Fall Leaf Applique Blanket

• Photocopier
• Imitation suede in assorted fall colors
• Pencil
• Paper-backed fusible webbing
• Scissors
• Iron and pressing cloth
• 1-1/2 yards 72-inch-wide pumpkin-color boiled wool
• Matching sewing threads
• Straight pins
• Powder blush or eye shadow
• Two 1-1/4 ounce balls of yarn
• Large-eye sewing needle
• 7 yards of decorative trim

1. Enlarge leaf patterns

2. Determine how many leaves you will use. For each leaf, select two contrasting colors of imitation suede. Use two 7x11-inch rectangles for each oak leaf and two 8-inch squares for other leaves.

3. Trace one pattern for each desired leaf onto the paper side of fusible webbing, leaving1/2 inch of space between shapes. Cut apart the shapes, leaving excess webbing around each shape.

4. Use an iron without steam and a pressing cloth to fuse webbing shapes onto the wrong side of the imitation suede, following webbing manufacturer's instructions. Cut out the leaves on the traced line; remove the paper backing.

5. For larger leaves, lightly fuse the shapes to the right sides of the contrasting imitation suede. Trim the bottom suede pieces 1/8 inch larger than top leaf shapes.

6. Remove the selvages from the boiled wool. Arrange leaves on the wool; pin in place. Sew leaves in place, stitching through all layers 1/8 inch from the edges of the top leaves. Sew vein lines on the leaves. Dry-brush powder blush or eye shadow on the veins and areas where stems meet leaves.

7. Blanket-stitch around the edges of the throw with one strand of yarn and a large-eye sewing needle, making stitches approximately 1/4 inch long and a scant 1/4 inch apart.

8. Hand-stitch trim to edge of throw.