Appliqué technique
 

Thinking about an appliqué project and wondered what technique you use? I have seen some use freezer paper templates to shape their piece. Some use an interfacing which is sewn and then turned to give a finished edge look. Looking for pros and cons of appliqué processes.

I mostly do "raw edge" applique. I fuse Soft n Fuse to the fabric, cut out the shapes then use the buttonhole stitch on my machine to sew them down. I'm working on a Lori Holt applique quilt right now and am using this method. I've never had a problem with the appliques coming undone in the wash or with use. I'm too impatient to sew everything down by hand, although I love that look.

The majority of the applique quilts I have made were done with freezer paper templates. I was able to have great control over exactly where the placement of each piece had to go. I love the finished look. It takes a great deal of time to do a full size quilt doing any applique designs.
Now that I am working with the Accuquilt cutting system so much I am experimenting with raw edge applique. I don't have a real handle on it yet but still playing with it. It will take me some time to learn raw edge applique. I believe it will be worth the learning curve.

I do both. It mostly depends on the shape of the appliqué. For irregular edges with lots of tight curves and angles I usually do raw edge. For straighter appliqués I prefer turned under edges. I especially like the Appliquick method: A stiff interfacing fused to the wrong side of appliqué with edges turned under around the interfacing, using a glue stick to keep them in place. The Appliquick tools are available online, but I think you could find inexpensive substitutes.

The appliqués can be stitched down by hand or machine for the turned under method.

I usually do needle turn, but I've also done raw edge and took a class in Appliquick (haven't used it since then). It depends on the project. For example, I wouldn't try needle turn on a Toni Whitney pattern, but I would always use it on Hawaiian applique. Most people try a few different methods before settling on one that works for them.

I mostly use a combination of the freezer-paper method and Appliquick. I swap the freezer paper out for Templar (heat-resistant plastic template material), and starch instead of glue. I like the Appliquick tools.

In the past I have done raw edge machine applique for landscape quilts.

I committed to doing a hand applique quilt for my older daughter's wedding present and she chose Kim Maclean's The Flower Garden, but instead of Kaffe Fassett fabrics, she wanted it in the tones and fabrics of Civil War reproductions. The applique pieces for this quilt were large enough to allow me to use freezer paper and either remove it through a remaining straight edge that I then sewed up or by cutting through the back of the applique and removing the paper. I found that back basting on the outside of curves to gather the excess fabric eliminates the sharp angles that can sometimes form. I'm appliqueing the last border of this quilt.

And for my younger daughter, I committed to doing a Quiltworx Judy Neimeyer double wedding ring pattern (Flowers for my Wedding Quilt) with hand appliqued flowers and vines in the outside border. Because a lot of these pieces were small and/or narrow, I used leave-in-place applique sheets that break down and soften with age/washing. Quilt top is finished, waiting for me to finish her sister's top.

If you're using freezer paper or adhesive in applique, be gentle in removing the paper as too good adhesion can cause the fabric threads to misalign as you remove the paper, messing up the fabric's pattern.

I use Therm O Web HeatnBond Ultra Hold iron-on adhesive. Instructions are given on the back of the package. Some of the stores it can be found at are JoAnn, Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart. I would guess Amazon probably has it too.

Thanks
 

Thanks for your comments. Gives me something to think about. Enjoy your weekend.

I use a variety of methods, depending on the piece, and I think every method has its pros and cons. I do prefer using freezer paper underneath, but sometimes traditional turned under works best. I don't like using the interfacing method because I can't seem to be points pointy enough for my taste. I reserve raw edge for tiny pieces that my aging hands can't seem to manipulate well. Try them all, and choose what you feel most comfortable with.

Well, I don't know who taught me to applique, but It's not the methods described here. I draw the reversed design on the back of the main piece, then "cover" a section( on the correct side) with desired fabric to be carefully straight stitched to outline. Then I carefully trim close to straight stitch line. When all colors are added, then I satin stitch to applique. I am currently working on a project that I created on a whim! I used a stained glass pattern for the seahorse. Seashells to follow.

aashley333---that is a beautifully done applique!!

For those of you who use freezer paper, how do you remove the freezer paper once it is appliquéd?

I now do mostly raw edge applique with a small straight stitch or blanket stitch along the edge. I used to do needle turn applique though. The method I used was to trace the pattern piece and cut out using a slightly less than 1/4 inch seam. Then I finger pressed along the traced line. It’s a method used by Piece O’ Cake, and they have YouTube videos on it.

Jshep -
For me, it depends on the shape/size of the piece. If there's a nice 1/2" relatively straight section of applique, I leave that to last and use hemostats or a crochet hook to grab the paper and bring it out, then stitch up the last 1/2". The alternative is to make a 1/2" slit in the 'backing' fabric in the center of the appliqued piece and again use hemostats or crochet hook to grab and pull out the freezer paper through the back (often in torn pieces).

I recently took a Zoom class by Irene Blanck of Focus on Quilts where she taught needle turn appliqué for her pattern ‘Matilda’. She showed how various appliqué techniques work best with different shapes and sizes. I made 3-4 12” blocks and decided that I preferred using templates, starching under the edges, using Roxanne glue to hold the appliqué in place and then hand stitching it down. As already mentioned, I think every method has advantages / disadvantages and one must try until they find which works best for them. I must admit, I’ve heard so many compelling endorsements of the appliquick method that I plan to try it, too.

Storm water- thank you for the reply. I thought I had seen somewhere to make a small slit and then pull the paper out.

Back basting applique is my go to appliqué method. I have tried several and this one seems to work best for me. I'm currently working on a Boston Album quilt. It is similar to needle turn. Good luck and enjoy the journey.

I’m another one that uses the Appliquick method and tools. Edyta Sitar (sp?) has a great tutorial and her work is stunning.

I have to admit, I don't do much applique...but I like doing by embroidery machine. Yep...have to buy the applique designs....but I really don't like needle turn. Have to keep a box band aides close by. I do some raw edge and use my machine to stitch down the edges usually with blanket stitch.

I use Karen Kay Buckley’s heat resistant template plastic, an iron, and brushed on spray starch to create shapes with pre-turned edges that I then hand appliqué. Template plastic is especially good if you are doing multiples of the same shape. I did a couple hundred of the same leaf shape recently and had to make a second template to finish after I accidentally warped the first one with my iron.

I also use Applipops to make circles. I use the same method as for the heat resistant template except I use a silicone finger protector on at least one finger because the metal Applipops can get hot.

I also use a stiletto to hold, and a wood orange stick to push, reluctant allowances in place.

I wrote a tutorial on my blog for the basics of needle turn applique. Well, I don't use a needle, I use a toothpick. But if you are interested, go to the applique section on my blog.

jdquilts123.blogspot.com

And here's a picture of the LBB borders I've been working on. Lots of applique here.

AAshle333 your way is like the way I do applique. Years ago I bought the book Fat Quarter Fonts. It was all reverse applique. I l loved it. It is so easy my two 12 year old nieces made lots of reversed appliqued pillow tops and make up bags .They use coloring book designs. Intricate designs are no problem as long as you can stitch around them. It's the only way I do applique for large projects. I have used the Appliquick tools and they are great for hand applique.

Back basting applique is my go to appliqué method. I have tried several and this one seems to work best for me.

I took a class for back basting applique. I never finished the design. It was very difficult for me. The class was at my guild and I one guild member finished her project a couple months later for show and tell. No one else did. It looks so easy but for some reason I could not baste it right. I spent hours on the first flower.

I search coloring book pages, too! Also, try stained glass pattern pages for applique ideas!

My preference is backbasting appliqué. Placement is accurate, however the pattern is reversed requiring you to turn it around. Needle turn is the stitching method. This method makes me very portable. I have done some raw edge if I wanted texture (my ggd is blind).

I had surgery on my hand and manipulating a needle had been awkward. Recently I had to hand stitch a label onto a quilt and it went pretty good resulting my seeking a pattern to try.

I use either used dryer sheets or one-sided fusible interfacing (very light). I will rough cut out that which I want to applique', leaving a good half inch or more around it eventually to be trimmed away. Then lay the dryer sheet or interfacing (glue side down) on the RIGHT side of the applique' piece.

Carefully stitch around (a bit smaller stitch) the edge of the applique'. It's quite easy to see through either the sheets or interfacing. Trim to a quarter-inch. Now is the time to put little clips in the curves if needed, carefully avoiding the stitch line.

Cut a slit in the sheet/interfacing the turn it so that the sheet/interfacing is on the back of the applique' piece. Gently push the edges out and finger press. I like to trim the sheet/interfacing at this point so that there is only a half-inch or so on the back. This eliminates any bulk and/or stiffness because of the fusible under the entire applique' piece.

If you have used fusible interfacing, press it in place on the foundation. If a sheet, then pin in place with a pin or two in the center of the applique'.

Now stitch down in whatever manner you choose. You'll have a turned-edge applique that will wear well and look quite nice.

I just deiscovered a wonderful new applique techique called Draw-Sew-Trim by Katalin Horvath. Check out her YouTube Videos or her website for recent courses offered. DrawSewTrim Workshops I am just a fan and am registered for two of her workshops. She is an excellent teacher of this unique applique method.

If you use the interfacing method, you can cut away the middle of the facing without the piece dietorting and use a wooden chop stick to get the edges to lie perfectly. You just need to leave the edge of the interfacing to get your shape right. after sewing, just pull it away from the fabric, cut a small X and insert the sissors in to begin the cut out to the size you intend to leave on the back side. Ithink this is a good iedea to reduce the bulk that would occur and facillitate quilting ease.

That is funny Jo, you and I had the same way of doing this and we live in the same city. What are the odds? LOL...