RGAY

Thank you, all, for your thoughtful responses! Peggi, your ladder stitch is perfect! I am trying to improve my new-found ladder stitch on my current binding, but I can see how it would be difficult to use on curved or small appliqué pieces. Looks like I just need to get better with my appliqué stitch... practice makes perfect, right? ;-)

coffeecozy

RGAY, thank you for pointing out the spot on the video. I will have to try that on my applique project.
Peckish you do beautiful work. Someday when my stitching grows up it might look like yours .

petpainter

I'm with you Peckish- the ladder stitch is the best. I have nearly finished my whole Millifiori quilt with that stitch and it's all I use now!

JanieH

Great illustrations. Thank you for posting.

Lisa in TN

I use the ladder stitch for EVERYTHING - piecing, appliques - you name it. I actually find it to be the STRONGEST hand stitch out there. I learned it at my grandmother's knees! According to her (and her advice has proved to be right!) - there are TWO keys to mastery:

One - your stitches need to be small - no bigger than 2X the width of the shaft of your needle. Two - when you insert the needle - your approach needs to be perpendicular to the line you are following and when you pull the thread - again perpendicular - NOT to the side as with a running stitch. This is especially important on circles - keeps everything "round" and prevents the circle from shifting.

Also - when I applique I usually draw the pattern on my background as well as on the applique piece (or if I'm using ironed on freezer paper on the background - I remove it only as I go. That way the shape/placement retains it's integrity!

Have Fun!

Peckish

I whole-heartedly agree with the statement about stitches needing to be perpendicular. If they're slanted or off a little, you'll see the stitches. They'll look very much like the whip stitch. My ladder stitches are quite a bit larger than 2x the width of my needle, though.