First Hand Applique :) [tutorial?]

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By now, you must know how much I love to do hand binding.  I am kind of a freak by most quilters definition.  I love the look of it, the feel of it, the process.  [It's OK if you think I am weird.]  Anyhoots. I have always been afraid to try turned applique sewn on by hand (is there are correct term for this?)

Well, several weeks ago, a new session of the Utah County Modern Quilt Group started up and the challenge quilt for this session is a medallion quilt.  I googled images of Medallion quilts and could find no inspiration :(  I finally received inspiration for my medallion quilt. [Do you see the heavens parting and hear the angels singing?]  I decided to do a hand appliqued monogram for the center block and set it like Kristin set her FABULOUS tree.

Now for the tough part...HOW DO I DO A TURNED MONOGRAM????  As usual, I turned to my trusty teacher, Google, and read many tutorials and watched videos.  Per my usual MO, I missmashed several different ones to find a method that would work for me :)

First I went into Word and found an "M" I like.  Not to skinny or curly ;) [We like things chunky around here]  I made it about 700 (whatevers) and printed it off.  Using my spray basting, I adhered the uncut "M" to one side of a file folder (no card stock to be found).  I carefully cut it out then removed the printer paper (I didn't want the ink to run on my fabric).  There was spray adhesive left on the file folder "M" and I used that to adhere the card stock "M" to the wrong side of my fabric :)

Next I cut the fabric to be an eyeballed 1/4" larger than the "M".  Using Best Press spray starch and an iron, I folded the fabric over the template and pressed it in place.  This took some careful finger maneuvering to keep from getting burned ;) ...and a lot of spray starch ;)

See how nice it looks from the back. L.O.L.

...and the front. [the side that counts]

Once it was dried and cooled, I carefully removed the card stock template.

 Now the question came up, "How do I stick it too the back ground fabric?"

As luck would have it, I had a large cardboard box right there :)  I flipped the box over and laid the "M" right side down and gave it a light spraying of basting spray.  Then I carefully placed it on the center of my backing fabric.  I used a few pins for good measure :)

Now for the hand stitching.  I used some of my super strong, super thin bobbin thread for the job.  It worked beautifully :)

Ta Da!  It was stitched in no time. [The "M" is about 9-10" tall]

Pre-pressing.

Post pressing with a bit of Best Press for good measure.

Now today, I get to finish the block :)  I am very excited.  The whole quilt will be green and white with a titch of pink here and there for good measure.  [Pink and green are my favorite colors]  Each month at guild we will get a new border pattern to choose from.  I have decided that each border will represent a member of my family.  I am kind of getting excited :)