seam allowance | Simple Bird Applique

One of the most challenging things about applique is determining which order to glue (and stitch) pieces to the background. Some blocks are easier than others to figure out. This block was not one of them! Here is how I tackled the “Xebec” block from Sue Garman’s “Ladies of the Sea”…

Since the seam allowances on the black part of the hull were going to be completely covered by other pieces, there was no need to prep the edges. But I did draw the seam allowance on the front of the piece, just to make sure everything was going to line up.

I also took the time to baste it to the background just inside the seam allowance.

Next, I added the brown top piece. Notice that the left hand edge is not prepped, but all of the other edges are.

This next skinny piece is going to go on top those raw edges, but it is going to go under the top brown piece…..

…but at the same time, this little gold piece gets tucked under the top piece. The edge that is not prepped will go under the top piece and the rest will stick out.

Needless to say, I had my thinking cap on!

So, this is what it looks like so far.

As you can see, this skinny brown piece is actually smaller than the seam allowance, so I had to trim just a tiny bit of the black piece before I could stitch it in place. Dicey business!