the only reason I asked was because this is ALL she has ever used..she was not even sure there is other stuff out there..(she is 78) and we have NO quilt shop here, so I was going to look for other stuff at the quilt show on Friday. I have lots of different threads and now have the YLI silk and straw needles like she suggested using...but I also have other threads she is trying out right now...so far she loves the Masterpiece had me order her one of the "bobbin collections"!

All good suggestions. I love the fine threads and straw needles for hand applique'. My work improved greatly when I started using them. Good luck, you will love it once you learn. (I made my avatar, all hand applique and hand quilted)

Have a wonderful time & don't be fearful. Enjoy the process. I love hand work as a break from sitting behind the machine. Something to do while watching TV in the evening.

That's the way I learned. Silk thread is wonderful - it just melts into the fabric making it totally invisible. I also use straw needles. Very fine. Just relax and enjoy. It's alot of fun. Maybe a bit frustrating at first (as in most things!) but once you get the hang of it, it's very soothing. Also a great portable project.

Silk thread does really do a nice job of disappearing. I only have two grays that I used when I did applique, one dark and one light, obviously using the light for lighter fabrics, etc. But of course as others said, you can use whatever you want or have on hand if it works for you.

what did you all do for your first applique project?

I would love to do this quilt..and I KNOW..it is not meant to be a first project, but maybe just one block????

http://www.p3designs.com/gallery/

I use straw needles #11 because they fit my hand better that applique needles. I get better stitches. I also use 60 wt cotton thread. I like the silk, but couldn't keep my needle threaded. I would certainly use what the lady uses. Later you can figured out what works best for you. After I started needle-turn applique, that is all I have been doing. I love it. Enjoy learning.

You should use the thread and needles she suggests for the class. Just match the thread to the applique not the background. you'll find your stitches will improve as you go. This first block may just stay a block and then you'll move onto a quilt. Relax and enjoy!

Wow how fun, a new learning experience.. have fun and report back :)

I agree with your teacher! silk thread is great to use.. it just melts right into the background. The needles are grand too. Good luck with your appliqueing :)

On keeping the thread on the needle.... I tie a knot at the eye of the needle.. then there is not problem!

Thanks. I'll try that.

Your most welcome.

I LOVE needleturn applique! I use the foxglove straw needles and YLI silk thread for all of it. The thread is a little more expensive than regular cotten but I ony use it for applique so it lasts a long time. Also, I only use 2 colors! The light beige and kind of a khaki brown. I've done more than 2 queen quilts using a spool each of these two colors or less so it's really a minimal investment for thread. All the comments about how well it hides are absolutely correct. I can do needle turn applique in the car and not a single stitch will show. There is another brand the local quilt shop carries and I bought it in a pinch and promptly gave it away! It was much heavier that the YLI. Only brand I'll buy again.

Ditto for me. I agree. I don't like the silk, but many of my friends use just silk. Also if you're going for heirloom, silk will bite into the cotton after some years. So to each his own. Play for a while and see what suits you best.

I just took a class and our instructor had us buy DMC 50 weight cotton thread. I may try the silk thread. I do like the straw needles.

Straw needles are thin and long with big eyes, So easy to use! and silk thread sews just like a whisper through butter!
Those tools just make the best looking appliques. Do not be frightened by applique. Just try it, with a tutorial here or in a class, and take it slowly at first, a stitch at a time!
You will be amazed at how soon you will be fast after a bit of careful practice! I really enjoy appliquing fanciful flowers on blocks!
( five appliqued blocks + four plain but coloful blocks make the center of a wall hanging!)
You can use whatever needles you have, and whatever thread you have and whatever cotton fabric you have to
make beautiful applique!
Jeannie

wish ni had someone to teach me

I would use what the teacher suggests. When I took a class on needle turn, silk thread was very hard to find so the teacher suggested we use Mettler silk finish thread. Love it!!! She also suggested we use thread magic on cotton thread for hand work.

I would say, try it her way and then go from there. I just use 60wt thread. As for straw needles, they bend too easy for me. I like shorter ones.

I really like silk thread, but only YLI brand. It just melts (disappears) into the fabric. I can understand why the straw needles, but I use sharps, usually size 9, because straw needles bend too easily for me. Whichever you use, get a good thimble or you'll wind up with a permanent hole in your finger. Good luck and happy appliqueing.

I would like to be shown how to tie the knot at the needle. That is something I haven't learn as yet and I like silk thread. Is there a tutorial on that.

I'll bet you could start with this. No kidding - if you're the kind that typically jumps into things with both feet, then go for it. :)

I'm thinking about the Baltimore Christmas, myself. :)

This is the needleturn top I'm working on now - very easy, but lots of practice with inner and outer points and convex and concave curves. I'm almost done with the blocks - only four more to do, I think. It's simple and doesn't require a lot of attention, so I have something to do while watching television.

The pattern is underneath it, if you or anyone else wants it -it's made in EQ7 from stock elements, so there are no copyright issues.

I have just started and silk thread is great because it slips through the fabric so easy and doesn't get into knots!

I have used silk thread and love it. Many needle turn appliquers have recommended using silk thread. It glides through the fabric VERY smoothly. You have to knot it onto your needle or it will come unthreaded every time you take a stitch.

Many other needle turn appliquers have said to use a good sewing machine thread: Mettler, Guterman, Aurifil, Masterpiece. These people say that the silk thread isn't as strong, and also that since you're using cotton fabric you should use cotton thread so that it all launders the same. So, I have also used Masterpiece Thread on pre-wound bobbins from Superior Threads: a "Frosted Donut" which is a round plastic bobbin holder filled with 36 colors of thread on pre-wound bobbins. This was recommended to me by several needle turn appliquers because it's so easily portable to carry with you when you're appliqueing on the go. Compared to silk thread, this thread also works well and it IS much more easily portable, but, it definitely is NOT as smooth going through the fabric. If your LQS does not carry "Frosted Donuts" you can see them and buy them online at www.superiorthreads.com.

As I've said above, the needle turn applique "experts" seem to be very divided (and also VERY opinionated) about which thread is the best to use. I'm not convinced that it matters that much.

So...I use both silk thread and thread from my "Frosted Donut". I actually prefer the silk thread because of how smoothly it glides through the fabric, so I use the silk thread at home and I use the "Frosted Donut" away from home because it is so easily portable. The fact that I use both (possibly even mixing the two on the same project!) probably horrifies the needle turn applique "experts", but that's what I've found works best for me.

As for the straw needles, the experts are again very divided and very opinionated about what needles to use. Some say to ONLY use straw needles, some say to use applique needles. Straw needles are very long and very easily bendable, much more so than applique needles. I would say try both and see which ones you like better and work for you better. The only things that matter are that it works for you, you enjoy it, and that your applique looks the way you want it to.

Hope this helps!!

Becky

My first two applique projects ran simultaneously - one was a Baltimore Album and the other was Rose Sampler Supreme. Both are still ongoing but that's because other things kept calling.

Make a loop (about 2" long) at the end of your piece of thread and thread the loop through the eye of the needle. Do not thread it past the cut end of the thread. Hold onto the eye of the needle so the thread stays put. Then put the needle thru the loop and pull tight. It's actually very easy.

I guess my response would be this...if she does great work she probably doesn't see the need to change (and I wouldn't either!). If she doesn't do great work, learn what you can from her and then continue to learn from others. Once you have the basics it's easier to broaden your horizons. I have taken classes from Elly Sienkiewicz, Jeanna Kimball, and Mimi Dietrick. I have also watched videos from the Piece 'O Cake ladies and Pearl Pereira. But the best teacher of all was practice and more practice.

Okay, I posted earlier about how to do this. Have found a you tube video but I don't know how to do the blue link thing. Google youtube how to make a silk thread knot. Lady named Angie shows what I could only describe.

I don't care for silk thread personal pref

Let her teach you how she does it using the tools she uses. You might end up with a technique you really like! If not, you can always adapt what you learned.