Appliquing stems
 

Help! I'm not sure if I need to applique these, or if I can use piping or just take a 1-inch strip of fabric folded in three to make the stems / vines.

Here's what I am doing ... I have the pattern, and it just says to applique them - haha ... not very helpful! Any ideas - besides hand-applique - I won't do that!

I think if you are working by machine only your best bet is to make bias stems. You sew a bias strip of fabric into a tube then you can use special bias bars, or heat resistant wire ties (which you can pick up in any auto parts store) in the width you want your stems to be to turn your seam to the back of the stem which will be against your background fabric. I would use elmers washable school glue to adhere them while you sew them down. You need to make them on the bias because stems usually have curves in them to make them more visually interesting.

Here is a tutorial but only one of many on the internet. https://lynetteandersondesigns.typep...y-entry-3.html

You can use a bias strip folded in half. Machine stitch 1/4 inch from folded side. Trim the raw edges a bit. Then press folded edge over your trimmed side and stitch close to the fold

I was trying to add a picture and the phone rang, and it timed out ... this is what I have

Thanks for that cjsews! I'd never heard of that technique before. Will certainly try it!

Thanks for this ... next question - how would you sew it down? zigzag stitch? or one seam on each side?

After looking at the gorgeous quilt I would follow the instructions on creating the stems. Other methods my not give you the results you are seeking. I know it is a lot of work for just the stems but the finished quilt will be worth the efforts. I would however secure them with Elmer's School Glue before I started the applique.

There are no instructions lol - that's why I am asking - it just says to applique the stems - not very helpful at all! For me, appliquing the stems means putting fusible applique on them - but I don't think that's what should happen!

Thanks!

they wont' move on you much of you do the main folded part on one side as suggested, then machine stitch holding that part out of the way, then stitch that down by hand. can slip stitch if necessary. Watch some videos. Lovely quilt!!

Here's how I like to do bias stems. You can also sew the first half on by machine, then do the rest by hand. I've found it doesn't take that much longer to do by hand, though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faJ2K4Ynsiw

I’ve used this method before too...I also have a couple different sizes of Clover bias tape makers and hey make great stems which can either Nobel machine sewn or hand sewn onto your project.

If they are curvy, you should use bias strips, but if they are short or straight, using the straight grain will be fine. I cut mine around 1" and fold them in thirds as you mentioned. I iron them well (a dab of glue helps hold the flaps down) and either hand applique (not difficult - just like sewing binding only a little finer) or use a regular sewing machine stitch in matching thread on each side. You can go wider or thinner than 1".

Clover bias tape makers are wonderful - a worthwhile investment - easier to use than bias bars in my opinion. A little bit of glue and then appliqué. I prefer to hand appliqué but there’s no reason you cannot machine sew down like you do the flowers and leaves. Lovely quilt.

I've tried machine sewing them and hand sewing - both are awful LOL ... I'm done with it for now ... might give it to someone who wants to finish the stems off and they get a nice lap quilt in the process for all their hard work!