The last 3 weeks my hand project for traveling and lounging around, has been a Sri Lankan, appliqué inspired, Duck pillow cover!
Looking around the net I couldn’t find any history regarding the technique or method. I found a lot of pictures of made articles!
Well this is what I know! It’s an appliqué technique using a base fabric and smaller colourful fabrics to recreate a design. The shapes overlap each other, the design is then tacked down using a needle and thread. The raw edges of the fabric are covered with a piece of rick rack, bias strip, rope etc, this is attached using various embroidery stitches. Apparently, in traditional Sri Lankan appliqué one of your fabrics had to be a Bali or batiks piece of fabric!
I traced my design onto the background fabric using a pencil. I then cut up my design into sections to use as fabric templates. Checking my design and placement, certain pieces I had to add a seam allowance. I didn’t tack my design down I used my sewing machine, sewing the design down using a loose, ¼ wide satin stitch or zig zag. Now I covered each seam with a piece of rick rack, bias strip or rope of different colours that complemented my design. I placed a piece of cotton batting on the wrong side of my design and then secured it down using different embroidery stitches.
My Civil War Quilt is quilted!
Now for the binding!
Love
NikkiM
Buzy Day 
I am so impressed by everything you do!
Thank you!
Beautiful work! I love the pillow an awful lot! ❤
Thanks Tajana!
Wow, that’s amazing! I love the composition and your choice of fabric. I think I’ll have to add this style of appliqué to the long list of things I want to try. Plus I want a duck cushion now!
Thanks for your lovely comment! It made me smile!
Love
Nikki
I love your colourful duck. It’s great to try a new technique. Well done Nikki.
Thanks Lucie!
That is fantastic. I’ve never seen that technique before. I love all the bright colours you’ve done a great job. Well done!!!
Thank you!
I love it! You’re freaking me out, though. I just got into sewing and I want to do quilting. This sounds terribly complicated.
Hi Glenda
Really easy! Go for it!
Love
Nikki
Thanks for sharing that technique! One of my housemates has a thing (Tablecloth? Throw? General decorative thing? We’re not sure) made that way, and I’ve been itching to know how it’s done. 🙂
Wow! Glad I could help!
Love
Nikki
This is fantastic, great technique! I love the texture the little stitches add.
Thanks for your lovely comment!
Love
Nikki
I am loving the colours you chose! 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment !
Love
Nikki
Gorgeous!
Thank you!
Love it!
Thanks again!
Lol sorry for the double post. Dunno why it happens so many times
Love it!
Thank you!
Wow, that is gorgeous! Great detail! 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment!
Love
Nikki
You’re welcome!
absolutely gorgeous, lovely colours and fabrics 🙂
Thank you!
What a beauty!
Thank you!
The technique is new to me; thanks for the description. And you used it well in the pillow–very attractive design and color/texture combination.
Thanks for your lovely comment.
Love
Nikki
Nikki, I love all the varied stitching types, patterns and color, and that background is wonderful! Glad you shared.
~ L
Thanks for reading my post!
Love
Nikki
THE cutest!
Thank you!
So pretty!
Thanks!
You are so talented.
Thank you!
It’s perfect! So great work! Love all the different stichings.
Thanks for reading my post!
Love
Nikki
It’d gorgeous I want one 🙂
Really interesting post! Might have to try that technique…
Thanks for reading my post!
Love
Nikki
What a happy design, made me smile.
Thanks Nicky!
Love this piece! Looks like fun. Look forward to pics of your Civil War quilt!
Thanks Elaine!
Cute stuff! I L-O-V-E IT! Such a jolly cushion, and beautifully crafted… thanks for sharing!
Bye, best wishes, Jay TheSewingWren
Thanks for reading my post!
Love
Nikki
I haven’t seen this technique before. I like it, especially with a cute duck!
(As soon as you write ‘Duck!’, I remember a very old Muppets Veterinarian’s Hospital sketch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW7nA0uq6WQ. Showing my age. 🙂 )
Love the link! Thanks for sharing!
Love
Nikki
Thank you so much for your interesting blogs and all your tips and photos and instructions `n all.
Thanks for reading my post!
Love
Nikki
Gorgeous! I love!! xxx
Thanks Kate!
I have no skill at doing these things but I wish I did as my little daughter loves ducks and it would make her so happy if I could make her one.
The duck pillows are lovely. Thanks for sharing that technique. And, congratulations on getting the Civil War quilt done!
Thanks for your lovely comment and for visiting my blog!
Love
Nikki
That is so colorful and joyful looking. Your work is neat and well thought out. I love it.
Thank you Karen!
Your work is amazing! Love the quilting and the appliqué cushion.
Thanks for your lovely comment and for visiting my blog!
Love
Nikki
Wow Nikki, that duck pillow is just gorgeous. Reminds me of the Crazy Quilt I mentioned earlier. Thanks for being such a great inspiration and I have to let you know you are now my new sewing Guru!
To kind! Thank you!
Wow! Amazing art! This is so going on the Pinterest! 🙂 Thank you for your cool post!
Thanks for that!