madamekelly

The first picture is the supplies I used -
Freezer paper
liquid starch (one bottle will last a lifetime for this process)
craft scissors
Elmer's school glue
small natural hair paint brush (wash with cold water when finished, hot water can make the hairs fall out.)
small dish or cap to hold starch (I use Grandma's tea rose)
needle and contrast polyester thread (without a knot)
fabric scraps


Trace your patterns onto the freezer paper with a fine sharpie to avoid color bleed from cheap pens.


Cover ironing board with an extra piece of fabric to protect cover. Iron first piece of freezer paper to fabric on the ironing surface with iron set on polyester. Carefully iron second piece of freezer paper to back of first piece (Shiny to dull). Now iron piece of freezer paper with pieces traced on it, to top of other two. Three layers made.

Cut out pieces carefully to avoid pointy edges. I then go to the back of each piece to check for uneven edges and trim if needed.

Press shiny side of pieces to back of fabric scraps (remember that your iron is still set on polyester setting) and cut out leaving a generous quarter inch or more around each pattern piece. Clip inner curves about half way through the fabric margins, and any sharp points are blunted slightly to make folding over easier. I use a needle and thread without a knot in it to gather the outer curved edges, but don't pull up yet.

Now turn your iron up to cotton setting.

Pour a a little liquid starch in the little container, and using paint brush, paint around first piece of appliqué along edge of pattern just until wet but not drippy. Carefully, using a skewer or long straight pin, slowly iron edges of fabric over the pattern edge. Do not try to hurry here. Pour a glass of wine, sit up to ironing surface and relax. If you burn your fingers, slow down. (You will notice that the starch leaves a white residue on the fabric, but that will wash out, and since I always wash a quilt before gifting, I don't worry about it.) at points you sometimes get little flaps of fabric that will show on the front, just dab them with a little more starch, fold and iron again.
When I get each I piece done, I flip it over and iron again to be sure all starch is dry, or the edges will lift.


When all edges are turned, and all pieces have had a couple minutes to cool, you can pull the patterns from behind them. I use my thumb nail to run all the way around, then pull the pattern out.



I use dots of Elmer's school glue on the folded edges, but not to the actual edge itself (or sewing will be difficult) to glue the pieces to the background. See picture of flower center to see example. Remember to work from the background to the front so your rough edges are covered.

Iron each piece of your appliqué to your background in proper order, one layer at a time. When all pieces are ironed on, flip the whole cloth over and iron again, to be sure all glue is dry. now you are ready to hand or machine stitch.(If the glue shows on the front, it will wash away after you are done.)


Good do luck and Happy Appliquéing!