How to Sew a Picture of a Turkey
This method of sewing a picture of a turkey uses freezer paper applique techniques and basic turkey feather and body shapes. You can use a picture of a turkey to trace or copy, or if you are artistic, just create your own image. It can be hand or machine sewn and made any size. The picture makes a great Thanksgiving decoration. You can use as many or few colors of fabric as you choose depending on the look you want to achieve.
Things You'll Need
- Paper
- Pencil
- Freezer paper
- 100 percent cotton non-stretch fabric; you need a background square and scraps for the feathers, body and head.
- Scissors
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Iron
- Embroidery frame (optional)
Instructions
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Sewing a Turkey Picture
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1
Draw your turkey onto a piece of paper. You can trace or copy a picture, use your own design or make a child-like turkey drawing by tracing around your fingers and adding a basic round body and head. The turkey will need to be made of distinct sections that are easy to cut from fabric. Indicate the color of each section on the diagram.
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2
Trace all the sections of the turkey picture onto the dull side of the freezer paper and cut them out. Make sure they are the actual size of the sections of the drawing.
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3
For each section of the drawing, place the freezer paper template waxy side down on the wrong side of the appropriate fabric scrap. Cut each fabric piece out leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance around the freezer paper. Snip into the seam allowance around any curved edges, then press the seam allowances toward the wrong side.
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4
If you are using an embroidery hoop, place the piece of background fabric in the hoop so that it is smooth and taut. Pin or baste the applique shapes in place following your original diagram. When you are satisfied with the arrangement you can sew the shapes down by hand or machine.
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5
To sew the shapes down by hand, use small slip stitches around the edges of all the shapes. To sew by machine, use the blind-stitch setting and sew slowly around as close as possible to the edges of the applique shapes.
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6
Turn the picture over to the reverse side. Use scissors to snip away the background fabric underneath the applique shapes, leaving a 1/4-inch border. Use tweezers or your fingers to gently remove all the freezer paper pieces. Press the picture, and add details with embroidery if desired.
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Tips & Warnings
A more artistic picture can be created using the same basic shapes if you choose patterned fabric for the feathers. For a different look, hand or machine sew the applique pieces down using contrasting thread and visible decorative stitches. Another alternative is to leave the edges of the applique pieces raw and visible instead of turning them. Wash the finished piece to make the edges more raggedy.
