Originally Posted by
reneewill3
Yes, I did machine stitch. I thought it would save me some time, but I guess not. Well, I will learn as I go. Thank goodness I did some practice pieces first.
You could also try a couple different ideas to make this work for you. Instead of cutting the fabric just 1/4" bigger than your paper, try cutting it 1/2" bigger. That is how I do it. More to hang onto. Also, you can 'baste' with a glue stick. When glue stick dries, it is crispy, so it will let go pretty easy. You can also get on YouTube to see how others whip stitch the pieces together. I have even used a small paintbrush, liquid starch and an iron to turn the edges on some shapes. I did a tutorial on this board on using that method. I think I titled it "Here is the Applique tutorial I promised" under madamekelly.
Take a deep breath, and remember this is supposed to be fun. You kind of remind me of me when I started out quilting. I learned to see it a different way. We are quilters, we make quilts, the end result is a wonderful thing, but the process is what satisfies our souls. (At least mine)