Ok, at the risk of sounding dumb and not really caring.. I am going to try to applique using the freezer paper method. What happens to the freezer paper once you sew it inside? (this is what the video on youtube shows?).. when you wash it does it stay the same? disolve? become a big lump? inquiring minds. I think it was the cuttingthreads applique lesson I watched. And having to go out and get freezer paper.. is it easy to figure out which is the "waxy" side? on the reynolds site it says plastic freezer paper.. is it plastic? or is that a whole different type of kitchen freezer paper than what they showed? I would rather figure this out now than AFTER I make something. Then it would be a DUMB should have thought of asking question. Thanks!

If you are sewing on the paper, you need to remove it after you sew the seems. Just like regular paper piecing.

The video shows: using it to cut your template. Then taking it and placing it on the back of your fabric, folding your fabric over the edge and pressing down onto the paper .. I didnt see how she was removing the paper if she did.

can you post the utube link?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljl_O2aOT1M
connecting threads is the tutorial

Did you watch it all the way thru? They cut out the back and pull out the freezer paper at the end. I would take it off before I put it down and I don't usually cut out the back at the end, but many people do.

Yes, it's quite apparent which side is waxy, and which isn't - very flat and not as shiny.

After you've stitched the applique down, you would cut behind the applique, leaving what would equal a 1/4 "seam". Then you can get to the paper to remove it. You don't want to leave that paper inside of a quilt...it's not going to disintegrate.

It show the women removing the paper at the end of the video.... :)

ok plan B, that is something that would probably not thrill me and if I snipped a stitch I would be really unthrilled. Everyone says not to use fusible on hand stitching as its too hard. Then how do you get that piece to stay in place flat while you stitch around it.. just incredibly slow stitching?

ps thanks for the info I thought I had finished it or maybe just watched too many and forgot which was doing what I must have viewed over a dozen.. so many different ways. Glad I didnt invest in the freezer paper

Use the freezer paper but remove it before sewing. Press again and turn it over. Put very small drops off elmers in the seam allowance, place it on the quilt and heat set with your iron. It will wash out, won't gum up your needle, and it is cheap :D:D:D

The freezer paper is really easy...just try it. Don't be afraid...it's easy peasy, promise!!

OOOh, nice link. Thanks for all the additional tips, also board members.

I don't do it by hand but when I do what little applique that I have done, and if I don't have any fusible web, I use a little spray adhesive.

This is what I would do too.

[ Then how do you get that piece to stay in place flat while you stitch around it.. just incredibly slow stitching?[/quote]

you can eithe baste it in place or use applique pins to pin in place, which is what I do.

The freezer paper is super easy and super cheap as well. Its about $5 for a humongous roll and there are so many other things besides quilting you can use them for. I wrap pork chops and chicken for the freezer, let my kids draw on the oversize paper, Ive used it for cookies coming out of the oven. There's 100 things you can do, also....for applique...instructions are right on the box of the reynolds brand freezer paper.

If you don't want to snip the back to get the freezer paper out, you can sew around 80%, more or less, of the appliqued piece, then pull out the paper through the small gap you have yet to sew down. Hope that helps.

Iron the freezer paper template to your shape. Then paint starch on the 1/4 fabric around the freezer paper, then turn the fabric to the freezer paper and press until dry. Remove the freezer paper and you have the perfect turned appliqué shape to stitch in place.

I use freezer paper for all of my applique. I have cut a slit in the back of the foundation fabric and pulled out the frezer paper, I have also cut all the back away except for a little less than 1/4 in., and I have pulled it out before taking my last few stitches. It all seems to work. I do prefer just cutting a small slit and pulling out the paper.

I did my sunbonnet sue this way, removing the freezer paper before I appliqued but I didn't use glue. Wish I would have thought of that!! Would have been easier. I saw one method which I'm going to use next, which is to make a template out of the freezer paper without the seam allowances, iron it to the right side of the fabric and then cut around the fabric making sure to leave enough for seam allowances, leave the freezer paper on but fold the fabric under and then sew on your applique that way, remove the freezer paper that's just sitting on the top when you are done sewing the fabric. I think I saw that on a blog somewhere..hope that makes some sort of sense!
Evelyn

I have used freezer paper lots of times. I press around it, hand sew the item most of the way down, then slide out the paper and finish sewing. The advantage (or dis-advantage) of being self taught is that you get to make everything up as you go along and find what works best for you.

I saw one method which I'm going to use next, which is to make a template out of the freezer paper without the seam allowances, iron it to the right side of the fabric and then cut around the fabric making sure to leave enough for seam allowances,
Evelyn[/quote]

This is how I cut out my applique pieces. i then remove the paper and pin fabric in place. I do needle turn so I don't press under any seam allowance.

There are some glues out there as well.. my friend did an applique recently and cut around some horses to put in centre of some blocks she used the glue and stitched around it worked very well and not at all bulky . I am presently working with freezer paper.. but not gotten any farther than ironing the pieces on to it. I like the idea of taking the freezer paper out first..I think I will try that as opposed to cutting it out later.

If you are sewing it under the applique piece to the background you need to remove it after finishing the piece. Cut a small slit in the background fabric to remove the freezer paper. Remember to keep stitches off the paper when sewing.

I find the best way is to starch the edges (using a small brush or q tip with liquid starch) and iron over the paper. remove the paper and then sew.

OH starch .. cool idea !! THANKS :)

I like to use a glue stick; less messy. And It doesn't gum up the works. Just a dab here and there on the piece you want to applique`. Was it Brylcream that said " A little dab'll do ya"? Yeah-go girl. Freezer paper is the way!

Fabulous tips ;) Thank you all I am less afraid of doing that quilt now.. but I have to go to work today !!!! :( poo ..

I wouldn't dink around with the freezer paper ...

Fusible web (double fusible webbing) is not hard to applique through, but all you are going to do is a blanket stitch, or it can't be done with invisible stitches.

Another fusible is only fusible on one side. You can create a fusible applique, do the invisible stitch if it is preferred. You copy the pattern on to the fusible, put your fabric right side facing the glue side of the fusible (forget the iron for a minute <g>)
Stitch RIGHT ON THE LINE ... cut 1/8 inch or more seam allowance and then cut a slit in the back so you can turn everything right side out.
Right side out is: The right side of the fabric facing out and the GLUE side of the fusible facing out ... now, what you have is a fusible figure that you iron in place on your block and the choice of either doing a blanket stitch all around OR invisible stitching as your choose.

I just watched the video and you rip out the paper after you sew your piece on. it shows cutting away a piece behind the appliqued piece and pulling the paper out.

Once you have sewn your piece on, you cut away the back of the fabric, inside the seams of course, and pull the paper out. That's how we were taught in class using freezer paper.

Hope that helps.

I watched the tutorial just now and at the end, after appliqueing the piece by hand or machine, she turned it over and cut a small piece out of the back fabric. Then she pulled the paper piece out. This was at the very end of the tutorial.

I have been working on an applique project. I'm using a blanket stitch, and the freezer paper was extremely difficult to remove. I would only use freezer paper if I'm doing satin stitch or some other very short stitch.

This is what I do too, but I stitch most of the way around the appliqued piece, and when I have about 4 to 5 more stitches left to do, I use a pair of hemostats and loosen the freezer paper from the applique, then grab the paper with the hemostats and just pull it out. Almost like using forceps for birthing... :| I really don't like to cut the back out behind the appliqued piece, unless I have several layers being appliqued one on top of another and it gets too bulky.

I use freezer paper to do hand applique all of the time. It is my favorite method. I cut the freezer paper template, iron it on the back of the fabric. Cut around the template, leaving a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance. I use my needle to turn under the seam allowance and start stiching. I gives me a crisp, smooth edge to stitch. When I get about an inch from where I started, I take tweesers and loosen the freezer paper from the fabric after I have finger pressed under the seam allowance. I remove the freezer paper and continue stitching on the finger pressed line. I have taken a number of classes on hand applique but I always seem to go back to this method. I haven't done machine applique yet; but since I have a new "sewing computer", I am anxious to try it. I will most likely use some type of fusible web under the fabric when I get around to doing the machine version.

I am just beginning to REALLY use applique - I have done machine applique in the past and love the one sided fusible webbing - sew right sides together, small slit in the webbing and turn it right side out - iron it on and sew around. I have used freezer paper one other time but look forward to using it again - outlining the pattern and cutting 1/4 inch larger and folding under. I do like the thought of pulling it out rather than slitting the fabric... thanks so much for all methods!! This is very helpful!

This makes sense to me !! :)> I will try it this wway thanks.