I am trying to applique some pieces on a strip quilt. Can I get suggestions on how the easiest way to do this is and what you use to hold it down. I have tried heatbond under the pieces but it did not bond well and I the material scorced after ironing it so much to get it to stick long enough to sew it on. I also have tried using interfacing with bonding on one side this was easy to turn on larger pieces but I have not tried to iron it on the piece yet. I have used stitch wichary on one a long time ago and it seems to work to hold it well enough. How best to stitch it on with a machine. I have had a hard tome adjusting my machine to zigzag close enough and the right size that looks good. The one I tried to do was all three layers top batting and backing so it was to thick to use the walking foot with or the embrodery foot did not work either. Any suggestion would help. I may try the next one quilt as you go so I have less bulk to work with at the sewing machine at one time. I am trying to make a few nice quilts for charity but its turning out to be very time consuming.

I use Heat n Bond lite for all my appliqué, I set my iron to the silk setting and turn the steam off, and only go over the piece lightly or the adhesive dissolves and it won't stick I have noticed a few times it lifted in spots, but I blanket stitch around the appliquéd piece before I sandwich the quilt.

Hope this helps. :)

I use Heat 'n Bond Lite for my applique too and I've found that if I only press if for about 5 seconds it sticks long enough to get it satin-stitched on my machine. The few times I've pressed for longer, it didn't want to stick at all. I've heard that over-pressing can cause the glue to become ineffective. I guess it melts into the fabric too much and doesn't allow for a bond between the two fabrics. I might have a spot or two that want to lift, but not bad enough to mess it up while I'm getting it secured.

I've never tried to applique anything with all three layers together. I would imagine that would be too thick no matter what you used. I would recommend appliqueing first on the top only, then layering it for quilting.

I agree with lin,,,, I applique alot, and I always applique the piece on the quilt top, then sandwich, I use fuseable for almost all appliques, Much easier to turn in the edge of the applique and not as thick. Sometimes the fuseable dosen't grip as well, mainly due to over heating, But yet areas will stick well enough to machine attache, by zig-zag, satin stich or applique stitch. If all else fails how about by hand?

Applique before putting layers together!!! Heat and bond lite works very well for me. i even sometimes use the interfacing method which works real well if you want that turned under look on the edges. but like I said I use heat and bond lite on all my applique and never had a problem of it sticking.

I always applique before I sandwich my project. I use Wonder Under and not Heat and Bond. My applique pieces are not turned under, after pressing them down, I either zigzag around them or use some sort of fancey stitch. Heat and Bond always caused my needle to gum up. but that was yrs ago and I have never tried it since. Wonder Under is the best for my use. Marge

mic-pa, you might have been using regular Heat 'n Bond. That stuff will make your needle gum up. I made the mistake once of using it instead of the Lite, and I'll never make that mistake again. Ever. It was a nightmare. The Lite doesn't gum up the needle at all.

But if you've found what works for you, then that's what you should stick with anyway! :D

A friend of mine bought the Ultra Heat n Bond by mistake and when she went to sew, the machine needle broke trying to go through it and the tip hit her in the eye. Poor girl, it was her first attempt at applique and her last, she refuses to give it another try with the Lite.

That's a shame! The lite would work well for her, but I can sure understand her concern about it after all she went through. I managed to get mine appliqued down, but it sure wasn't easy on my hands. They hurt forever. That regular Heat is truly sticky and thick! BUT...it won't hold it good enough to just leave it without any sewing. So, pretty much worthless IMHO. :roll:

I am appliqueing a christmas scene all is bonded and ready to machine blanket stitch my ? is do you use the same color thread on every piece or do you co-ordinate the thread?