Olivejack

I am working on a pieced wall hanging that will have machine applique on each of the corner triangles. The short sides of the triangles will each be about 21 inches. I want to make sure the finished quilt will be square and wonder if I can/should do the applique before I attach the triangles to the quilt. My thought is that if I cut them a little bigger, I could really square them up after all the applique has been done and they have been added to the quilt. It would also make machine applique much easier as I would not be hauling the entire quilt around as I applique. Is this a crazy idea? Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

Tartan

Sounds like a good plan to me. I think I would cut a larger square and do my appliqué on the triangle corners. I would machine stitch the triangle bias edges before cutting them apart to add to my quilt to avoid any stretch on the bias edges.

Scissor Queen

Not only is it not a crazy idea, it's a really good idea. I would probably not cut the triangle squares in half before the applique and just mark the cut line. I wouldn't make them a whole lot bigger though just so you don't accidentally get into a seam allowance.

DogHouseMom

Agree totally ... if your going to machine applique it you have to put it into a hoop. If you've already cut the triangle and then hooped it, you would be stretching the bias edges. I would embroider it first on a larger than needed square (or rectangle) then cut it so the embroidery is centered.

Scissor Queen

I have done tons of machine applique and never used a hoop. Or stabilizer for that matter. Applique and embroidery are not the same thing.

Olivejack

Thank you! I have been quilting for a number of years and only just discovered this Forum. What a wonderful resource, I love you all already!

Thank you also for the vote of confidence. Scissor Queen is correct, I will not be using a hoop but I sure like the suggestion to stitch the bias line and to mark the edges. I'll let you know how it goes.

Barbara