Applique
 

Can I use DMC thread to applique with? The lady who is teaching me says no but I've asked a few people and they've said I could.

Sounds like the lady who is teaching you is a member of the quilt police force. You can use whatever you'd like, just keep in mind that the heavier the thread the more the stitches will show. This, however, is a design choice. The only other issue is that if you use floss, it sometimes runs, so do a few stitches on a sample & run it thru the wash.

I had been using silk for mine and it is nearly invisible, but was having so much trouble with it breaking. So I put Sewer's Aid on it and it helped keep it from doing squirrelly things, but didn't stop the breakage. I will follow this thread and wonder what IS the best for this. Thanks for starting the thread.

Ditto what she said. A lot of it is in the look you want. Just practice with it. I've used DMC but only a strand or 2. No problems.

I use Bottom Line thread for my applique. It is stronger than DMC floss. I would use the floss to embellish the blocks though. Bottom line (pun intended) the choice is yours!

I'm doing hand applique. First try at this. The top quilt is what Im doing. http://www.bordercreekstation.com/publications.html I'm calling this an audition quilt. I want to try and stretch my skills to the next limit. I'm using a Jan Patek tutorial to work on the applique.

P.S would it be easier to use a hoop to keep the fabric straight?

For hand applique, I use the Mettler Silk thread, which is 100% cotton. Why they call it "Silk" is anybody's guess. It is a 50/2 thread. The finer the thread, the less visible it is. I have also used silk thread, which is 100 weight, and it is almost invisible. I would not recommend using DMC unless you are doing a buttonhole stitch.

For machine applique, I recommend a 40 weight polyester thread, like the Superior So Fine, if you want to see the stitching. If you don't want to see the stitching, use a monofilament thread with a 60/8 needle.

If you check, you will find out that it is called "silk finish". This is a smooth finish given to the cotton thread at the end of the manufacturing process. Without it, the thread would look more fuzzy.

If by DMC Thread you are talking about the embroidery floss commonly sold in skeins of 6 strands of floss, I would not use this for needle turn applique. I would use it for doing a hand blanket stitch applique. It all depends what look you are trying to go for. Just about any hand (or machine) applique can be done using these different techniques. If you want your stitching to not show at all, be invisible, then no, I would not recommend even using a single strand of DMC embroidery floss. For blind stitch or ladder stitch applique that is invisible (either needle turn or prepared applique units) my thread of choice is 100 wt silk. I use either YLI silk or Superior brand Kimono silk. I have never had an issue with either of these products knotting up or otherwise misbehaving and they sink into the fabric and are about as close to invisible as one can get.

The thing is I'm working on a budget and DMC is pretty cheap and a little more easy to use.

If that is the case then use what you can and what you have access to. If DMC floss is in your price range and easy for you to use, then by all means use it. You may wish to make this a blanket stitch applique instead of needle turn. It has more of a country feel to it, not as formal and is better suited to your materials.

If your heart is set on applique where your stitches are hidden then I would recommend trying to find a lighter weight thread. Even Coats and Clark dual duty commonly found in Walmart would work.

The beauty of using a super fine thread like silk is you don't have to get every color so it isn't near as expensive as you would first assume. Because the silk is so fine and sinks in you only have to buy a neutral light, medium and dark. The YLI gift set from Connecting Threads http://www.connectingthreads.com/Too...5__D20310.HTML

is all you would need to complete an entire applique quilt and have loads leftover, probably even enough for 2 more quilts

Good idea..I too scrunch things and therefore hate doing it....will dig out a hoop......

May I suggest you test the DMC to ensure the colour won't bleed ...

We've had a lot of complaints about DMC embroidery floss at the store -- with breaking and the colors running. I don't think I would use it. I use Metler Silk Finish 100% cotton, for my hand applique. It isn't silk, it's a nice smooth silk finish. Love the stuff!

I prefer silk. Itis pricey but you can buy a couple of neutral which will work. I use YLI 235 a lot. If you are going to put all that work into needle turn, use the best possible thread you can afford. You can use cotton but I don't think you should use DMC.

I, too, use YLI silk thread. Maybe the reason you're getting breaks is the length too long. Whatever you end up with, please let us know.

I use the duel duty Coats & Clark thread, single strand, matching each color. It is my favorite for this purpose. For blanket stitch I use the embroidery floss, 2 strands.

Floss isn't strong enough.If you just want it around the edge to set it off it would work for that,but I wouldn't use it to secure the edge.

Are you using Jan Patek's freezer paper method? http://janpatek.blogspot.ca/2013/07/...-tutorial.html

I use 100wt silk for my needle turn applique my personal favorite. I use floss for the buttonhole stitch. I have also used bottomline thread from YLI. I think Aurifil 60 wt 2 ply cotton would work as well. The thickness of the thread matters as the wt will not sit flat in the seam edge as you turn. Is there a specific reason that you want to use floss instead of thread for the applique? When I teach applique I show them how to use the silk and then let them use what they want to it is your project. You are the one you have to please. Luann

I have used Aurifloss for some raw edge applique with a running stitch or blanket stitch, but I wouldn't really use it for turned edge applique. It will add bulk and you won't get a nice even edge -- especially if you ever plan to wash it. I like using Aurifil 50 wt (I don't think it comes in a 60wt, but a 50/2 Aurifil is the rough equivalent of a 60/3 in another brand), or YLI silk, but if you're trying to save money, I'd suggest picking one grey colored Gutermann and one cream colored Gutermann either cotton or poly thread. Those two colors will blend well enough with lights & darks that if you're really pinching pennies you can make it work. Ideally, you would match the color of each piece of applique, but if it were my quilt and I had a choice between 5 colors of floss or 2 colors of cotton thread, I'd pick the thread every time.

I use silk thread for hand appliqué and Aurifil for machine appliqué. However, I recently finished a Frozen​ quilt that had 22 large appliquéd snowflakes. I did not want the stitching to show so I used my #100 Kimono Silk Thread that I use for hand appliqué and a #60 Microtex needle. The stitching was almost invisible and I had no problem with thread breaking. I used Aurifil in the bobbin. Best wishes with whatever thread you use.

I belong to the ..'it's your quilt, use what you want' club.
Why not, use what you have and what you want.

I wouldn't recommend DMC floss. The DMC floss made in recent years is of poor quality (colors run, thread deteriorates, etc.). A few years ago we had a speaker who did beautiful embroidery tell us it was because of WalMart constantly wanting a cheaper and cheaper product from them. She recommended Prescensia (sp?) for embroidery now.

When doing applique on the machine I use silk thread or cotton, depends what the quilt is ie baby quilts I use cotton thread because of the high washing it will receive. Wall. Hanging invisible or silk difficult to wash at certain temps.

Hand work I love silk or cotton again.

I think teachers in class are often pushed into one thread type by the location of their class. They are helping to sell the thread.

I use DMC machine embroidery thread, not floss, for needle turn by hand. It is 50wt. I only use light green and gray, dark green and gray. They become any color, it is amazing. A spool lasts a long time (years). Do u like how your work looks more than the teacher's? That would be my deciding factor.

Usually piece with DMC too, but finding they it is harder to find cones. Most stores are starting to carry Aurifil. Liked piecing with the Aurifil. So will see how that works for needle turn after DMC is gone.

I have appliqued with DMC embroidery floss and the colours have been fast and held up to washing. If your stitches are neat and your tension even, you should be just fine. I do understand silk is the best, however, if DMC is what you have, go right ahead. Why not do a little practice piece and see how you go....just a little table mat/coaster ..... wash it a time or two and see how it holds up.

DMC does make embroidery thread on spools.

http://www.harriethargrave.com/DMC-M...-50-2-p24.html

I've used it for embroidery before.

I don't see why you couldn't use 2 strands of floss for applique, it would be easy to match the floss to the fabrics. If you're like me, I have lots of floss left over from my embroidery days, so it would put my "stash of floss" to good use. I would test for whether or not the floss will run - I ruined a fairly complicated cross stitch piece when I washed it and the red floss ran, ruining all that effort.

I have embroidered for many years and have three plastic cases full of DMC thread - at one time every color they had which was over 300. I have never had any DMC thread run. When I do hand embroidery I do a blanket stitch so I want my stitches to show. I've been making embroideried baby quilts for my grandbabies for over 20 years with no problems. In fact, I thought DMC advertised their thread was colorfast.

I watched half the video.

I use freezer paper method but leave it on. I don't understand why you would cut it and then trace about it and remove it. If I am working with a small piece, I would trace directly onto the fabric.

I use the threads mentioned YLI silk 100wt and Mettler 60 or 50.

I am relearning hand embroidery and have not had any problems with DMC floss. I wouldn't recommend it for applique, unless someone is doing a blanket stitch or a stitch they want visible.

I needle-turn hand applique and have for several years. I always use a thin 2-ply thread either 50 or 60 weight. I hold my work in my hands to sew to work the needle. I'm curious how one would hand applique with a hoop.

I do some needle-turn applique but mostly raw edge with a blanket stitch using embroidery floss and I too, am curious how you would do it in a hoop.

If I do had applique, I use a q snap, pull it tight. But before I use the DMC, I vinegar wash it to set the color. i've been in the Embroidery guild for years, so even if i do a sampler, with red or black thread, I set the color with a vinegar was. Use a sharp needle (maybe a 9), and blanket stitch.

For machine, I do whatever color, blanket stitch or satin stitch.

Could you explain how you hand applique using a hoop please? I have to scrunch mine in my hand to turn under the edges with my needle and do corners, points, etc. Thank you.