Appliquing stems
#11
I’ve used this method before too...I also have a couple different sizes of Clover bias tape makers and hey make great stems which can either Nobel machine sewn or hand sewn onto your project.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,184
If they are curvy, you should use bias strips, but if they are short or straight, using the straight grain will be fine. I cut mine around 1" and fold them in thirds as you mentioned. I iron them well (a dab of glue helps hold the flaps down) and either hand applique (not difficult - just like sewing binding only a little finer) or use a regular sewing machine stitch in matching thread on each side. You can go wider or thinner than 1".
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 659
Clover bias tape makers are wonderful - a worthwhile investment - easier to use than bias bars in my opinion. A little bit of glue and then appliqué. I prefer to hand appliqué but there’s no reason you cannot machine sew down like you do the flowers and leaves. Lovely quilt.
#14
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,869
I've tried machine sewing them and hand sewing - both are awful LOL ... I'm done with it for now ... might give it to someone who wants to finish the stems off and they get a nice lap quilt in the process for all their hard work!