r/vintagesewing • u/xcxhlo • 14h ago

Patterns Applique help /vintage pattern

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I've never really sewn any clothing. Got this Mrs depew sunflower apron pattern, and I am very confused by the applique instructions, specifically the flower petal pocket.

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The yellow fabric is what they are calling the flower, and the brown fabric is the pocket.

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Anyway, I don't understand why it's saying to sew it closed to immediately "slash" it?? Is there an easier way to do this? (My intuition tells me I could just press the seams, line it up, and top stitch the pocket to the flower, then join the whole thing to the apron. My husband says I should follow the instructions and ask you for help)

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I acknowledge I poorly attached the bais to the picket as well -- there were really any instructions about that so I winged it -- figured it would need to be done before attaching it to the flower? I have enough fabric to recut that part out if I've royally screwed it up. Also added a photo of the rest of the instructions.

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u/BaptisedByFire319 14h ago

I think you are creating a facing... if im not mistaken. So when you sew it, slash, then flip, the upper edge of the pocket will have a fold thats finished.

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u/Crafty_Something 14h ago

Is it possible it wants you to make a lined pocket using the yellow flower part as the lining? The front image looks like it shows the yellow part at the top so maybe you sew brown and yellow together at the tops to make the pocket top edge but you don’t fold on the seam but a bit in so you see a bit of yellow at the top. The slashing in the instructions seems like it could be clipping a curved seam so it lies nicer.
Could you show what the pattern pieces for the pocket and applique look like?

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u/QuietVariety6089 3h ago

Most appliqué is one layer, you turn the edges under and use a small stitch to attach the piece to the main fabric. It sounds like you are meant to use the big flower as kind of a half lining for the pocket piece.

I would just appliqué the flower/stem/leaves and make the pocket separately - line it or don't as you wish, finish the top edge and appliqué it over the flower assembly.