Try anew needle and do not do a satianst to begin it is a harder one to tackle... a Button hole st is the one I perfer the best but I also use all kins of fancy stitches also...

Sometimes I use a finner needle and sometimes a topst needle for blanket st for I like ti use two threads at once so it really shows and look hand stitched.

A cheaper, loosley woven fabric is going to have a tendancy to fray more than a good quality, tight woven fabric. Fabric choice is important when doing applique.

I did an entire quilt applique using flannels a couple of years ago. Not sure what needle I used, but I did use Steam a Seam Lite 2. I used the blanket stitch and didn't have any problems. I did use a new needle. It was a baby quilt. I recently saw the quilt after many, many uses and washes and it still looks GREAT! I was actually surprised. I worried and fretted over it the whole time I was making it, but apparently all worry was for not. The quilt is holding up very well. Oh, and I didn't have any problems with fraying along the edges.

Someone suggested using starch. I don't recommend this because the starch will keep the Steam a Seam from fusing properly to one or the other or both your applique piece or the background. This is my experience so just my opinion. Maybe others have had other experiences. Good luck!

I was going to attach a photo, but I can't find it, Oh Well.

Am going to say smaller sharp needle.. not universal, not ballpointed, but sharp. (presuming your cottons are WOVEN cotton fabrics. And a small size... like size 11 or better yet size 9. adding fusible to the back first wouild help too. Fray check painted along the line and allowe to dry would help hold that spot together, there is a newer product from the company that makes fraycheck I think... that is softer and still holds loose threads together. I can see having some problem in some spots with some fabric but not a lot of spots and lots of fabric areas... I suspect the size and non-sharpness of the needle.... good luck hehehe

Nuther thought is to straight stitch (with small sharp needle) about 1/16 in from the edge first... then zigzag over the straight stitch close enuf to cover it up. And as someone said on page 1/2, the applique zigzags should be mostly ON the fabric with just the right-swing missing the edge a tiny bit... 3/4 or 7/8 of the width of the zigzagging should be ON the fabric. good luck, again. Sheeps

This is the method I use, except I sew to another piece of fabric, and then use a fabric glue stick for placement, and when all pieces are in place, then I sew them all down, with what ever stitch that may suit my fancy at that moment. God bless.

What if it is a small piece,say less than an inch,will this work?

I use the same method as Sharon, I use blanket stitch on the machine after ironing fusible web to applique, cut around where I want, then stitch. If you are too close to the applique, you can shred the edge a little and leave an unfinished look.

Heatn Bond Light --the purple/lavender labeled one. The red one will gum up the needle.