Applique Club (Do you like to applique, lets chit chat here)
#1143
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Franklin, TX
Posts: 124
I am just now trying my first go round with back basted applique. I really don't like the feel of fused applique, or the heavy stitching around the edges. Wish me luck, as it is going very slowly,...
#1144
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Central PA
Posts: 1,920
I use an old decorative pillow on my lap when I applique or do any handstitching. Use a straight pin to fasten your work to it and it acts as a third hand. (Our ancestor stitchers used a "bird" clamp as a third hand. Some even used a woolen-covered brick.) Pin about 6" or so from where you are stitching. I like the feel of resistance when pulling up my thread and find the project will lay flatter when teasing the edge under. It allows a place to rest your hands and wrists while working. It brings your work closer to your eyes. It acts as a large pin cushion to hold pins, needles, and subsequent small pieces. Sometimes I load 2-3 needles. -- My family knows this is a working pillow and it is mine alone.
One other thing: It is important when pressing applique is to ALWAYS press from the back side. No scrubbing, just the up and down motion. Press into a towel. Pressing from the right side flattens your work too much.
So what have you learned? Please share.
One other thing: It is important when pressing applique is to ALWAYS press from the back side. No scrubbing, just the up and down motion. Press into a towel. Pressing from the right side flattens your work too much.
So what have you learned? Please share.
#1145
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
Due to arthritis causing problems when I try needle turn applique, I came up with an alternative method that works just fine for me. Here is the tutorial I did to show How I make it work. I will also post the first project that I used t on.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...d-t240526.html
This is the link to my first applique project. I was really surprised how well my new method worked. Just remember, no steam in the iron.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...d-t240237.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...d-t240526.html
This is the link to my first applique project. I was really surprised how well my new method worked. Just remember, no steam in the iron.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...d-t240237.html
Last edited by madamekelly; 09-13-2016 at 04:46 PM.
#1146
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: western arkansas
Posts: 2,077
#1147
Unfortunately many of my quilting friends think of applique as a four letter word ...... lol ...... so I have had to rely on whatever tutorials or classes I could find, of course being left-handed does not help either. ( everything I do tends to be backwards) But I have picked up tips here and there ... always press from the back side, watch how you hold your background fabric, not to tight but loose enough so that it could be pulled from your hand. The type of thread you use is also important. Regular piecing thread is usually to thick, 50wt is better, 50wt/2ply is even better and then there is 100wt silk thread. Now with using silk thread, since it is so thin, there is a trick to keeping it from slipping off your needle. You have to make a knot close to the eye of the needle and since the silk thread is so thin it will not interfere with your sewing.
#1148
Sync; I too get the thumbs down for saying applique is my favorite quilting technique! I've even been told, 'that's not really quilting'!! Whether it is or isn't I enjoy it!! I enjoy machine applique` and consider it quite an art to get stitches in just the right place in curves, corners, nooks and crannies! ;-)
#1150
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: southeast iowa
Posts: 2,887
I absolutely Love applique. Needle turn with YLI silk thread is my go to method. Also, have tried several others with good results, too.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 06-23-2018 at 11:46 AM. Reason: remove shouting/all caps
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
craftybear
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
1159
10-01-2016 11:14 AM
craftybear
Main
11
10-03-2010 09:41 AM
craftybear
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
22
02-13-2010 12:12 PM