special!finishing the stitches with either an appliqué stitch,
One woman decided on a "Cat in the Hat" theme forzig zag or satin stitch.
her baby's nursery. She wanted something differentFonts may also be used for custom applique designs.
and knew she'd have to custom sew and accessorizeIt's really easy to create a custom appliqué quilt
just about everything in the room.with a name or favorite hobby ("Cheer!" and "Play Ball!"
She turned to an old coloring book for inspiration. Theare two that come to mind). Just type the words,
lines in children's coloring books are generally simple,making the letters the size you want. You may have
especially in coloring books for younger aged children.to print the letters individually rather than on one sheet
For the crib quilt, she simply enlarged a coloring bookif you want them to be substantially large.
drawing of the cat's hat. Using the enlargement for aYou can even make custom appliqués for your
pattern, she appliquéd red stripes onto the hatfavorite fraternity or sorority member by using a font
which she had cut from white fabric.like Symbols for the custom applique pattern.
With the help of iron-on adhesive, she added theOnce you've printed the letters, they are your pattern
striped hat to the center of her crib quilt top andfor your custom appliqué design. Experiment with
stitched around it with a satin stitch. She addedthe positioning once they're cut out. Have fun and
coordinating prints around the sides for the border andcreate interest by overlapping the letters in some
without much effort at all, had a custom appliquéplaces.
quilt. She used the same techniques to add charactersYou must observe copyright laws when using other
from the famous Dr. Seuss story to bumper pads andmedia to help you design custom appliqué
to create a wall hanging for the nursery, too.patterns. Most art is under law in which if used for
It's easy to use the same procedure for creating apersonal use only, there is no copyright infringement. If
custom appliqué from clip art. Pick your theme,you try to sell your custom appliqué projects
then start looking for appropriate art. The importantusing the already published art, you are likely in violation
thing is to look for simple lines.of copyright law.
Don't forget that you can manipulate some clip art.The same goes for fonts. There are many websites
Once you open a clip art file, see if you can select thethat allow viewers to download and use free fonts, but
image then choose "ungroup" from the edit command.most of those include stipulations that the use of the
If it will allow you to ungroup, you can make simplefonts must be for personal - not commercial - use only.