Painted Fabric Apples
TC Folk Originals Design
Materials and Supplies For 1 Apple (approximately 3 ¾" diameter by 3" high):
*Apple and leaf pattern
*Scrap of muslin 7" X 25"
*All purpose thread
*Upholstery thread
*Polyester fiberfill
*Florist wire
*Twigs from any tree or bush appropriate for apple stems
*Gesso
*Craft paints in cream, cinnamon, chocolate brown, and hunter green
*Satin varnish
*Antique varnish
*Toothbrush for "fly specking"
*Small round paintbrush
*6" Doll needle
Sewing:
For Apple: Apple is 5 sided.
*Fold muslin into 5 layers large enough to fit apple pattern. Pin Pattern to folded muslin following straight of grain arrow. Cut out. You have 5 apple pieces in muslin.
*Allowing a generous 1/8" seam allowance, sew all 5 pieces to each other, one at a time, with right sides together from tops to bottoms, forming a circle or "ball shape". You have 5 seams.
*Clip Curves, turn right side out.
*Stuff firmly.
*Thread doll needle with 2 or 3 yards doubled upholstery thread. You will have 4 strands when needle is threaded.
*Gather top of apple with running stitch and pull closed. Go around top again and tie off to secure, but do not cut thread.
*Insert needle down thru top and come out at bottom of apple. Take small stitch in one bottom seam of apple and bring needle back up to corresponding top seam of apple. Pull thread to draw down top and pull up bottom. Do not pull too tight or it will resemble a tomato instead of an apple.
*Continue in this manner until you have 5 stitches in bottom and corresponding top seams, keeping threads vertical in apple and not crossed. Apple should be nicely indented on top and bottom and have an appealing apple shape.
*Finish bottom of apple by wrapping thread 4 or 5 times around needle and sliding off to make knot, which will form the calyx on bottom of apple.
*Bring thread up to top and cut. Make sure hole in apple top is about 1/8" in diameter in order to insert leaves and stem later.
*Poke strong needle into top and bottom seams to lift and adjust stuffing to give apple the appearance of rounded "humps" on top and bottom at seams.
*Make sure the bottom of apple sits level on flat surface.
For Leaf: Pattern for leaf is template. Make as many leaves for each apple as you like. *Pin pattern to double thickness of muslin and sew around leaf pattern.
*Remove pattern and cut leaf out close to stitching.
*Insert piece of florist wire between fabric and down middle of leaf and zig zag over top to form "vein". While holding top end of leaf and wire, push fabric up slightly to gather the center of the leaf on the wire. Twist bottom of fabric around wire to hold. Be careful not to pull wire out of leaf.
*Shape leaf to taste.
*Cut tree/bush stem to length to suit taste. You should allow at least ½ inch below the surface in hole and ¾ inch to show on top.
*Test fit stem in hole of apple.
Painting:
*Paint apple with 2 or 3 coats of gesso, allowing it to dry between each coat.
*Paint leaf with one coat gesso front, back and edges. Allow it to dry.
*Paint apple and leaf with one coat of cream. Allow them to dry.
*For apple, dip toothbrush in cinnamon paint and flyspeck to taste.
*For leaf, dip toothbrush in hunter green and flyspeck to taste.
*Repeat flyspecking with chocolate brown paint on both apple and leaf.
*On apple only, dip small paintbrush in chocolate brown and paint bottom calyx and top around hole, making sure to paint down into the hole. You may want to slightly thin paint with water for best effect.
*On leaf only, dip small paintbrush in chocolate brown and paint around edges of leaf. Paint center "vein". Add more "veins" with small broken lines branching out from center wire "vein". Again, you may slightly thin paint if necessary. Allow apple and leaf to dry.
*Varnish apple and leaf with one coat of clear satin varnish. Allow them to dry.
*Varnish apple and leaf with one coat of antique varnish. Allow them to dry.
*Touch up stem with chocolate paint if necessary and allow it to dry.
*Varnish stem with antique varnish. Allow it to dry.
Assembly:
Apples and leaves must be completely dry before assembly.
*Arrange leaf/leaves into pleasing arrangement and push in hole on top of apple.
*Push stem in after leaf/leaves and adjust for pleasing angle. If hole is too loose, hold them in place with glue of your choice. If hole is too small, use a tapered pencil to enlarge hole, or use a smaller stem.
*Touch up with chocolate paint and varnish if needed.
Notes: (also see the Fruity Tips for further details)
Flyspecking: Dip toothbrush into paint and rub finger or thumb over the top of the bristles, pointing the toothbrush 5 or 6 inches from surface to be painted. This produces small irregular shaped "dots" all over surface being painted. Keep the brush moving for even coverage. Make sure the surrounding area of item being painted is protected. This is messy! (But fun!)
Antique Varnish: Antique varnish can be made using the satin varnish and small amount of brown and yellow craft paint, mixed to taste to give yellowish brown cast.
Click on the link below to print or download the complete instructions and pattern in Microsoft Word format.
If you prefer to download or print the instructions in Adobe format click the links below. You will need the free Adobe Reader program to access these files:
