Joy Higdon

I am making the William Morris Friends quilt and since I do all of my applique by the needle turn method I need some advice before I start to do machine applique. Do I use a stabilizer on the back of my square and if so what kind? Do I use the tear-away or permanent? Thanks for your help.

Candace

Really, it depends on what kind of applique stitch you're going to use. Tight satin stitching will need some kind of tear away. Other stitches like button hole and blind hem etc. it will depend also. I can sometimes get away with starching heavily the background piece. Do a sample and see.

bjgallent

I always use backing. The tear away that you use for maching embroidery works fine.

nycquilter

also, there is a foot made that one part of the stitch goes over this little wire on the foot (I know, clear as mud) that helps keep the stitching flat so it won't pucker. I use this foot a lot when I do machine applique.

Prism99

I do machine applique, and instead of using stabilizer I heavily starch the background fabric before cutting it into squares. Basically I mix a 1:1 solution of STa-Flo laundry starch and water, "paint" it on the fabric until the fabric is saturated, toss the fabric in the dryer, then iron with steam. Most of what I do is invisible machine applique, but I have successfully used this technique with fused applique and a satin stitch.

If you have already cut the background squares, try using Stitch and Ditch underneath the background fabric. I got mine on Amazon. It is very lightweight, so is easy to remove afterwards.

ckcowl

are you doing raw edge applique? you could use fusable--like heat & bond lite- then a button hole stitch or small zig zag works well-
if you plan a satin stitch a stablizer is necessary to keep the blocks from puckering- it is your choice whether or not you want one to stay in (adding a layer & weight) to your quilt blocks- or a removable (there is tear away or wash away) do they have recommendations included with the pattern or book? generally the designer/author suggests what works best...i would follow those recommendations

Joy Higdon

Thanks to all who replied.

Daffy Daphne

The last couple of applique quilts I made, I used a lightweight stabilizer that is termed "cut away." I think it's designed for use in machine embroidery. Anyway, after completing the buttonhole stitching I just trimmed the stabilizer about a quarter inch away, and left it in. It isn't stiff and in the finished quilt you can't tell it's there, and it was a hundred percent easier than tearing away the other kind of stabilizer and picking out the little pieces.