Hi Norah, this is what i was wondering also. If we used a huge quilting hoop wouldn't it make it hard to hold and do the small stitches around the pattern. For an example what if I wanted to do a giant dahlia. From what i understand you first have to make the dahlia and then applique it to a larger piece of material. I'm going by what i read about the different projects i want to do. But for now i'm starting small, I'd like to do a large rose approx. 20 inches in diameter. I hope I can do it. Denise.

You can do it, and you'll learn something from every project. I have a Hawaiian design about 24" square that I am practicing applique with. The design is basted on, and I am using the 6" hoop to applique with. My stitches have improved dramatically already. One silly little thing I did was change the angle of my needle when stitching. I tended to try to catch the stitch at a right angle, but when I changed to holding my needle in the direction the next stitch was going, that is, at a parallel to the design, my stitches became practically invisible. Using the same color thread as the fabric being appliqued helped as well. I want to try a king size Hawiian next.

Boy I had a message here and it disappeared. :evil:

I just wanted to say take your quilt out of your hoop when you finish quilting for the day or night because it will stretch your quilt just a little if you keep it in the hoop. I learned this from watching Alex Anderson.
Misty

Thanks for the advice. I have had that happen, but did not realize what caused it. I really like Alex Anderson, too.

thanks Misty56 for the tip, I like Alex also. I used to watch her all the time. But for some reason i don't get her on my channels anymore, sure miss her show. Denise.

I understand that Alex Anderson's show was cancelled, which just breaks my heart. She is the only reason I wanted a dish for television. She has a great website though.

http://www.alexandersonquilts.com/main.php

Ladies,
Forget about the hoop. If you are right handed, you will need your thumb and nail to hold the applique edge once it has been stroked into shape. I think the hoop would make this impossible and awkward.

Use very fine thread (Mettler with green label) or silk. Use a very sharp slender needle. Use the tiny white-headed applique pins and push the point to the back side while the head of the pin rests right against the applique piece. This will help keep from catching your thread. I find that the glue often gums up my needle.

To avoid tangles in your thread: The first end from the spool is the end that goes through the eye of the needle, the last end is the knotting end. Also, there is a thread conditioner in a tiny blue box called "
Thread Heaven". It is well worth the investment and lasts forever.

To start, your thread should be at the very edge of applique piece coming from the underside (start along a straight edge, if possible), your first stitch should be parallel to where it came through the edge. Your only forward stitch is on the bottom side of the base. Catch only a few threads of your applique piece. Take very small stitches. The back of your project should like like "chicken scratching". Also, take 4-5 stitches and then slide the needle a little along the thread. This will help avoid thread weak areas from your thimble. Honestly, I don't wear one while appliquing.

When you come to an inside point (or cleft as in a heart), take three slightly longer stitches (1-1/6" - 1/8") as there is no fabric to turn under. One stitch should be slightly to the left, one in the center and slightly to the right.

I know my message is long, but since my quilting preference is applique and have been at it for a long time, I felt to pass on some of my suggestions to newer appliquers.

I can also offer to show how to make perfect circles, if anyone is interested.

Hope this helps. Blessings, Suz

Suz, the whole purpose of this forum is sharing and teaching. Your post is most welcome and well written. We are grateful for tips and suggestions. I also do applique, although not a passion, and do not use a hoop either. I personally can't figure how someone could manipulate fabric in a hoop, but I know that some folks use that method successfully.

I look forward to hearing about circles. I still struggle with outside curves and how to smooth out the excess in the turn under. Points and inside curves do not seem to be a problem.

Welcome to the forum, Suz. You will soon discover many lovely people post here and we are quickly becoming a family of caring and sharing quilters. :D

I'll give it a try. The reason for the smaller hoop is so I can reach my work with my thumb and finger, but I'm trying to get better at applique and you are the professor. I would also be interested in the circles. Thank you very mych, and I'll let you know how it goes.