Appliqué Pouch
21 October 2026
I made a third pouch for the ducal challenge, and this one gets its own post because I was abruptly possessed once again by a VISION. I knew I needed to make another pouch, and I wanted to use a new embroidery technique. I was looking at the list of techniques on the Athena’s Thimble page, and scrolling the design options that the fighter who commissioned me selected. And then it hit me. I wanted to use applique, which is stitching bits of fabric together like a puzzle to create a design. I have a stash of fabric scraps that I’ve saved from every project sewing project I’ve ever done. The majority of my scraps are linen, which is what the base of the pouch would be. But I also have a lot of scraps that are this wonderful heavy duty cotton flannel, which is deliciously soft. I wanted to play with the texture difference between the two fabrics. I thought of the worry stone, which is an old irish fidget toy that is used to reduce anxiety, and my concept was born.
I wanted to make a celtic knot design using the cotton flannel, and I’d applique each section onto the linen to create a texture that you can trace with your fingers, a worry pouch if you will.
I drew out the design on the washable interfacing, numbered each section, and then applied the interfacing to the cotton. Then I carefully cut out each section, and reassembled it like a puzzle.
From there, I transferred the pieces to the linen and pinned them down. After everything was pinned and looked right, I used a simple whip stitch to tack them down so I wasn’t poking myself with needles throughout the project.
Technically, tacking the pieces down is a form of applique, but I needed to really finish the edges of the cotton. This cotton has a tendency to fray really easily, and it wouldn’t have survived for long as a pouch if I left it like that. I researched a few different methods of applique, and eventually settled on a buttonhole stitch around the edge. This design has so many curved pieces that folding the raw edge under wasn’t feasible. So I set to work.
I was working on an even tighter deadline for this piece, because the weekend before the ducal challenge was an event called Harper’s Retreat. At this event, there would be an Athena’s Thimble panel, where I could display my applique and see if I could get working knowledge or competency before giving away the embroidery. Readers, this meant that I needed to complete the entire piece in only 7 days. A crazy ask, but oh boy did I accomplish it!
I finished the embroidery in time, paneled, and received competency in applique! I was also able to panel my pocket from a few weeks ago and received competency in blackwork/monochrome embroidery as well! Blackwork and applique mark my 4th and 5th competencies, which means I move in rank from Apprentice to Journeyman. I’m very pleased in my embroidery journey thus far, and I look forward to the new places my explorations will take me.
After celebrating, I scrambled to finish the pouch, and it went out the next weekend to its new home with the fighter that selected it as their prize. I really enjoyed applique, and I think I will make something similar for myself. One can never have too many pouches after all!
