I am having a problem with a quilt I am making for my grandson. I first pieced the whole top, and then in the squares I did applique dinosaurs. The problem is I thought that by piecing first, and appliquing after my squares would keep their edges straight. Apparently NOT. Is there a better way?

Did you do the applique stitching by hand? I use Steam a Seam2 fusible & my blocks do not get distorted in size. My Avatar is an example.

No I did them with my embroidery machine. I gather from what you have said that I need to maybe use a iron on stabilizer before I applique. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have always stitched mine on the machine first with stabilizer then pieced the top.

You may want to applique the squares first and then piece the top together.

Try starching the fabric heavily and press after it dries. Cut the squares larger, use a good stabilizer, applique and then trim to the block size. The puckering/distortion should be eliminated :D:D:D

embroidery and applique both draw up the fabric as the stitching is done- that is why we always cut our squares larger- and trim/square up when the embroidery/applique is finished-
such as-- the instructions will tell you to start with a
13 1/2" square to embroider- then it is trimmed to a 12 1/2" square to use for piecing-

Agree...cut sqs larger, use tear away stablizer, embroider, cut sqs to size, and then put together quilt top...