Originally Posted by
Bree123
I've seen different teachers promote one or the other for hand applique. Leah Day actually teaches both.
But I've always wondered... does one technique last better over time than the other? I've tried them both & they both look fine after the first couple washes, but I wonder if it matters over the years. Does anyone know? Is one more secure than the other?
Fifteen years ago I made 10 sundresses as survival gear when I moved to Texas. Many of them have appliqués at the neckline, half of which were ladder stitch until I learned that whip stitch is easier (for me) to do. I am still wearing them in the summer, have washed them hundreds, maybe even thousands of times and no broken stitches, no lifting, nothing. Do what works for you. I did a monster size Seminole patchwork around one of the skirts, that I wasn't sure would hold up, but wanted to try, and after ten years of wearing, was altered into a table cover for a small round table that is a till in good shape too. They are all much softer now, and a bit faded, bit no other issues.