Need help - turned applique is showing seams thru the front
 

Hi

I am hoping someone can tell how me how to solve this. I did applique once as part of a challenge and now I am trying it on another quilt that I am making from scratch (no pattern). In the challenge we used Heat & Bond, but I wasn't so good as stitching down the edges. Since this quilt isn't going to be washed, I thought I would try the turned edge method. I watched many videos and practiced on a sample. My final fabric which is Joann's solid color broadcloth, treated with Bubble Jet since I printed on it (also my first time using the Bubble Jet but that part seemed to go well, just not sure that has an effect). When turning under I used Niagara starch to press the seams, using a freezer paper template. The applique shaped is just a circle, but that means those folded under seams are excessive underneath. I thought the seams were showing thru a bit the front, but might be OK when I added the shape to the background. I didn't want to sew to the background, so I used the Heat & Bond. When I ironed the Heat & Bond to the finished circle, it looks horrible. The Heat & Bond just enhanced all those little wrinkles in the underneath seams. I don't think this piece is usable now.

So, does Heat & Bond not go well with turned under seams? Did the Bubble Jet or the Niagara contribute to the issue? What do you suggest I do to get a nice circle? I also liked the finished look of the turned under method vs stitching over the top of my circle.

Thank you

Michele

You say it looks horrible and you can see the seam allowance through the applique. Can you post a picture?

If the seam allowance is showing through the applique because it's a lighter color than the background, can you cut the background out?

If it's not the seam allowance that's showing through, but more like uneven folds and gathers, maybe try trapunto, which is a small piece of batting placed between the applique and the background. This will hide the gathers and give definition to the applique. Google "how to trapunto", there will be a lot of how-tos out there.

Starch and heavy pressing can also leave an impression of what is under the fabric. If you spritz the area with water and let it dry without pressing, do the marks still show through?

I am not sure I understand why you used heat and bond with needle turned appliqué.

Hi & Welcome!

Stitching applique does get easier with practice. I found that starting on a scrap piece for a few minutes helps me get the rhythm just right.

With turned applique, typically, there is no fusible added on the fabric. Cut and stitch it down. You can use a glue stick to hold the applique in place on the background.

Second, it may be the product. Did you use Heat n Bond or the Heat n Bond lite? The LQS ladies recommend the lite product. Another one to consider is misty fuse. There are other light fusible available too.

I would still stitch it down onto the fabric.

Best wishes with your project. Again, welcome to the group.

I don't do applique, but my mother does and this is how she does turn edged applique.

Here are photos of front and back. It's hard to get a good photo of how bad the folds are showing thru the front, but those wrinkles you see are extremely noticeable in real life. As is the noticing of the folded under seam because the center of the circle is much lighter. Any fabric other than the same yellow for the background shows differently through the center where it's single thickness. It's like the fabric is too thin/transparent. I didn't notice this problem on my test sample which was different fabric (darker, stiffer). I'm also attaching a photo of the back - the transparency is a bit more noticeable in this photo. I know the folds aren't perfect, but even perfect folds would be showing the folds on the front side. This is Symphony Broadcloth from Joann's. I am thinking maybe it's just the fabric and maybe I can try a white cotton circle as a liner between the front and the folded under edge (like a lining)?

I used the Heat & Bond after I folded the edge under because I thought that would be easier and neater to attack to a background (with my poor stitch around the edge of an applique skill). I know it's unconventional but this is a not to be daily used/washed item, so thought would be OK.

I am also making other circles for this quilt that will be button, and was going to try the trapunto to get them to puff up a little, but figured I needed to master this one first as a regular flat applique. The rate I'm going, I don't see puffed circles happening any time soon!

I did use a good amount of starch on the fold and always do a lot of pressing as it generally improves straigtenness & flatness for me. Nothing to lose at this point, so I'll go spritz it up with some water.

Ok, a tip for the freezer paper method.

Fold the edges around the circle of fr**eezer paper template. You need to clip the seam allowance almost to the fold line. Don't go past the fold line crease into the body of the circle. The snips in the seam allowance allow the seam allowance to spread out and stack on top of one another. It should eliminate the wrinkles.

A technique that may be a solution for you. Just incorporate using the circles.

https://quiltingtutorials.com/tutori...el-lotus-quilt

Ok now I see what you're talking about, although quite honestly I think once you get the whole quilt together it really won't be that noticeable.

In the future, you can mitigate that problem a little bit by making your folds smaller, more like gathers. Here is a video that I hope will show you what I'm talking about. She's trying to sell her tools (which are very nice and I like them, but you can use a stiletto, a sharpened chopstick, or whatever works) but the concept of what she's doing is what I think might click for you.

https://youtu.be/uK7f-D47vzI?t=1890

Welcome to this board. Great people here.

I agree, the turned fabric should be much narrower. If you don't like the wrinkles you already have, take your scissors and cut off the 'flap' of the wrinkles.
Welcome from western NY and happy quilting :)

Thank you for the help. I watched Jenny's video with the fusible on the back and I hadn't seen that so think I will give it a try as that helps me 'stick' the applique down once done. My folded under edges were 1/4". I measured accurately when I cut it out so not sure I can do much thinner there or I have nothing left. I also was looking thru my fabrics to see about making a lining and I noticed all my solids, regardless of color or brand, need 3 layers of fabric before they become opaque. However, any of my prints I checked do not have this problem and a folded under section would not be noticeable. It must be something about solids.... So I think I will try 2 layers of 'lining' inside the circle. I'm also going to try a thin batting layer as that also provides the opaqueness and I wanted rest of my buttons a little puffy anyway. I will post another photo when I have something that looks good.

You might lifting the seam allowance again. Clip the seam allowance almost to the fold. Then re-press.

I don't have much more to share, except that I think what seems like a big deal will get much less important in the context of a big quilt. Also, that piece shows the seams as you're holding it up in the air, however, I wonder if they would show after it's placed on the quilt with quilt top, batting and backing behind it. But stuffing it with a little thin batting would be cute, so go for it! :thumbup: If doing so gets too hard, I'd definitely see if the seams will disappear with the other layers behind it.

With some lighter colored pieces of applique, I sometimes cut the same shape of the finished piece out of white or cream fabric. Then I tuck it inside the colored piece to hide the seam allowance. A piece of thin batting or flannel would also be possible, giving it a trapunto look.

There are several videos out there that explain prepared edge appliqué. The interfacing method suggested would probably be easiest for your project though.

What about just using the same yellow fabric as the lining, cut to follow the shape of the seam allowance, then press it in place. That way you will have 2 layers of yellow that should look like one piece when finished.

I have always clipped a notch in the turned under seam so it fit together in an almost smooth full seam. I didn't explain that very well but I hope you can understand.
Lynda

Hi, thanks all. I have remade the piece with 2 extra layers of the yellow inside. I ironed 2 sheets of freezer paper on top of 2 pieces of the yellow and then cut the paper template so all pieces were exactly same. Then I turned edge under the same way I did before. Looks so much better. I also trimmed back inside turned under seam and this time clipped some notches as well so it lays flatter. Last time the Heat and Bond I ironed on the back (to attach to the background without sewing) seemed to accentuate the problems of both the wrinkles & transparency so I may try hand sewing to the background first- it looks good now and I'm afraid of that Heat & Bond![ATTACH=CONFIG]620037[/ATTACH] Attaching photo to show both side by side.

Also thanks to Rhonda for the video on the interfacing method. I tried it on the applique circles that I wanted puffy and it was perfect as it allowed me to have a pocket to stuff a bit of fluff inside. I made a practice circle and it stuck nicely to a background so I am happy I can just iron those down!

Michele

Wow, that's quite the improvement