Shaded Florals- Shadow Work Effect Stitching technique

Shaded Florals come to you in two different techniques, applique and shadow work effect. The applique is done on top of the fabric where as the shadow work effect technique is applique done underneath the fabric, directly on the hoop. Below I've shown the shadow work technique.

1. Hoop water soluble stabilizer. If you do not have water soluble stabilizer, you can use either a tearaway wash away or "sewer cloth" an opaque soft fabric available at your garden supplies store. The "sewer cloth" is also referred to as weed retardant cloth as it is primarily used for that purpose. However it is soft and perfectly fine to use as a stabilizer in items where stabilizer is needed but should not show. We will be working directly onto the stabilizer before placing the top fabric.
2.The machine will stitch out the areas for placing the shadow work fabrics. Now place the fabric for your flower on the stabilizer. The machine will stitch it down. As my sample has three flowers, all different colors, I will use a neutral thread to stitch down all three fabrics.
3. Once the machine has stitched down the first flower, remove hoop from machine and lay on a flat surface. Carefully trim away the excess fabric.
4. Place the hoop back in the machin and place the next fabric on the stabilizer. The machine will stitch it down.
5. Remove hoop from machine and lay on flat surface. Trim away excess fabric. Place hoop back in machine.
6. Again place your third fabric over the third flower outline and the machine will stitch it down.
7.Remove hoop from machine and trim away excess fabric. You now have the shadow work part done and now will place the fabric to be embroidered on top of the stabilizer covering the appliqued fabrics.
8. Place your fabric to be embroidered on top of the stabilizer and pin the fabric on all sides to the stabilizer. Cotton fabrics, batiste, voile etc are good for the shadow work technique.
9. Follow the rest of the color chart to finish the design.
10.Light color threads allow the color of the fabrics stitched onto the stabilizer show much more than darker threads.
See how the lighter threads used on top show up the shadow of the fabric from underneath better than the darker thread (upper right purple flower).

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