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Thursday, May 9, 2019

Halloween Spooks in Faboolous Fun {Autumn in the Air Hop + Giveaway}

Today I'm the hostess for the Autumn in the Air blog hop!


I'm more of a summer girl myself, but I love sewing for fall! This time around, I picked the Faboolous Fun line to sew up a new version of our Halloween Spooks pattern, which can be used to make a table runner or a wall hanging.



I really loved the green prints in this collection, so I decided to use that as the main background fabric. Oh, and guess what! This fabric GLOWS! (I'm not a photography wizard, but I did figure out a way to show the fabrics glowing in the dark!)



The pattern itself has options for scrappy piecing or strip piecing, and I chose the strip piecing methods. I used my own solid scraps to do the applique sections. I picked the cat, two bats, and the witch hat. I chose these because the black solid shows up so nicely against the lime green star print. I used black thread to do all of the machine applique stitching using a blanket stitch.


This is actually the first time I've made this pattern, despite it being one of our "original" Honey, Bunny, and Doll patterns.


A general applique block top: if you struggle with applique distorting your base fabric, cut your base fabric pieces a 1/2" or 1" larger than necessary and then trim down before assembly. This also can help you should your appliques shift and end up off-center!

I used black thread to do the quilting; I did squiggly lines interspersed with stars. The backing and the binding uses a web print and I used orange thread to top stitch the binding.




Get your own copy of this pattern here!

Now onto the giveaway!

Benartex will be giving away a bundle of 8 fat quarters from this collection to one lucky winner!

To enter, leave me a comment telling me all of your feelings about machine applique -- do you prefer traditional applique? What's your favorite fusible? What's your favorite stitch to use?

I'll close the giveaway on Monday at midnight and pick the winner Tuesday morning!

The giveaway is now closed and the winner is ShirleyC!


Don't forget to also check out the other stops on this week's hops!

Autumn in the Air Hop Schedule
Lisa @ Love to Color My World using Harvest Berry by Cheryl Haynes
Sandra @ Mmm! Quilts using Thankful by Amanda Murphy

60 comments:

  1. Adorable Halloween table runner. I like machine applique and always use Wonder Under and the buttonhole stitch.

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  2. I don't do much applique, but mostly have done it by hand. Something good to do in front of the TV.

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  3. I do both machine and hand applique. Machine, because it's quicker! I use soft fuse, misty fuse and steam a seam 2.

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  4. I'm a newbie so I just follow instructions and use what patterns tell me to 😂. I've never done an applique.

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  5. Very cute Halloween table runner. I like machine applique and use wonder under and the buttonhole stitch. Great giveaway!

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  6. Cute runner! I prefer the traditional needle turn applique... But if I were pressed for time, I would use the sewing machine.

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  7. I love these fabrics. I only have a few halloween fabric pieces. I love your table runner, thanks for sharing where the pattern is. I am just starting machine applique. I think I need some more practice. But is is fun. Funny thing, for my first project I chose a gecko. LOL Not the best thing for starting. Lets just say, I picked out the thread and just did a few straight lines around him. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  8. What a cute table runner! I do both hand and machine applique. I like to use Steam a Seam Lite 2 most.

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  9. Lovely runner - looks fabulous! I do fusible applique and I have tried all sorts of fusible webs - so far steam a seam light works the best for me but I still end up with gummy needles now and then which is not fun. Still working on perfecting my edge stitching! mumbird3atgmaildotcom

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  10. I do some machine applique but needs work!!

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  11. Pretty table runner for Halloween. Have not done machine applique and have not used fusible. Only did a little hand applique. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  12. I like machine applique and use a blanket stitch to secure the edges. I like Stitch Witchery fusible web and paper-backed Wonder Under Fusible Web.

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  13. Wow, that's a great runner! I only tried hand applique once, but I really like machine applique. I use lite Steam a Seam 2 and a blanket stitch.

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  14. I tend to use the invisible-flip machine appliqué, in which we stitch steam a seam or some other fusible rst and then flip it inside-out and press it down, then sew it in place. I use a small, straight stitch, usually. Yesterday I saw a version of this using tulle instead of fusible, so I'm going to try that soon to see if I like it. Never too old to see if there's a better way, I suppose. ;)

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  15. Scary runner! I love the witch’s hat!
    I usually use Wonder Under and a zig-zag stitch for appliqué.

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  16. I use both machine and hand applique, but machine more often. If I am making a casual quilt or table runner, I would use machine for sure. Your design is fun. I like using the runner as a chair cushion: useful for this summer.

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  17. I do my applique by machine with fusible on the back, I don't have a favorite fusible I just use what is on sale that can be used on a sewing machine. I love Halloween projects and yours is so bright and fun. Thanks for the fun.

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  18. I do machine applique, mostly because quicker and maybe more finished looking and I feel more secure about it when it comes to washing. but I see a lot of designs that I wish I could do that good of job at hand applique.

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  19. Love your use of these fabrics. My eyesight is not great for hand applique so I tend to use machine, using steam a seam 2 light or wonder under. Stitch on edge varies depending on project.

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  20. I don't do much but when I do it's all machine

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  21. I'm a machine applique with fuse and either a blanket stitch or close stitched zig-zag. I usually use some kind of stabilizer on the back of my background to keep from getting a distortion and reduce the tension a notch or two. That green really does glow and adds so much fun to this cute project.

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  22. I do love Halloween fabrics! I do all forms of applique depending on the project. I have tried most of the fusibles, but don't really have a favorite. Usually comes down to current price.

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  23. Applique is not my favorite, but when I do it I favor a tiny zig-zag stitch rather then blanket stitch. Steam-A-Seam 2 is my usual fusible. Thanks for a chance to win some really cute fabric!

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  24. Alison, I just love your runner. That cat is so adorable. Thanks for sharing and for the giveaway.
    I love to do needle-turn hand applique more than anything else because I really like the way it looks. Plus, it is very relaxing to do. But, if I am in a big hurry , I will use the machine. I use Wonder-under on the fabrics and a blanket stitch on my machine.

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  25. So cute and love
    the fabric! I don't
    quilt but mean to do
    some applique soon.
    Carla from Utah

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  26. I prefer hand applique for a special project, but something that will be well-used, and washed often, is done by machine. Love those Halloween appliques!

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  27. What a boo boo-tiful runner. I enjoy both hand and machine appliqué. I seem to do a better job with hand work. I use a Wonder Under light weight fusible. Thanks for a chance st the giveaway

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  28. Your runner turned out great! I really like the bat shapes. I've done very little applique of any kind, but prefer machine over anything by hand. I'd like to try more raw edge techniques at some point. Thanks for offering the giveaway!

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  29. I like to do machine applique. Practice, practice, practice is the way to go.

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  30. What a fun runner. Halloween is my favourite time of the year. I do a lot of machine applique using Soft Fuse. I find it doesn't come unstuck if I have the iron on it too long, and it stays pretty soft. I have customized and saved one of the applique stitches on my machine because I use it so often. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  31. I don't applique very often but will usually use a machine button hole stitch and fusible web

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  32. I almost always do raw edge Appliqué, or machine embroidery Appliqué, using steam-a-seam and then a buttonhole stitch, by machine...life is too short to do it by hand!

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  33. Very cute runner! I do hand applique, but have been know to do an occasional fusible applique with satin stitch if I don't have time.

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  34. I like machine and hand applique, especially using the back basting method. Depending on the project, I’ll use either blanket stitch or satin stitch.

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  35. Fun with the glow-in-the-dark elements! I do prefer traditional applique, but for something seasonal like this in use for a limited time I would probably opt for machine applique. Just do straight stitch raw edge since I don't have that fancy buttonhole stitch on my vintage Singer.
    basaran.family (at) rogers (dot) com

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  36. I love machine applique with a buttonhole stitch! As long as the right sewing machine foot is used, it is fast & easy! Thank you, Susan

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  37. I love machine applique .I won a book from lara buccilla. She uses mod podge...I really like it....look her up... happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  38. I haven't done much machine applique, but what I have done I like. I don't do much applique, but when I do, I usually do back basting needle turn.

    Sandy A

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  39. I'm a happy fan of machine applique and have used the technique many times! I really like trying out different stitches to give the edges a new look. So many options with fabrics, shapes, thread color and stitches! duchick at gmail dot com

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  40. My machine applique looks better then my needle turn does so I guess I prefer that.

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  41. Your runner is great. Love the fabrics too. I do like fusible applique better since it is quicker. My favorite fusible is heat and bond lite. I usually use a blanket stitch.

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  42. I love the lime green you used in your runner. I like machine applique. I haven't done a lot of it so I don't have a favorite fusible. I do love appliquing with a blanket stitch though.

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  43. Machine applique works for me. Hand applique takes too long for me. -- soparkaveataoldotcom

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  44. Cute Runner! I do mostly machine appliqué, with a zig-zag or blanket stitch. I usually use Steam-A-Seam 2 for a fusible. Some projects call for a heavier fusible, so I use Heat n Bond.

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  45. I use wonder under.I like to hand applique. It is time consuming, but it is very relaxing. I always use the button hole stitch.

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  46. I love to do raw edge machine applique. I use Wonder Under or Steam a Seam, whatever our LQS has in stock. I use my buttonhole stitch around the edges of the shapes. What a darling Halloween table runner! I love the lime green fabric!!

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  47. Learning to machine applique is on my quilting bucket list. When I see lovely projects like yours, I really want to learn. Thanks.

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  48. Super-cute pattern Alison; isn't it fun to remake our own patterns?! I love the glow in the dark fabric; I used some in a little Halloween quilt I made for my grandson a few years ago and he (and I) were fascinated with it!

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  49. I'm not real fond of applique but have done some in sampler quilts. That fabric is fabulous!

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  50. That is really cute. I like to use the Mod Podge technique for my fusible and I tend to used the blanket stitch for the stitching.

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  51. i am not a fan of applique, or as i call it the "a word". i use lite steam-a-seam 2 and like to do just a straight line around the outside usually with black thread to look like a drawn line.

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  52. I prefer machine applique to hand applique; it's so much faster. I like the blanket stitch. I use Wonder Under. Really cute table runner!

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  53. Your project is so cute and bright! I normally prefer embroidery machine applique, but I've done both. I used the Heat-n-Bond light to hold the fabric doing sewing machine applique for a Christmas quilt top.

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  54. Cute table runner! I don't do a lot of applique, but when I do I use steam a seam lite, then a blanket or zig zag stitch. dragonfly9716(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  55. I prefer hand applique because it's easier to control for me. I use Heat n Bond for fusible applique. shades000 at gmail dot com

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  56. I use Lite Steam a Seam 2 for the fusible and I just found where I can buy it by the yard. My usual method is machine stitching it down with a blanket stitch. kthurn(at)bektel(dot)com

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  57. Machine applique for sure. Don't really have a favorite fusible, I don't notice a discrenable difference between brands. I was a satin stitch fan until recently, I'm currently a blanket stitch gal. I love this version of your pattern, especially the witch's hat! I remember my first experience with glow-in-the-dark fabric, I didn't know it was gitd until after it was cut and bought, they told me at checkout. So my husband, who was with me, and I went into the shop's pretty small restroom and closed the door. They could hear us exclaiming at fabric and were laughing, they couldn't believe we went in there together!

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  58. I was successful doing a fall wall quilt using fusible applique and a machine buttonhole stitch--was quite fun to do!!

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  59. I love machine applique. I use a light fusible, like Soft Fuse, along the edges of the object to be machine appliqued. I am learning to perfect the blanket stitch, by machine, for my applique.

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  60. I have tried machine appliqué but my Bernina tends to drop stitches and I kept having to go over areas. It was not time saving or fun.

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