Notes from Class about decoupage jeans and blazers and techniques.

I have a couple of techniques I have developed for this look.

First, I do not use spray, if I want a glue on any applique, I prefer washable glue stick. But I have heard it is considered that "the jury is still out" on the long lasting effects of the reaction of the glue with the fabrics. This would be an heirloom consideration though and nothing in say the next 5 years?

I do not use glue on fabric that is for a wearable. I use the lightest weight Pellon fusible I can find. After one or two washings, it is just as soft and bendable as the fabric. And never gunks the needle.

On the decoupage technique, I stop the fusible at least 1/2 inch from the edge of my fabric to allow for proper fraying.

IMHO, fraying is good!! It actually makes a chenille type of edge. Of course any stitching stops the fraying so the fabric only frays to the stitching line. What I like to do is cut little tiny cuts into the loose fabric edge almost to the stitching line. I can actually do this before I stitch since I have ironed my fusible on 1/2 short of the edge. Also, I find it easiest to handle the fabric for the small incisions before I remove the paper. The tiny cuts that run from the cut edge almost to the seam, allow for a better fluffiness (is that a word? LOL) of my frayed edge.

Okay, this may sound scary for some :-) but if you have ever tried foundation piecing you will know what I am talking about. But this techinique makes sense to me.

On the leg of jeans or on the arm of a blazer, if you are going to decoupage all the way up front and back, cut the leg of the jean off about 1 inch below where you plan to stop your applique.

Carefully remove the stitches on the inseam (do not cut) and open the leg up and iron it flat, careful not to stretch it.

Cut a piece of foundation cotton by laying the opened and ironed leg on top of the cotton piece you are going to use for the foundation fabric and cut it in one whole piece but cut it 1/2 inch larger all the way around to allow for a little shrinkage when you adhere your decoupage stitches on top of it just like your foundation fabric draws in when you embroider or applique now.

Build a decoupage fabric that is large enough to be at least the size and a little larger rectangle than the whole leg or arm piece you are looking at. You can build this decoupage just like you decoupage on top of your opened denim leg now.

You will not be replacing the denim onto the garment but instead, when you have the decoupaged leg like you want it, you will cut it out to the same size as the denim leg you detatched and attach your new foundation decoupaged fabric leg to your cut edge where you removed the denim leg (or arm).

NOTE you will need to have enough fabric at the crotch to attach your new decoupaged foundation piece back to the garment. DO THIS WITH A FLAT SEAM by laying the garment edge and the foundation decoupage piece flat against each other and top stitching all the way around.

NOW to cover up that edge, attach your last decoupage pieces on top of the top stitching, on top of the decoupage foundation now attached leg, and on top of the garment. Add your decorative stitching from your prepared fusible piece of decoupage and fray the edges as you have the others.

This gives you an arm or a leg without the denim underneath.

Once you are happy with your results, practice doing "cut outs" on your jackets and tops too. And once you are comfortable with the "cut outs" being adhered on top, you can practice reverse applique techniques with a prepared piece of foundation decoupage fabric.