Superior Feature

SEW SASSY FUN

  • SEW SASSY
  • EMBROIDERY
  • DECORATIVE STITCHING

By Nicole Dunn for Superior Threads

Stitching with Sew Sassy

Is there anything better than receiving a box of threads? Yes!! Receiving a box of NEW thread! I had the opportunity to test out Sew Sassy, a 12 wt. 3-ply polyester thread on a wool applique project. Initially, I had my doubts about using a polyester thread, (why do we still fear that word?!) for working on wool, but remembered Bob from Superior Threads educating us on the virtues of today’s polyester thread. With that tidbit of determination, I unwrapped up the first spool. My first impressions were that this thread, even though it is 12 wt., had a very soft, appealing texture and draped beautifully with no stiffness whatsoever. An added bonus was the subtle sheen that I love.

Once I had my design ready, I decided to split this project in half - half by machine and half by hand, using Sew Sassy for both. Using Soft Fuse, I cut out all the bird pieces needed, fused them to the back of the wool pieces, cut them out and fused all the pieces onto a cotton background. I had a leftover piece from another project of Peppered cottons by Pepper Cory for the background, in a color that would show off my wool and threads beautifully.

Sew Sassy Fun

Using a buttonhole stitch on my machine, with Black Sew Sassy thread and a Superior Topstitch #100/16 needle, I stitched the bird body, legs, toes and feathers. My machine has several different buttonhole stitches, so I chose the one that didn’t double back on itself, even though that is ordinarily my favorite. With the thickness of this thread I knew I wouldn’t need more than one pass, so I just needed the stitch that goes forward, side to side and forward again.

I was pleased with how easy it stitched, but I could hardly see it. Black thread on black wool just isn't very visible. I use the same buttonhole stitch and swapped black for turquoise. It showed beautifully and the buttonhole stitch really added another decorative element to my bird. I added a bit more flair by stitching with three different stitches and it worked great. I only broke my thread once, when I was stitching way too fast. Prior to using Sew Sassy, I never thought I could get such a thick thread to make a feather stitch, but I did and I really liked the way it looks on the wool.

I finished the bird with a few drizzle stitches by hand. I used a Milliner's #1 needle, even though it wasn't easy to get so many wraps thru the needle, but I was committed to these little stitches! I started on the plant next with freeform-cut leaves of wool. I added a sliver of brown for a stem and decided to turn the plant into a cornstalk and add an ear of corn at the top. My daughter thinks it’s a flower, so I suppose it can be either!

Beautiful sheen on the leaves

Beautiful sheen on the leaves

Fun drizzle stitches for crazy hair

Fun drizzle stitches for crazy hair

The leaves didn’t have any fusible on them, because I hand stitched them in place. I used small sequin pins to hold everything in place, removing each pin as I got close. I added several running stitches in a light green for veins and some rows of running stitches on the corn in gold. A buttonhole stitch around all the leaves and stem completed the cornstalk.

All the applique was complete! Final steps were to quilt and bind. I am very pleased the results. Sew Sassy worked extremely well by machine and by hand. It is soft, lovely to work with, and I loved the slight sheen it added to my edges. I look forward to stitching with Sew Sassy in future projects. In fact, I’ve already switched to using Sew Sassy instead of embroidery floss on another current project. I can highly recommend it. Sew much fun!

Back to Top