Drue

When I was teaching machine applique'...I alway made sure the students used "TOTALLY STABLE" on the back side of their applique' projects. It's an iron on "slicky is sticky" stabilizer that can be torn off after the applique' is finished. I use it all the time and it works great. Remember when turing corners to needle down, lift foot, turn as needed, foot down and stitch. Inside corners, needle down on the inside, lift foot and turn...outside corners, needle down on outside, lift foot and turn. On curves and circles, slow and easy, inside curves, needle outside, turn slightly and often....inside curve, needle inside, turn slightly and often. Doing points is tricky( like with a star or triangle), outside point, go past one or two stitches, needle down ,turn 1/2 way, stitch one or two stitches, needle down, turn rest of the way and stitch....do just the same, but on the inside with an inside turn in the star or triangle. I'm sure there are some very good tutes on line that you might watch as well.
Good Luck

Jennoh2

I'd just like to know how to create a satin stitch if you don't have an embroidery machine. I have a babylock that I assumed had a satin stitch when I purchased it. However, no such luck. Just zigzag and some built in satin type stitches that are actually patterns.

Drue

Jennoh2, shorten the stitch width on your zigzag stitch...take a piece of scrap and check it out...keep shortening stitch width, til you have it where you want it...WRITE down your adjustments so you can go back to them when you need them.
Check out your manual for your machine as well. It will probably tell you how to do this.
Good Luck

FroggyinTexas

I just took a workshop on machine applique from a nationally known designer/teacher. She uses Bounty paper towels for stabilizer; I used the paper towels I buy at Sam's Club and they worked great. You will just have to practice getting to end of the thing you are appliqueing. If you are making an inside turn, you leave your needle down on one side of the item, if an outside turn, leave the needle down on other. I am sure there are better instructions than this, but all the ones I read left me confused, so I had to figure it out for myself.
Your piece looks pretty. Be proud of yourself and have another go at it immediately. froggyintexas

chuckbere15

Also check your presser foot, you should have one for satin or zig zag. It has an opening in the middle to allow for the thread to go under. You will have resistance with the tregular foot.

Maggieloe

I use coffee filters. Work better than expensive stabilizer in my opinion. Also, at inside corners go a few stitches farther, needle down, turn and go in the new direction, covering the stitches you just did. Give a better look to the coreners.

My time

I've had good luck with using coffee filters as well. Even tissue paper works and it's cheap as well. Especially if you buy the plain or white from the dollar store.

Phyllis nm

Loosen your upper tension. Use a thinner thread in your bobbin, white lingerie thread is good. Sometimes a glue stick, I also use 505 spray, sometime Elmer’s, always a stabilizer of some kind. <o></o>
Sometime I put the backing in a hoop, after gluing the appliqué in place, you may be pulling it out of shape without knowing it.<o></o>

Jenniky

Thanks again everyone for the continued guidance and support. I've been practicing and have taken extensive notes from this thread. Will post a picture of my next attempt at redoing the block.

Jenniky

I have been practicing and working on the Satin Stitch using all of the advice I was given here.. I feel I am proficient in using the Satin Stitch. What helped the most was first of all using a stablizer... I tried several that were suggested but with all the practicing I needed to do .. I used mostly coffee filters and they worked just fine for me. Here is a picture of my goal..which was to Satin Stitch around this Dragon. Thank you all again for all your help.