Puckering applique
 

I’m hoping someone can straighten me out. I’m trying to make a leaf appliqué with about 6 leaves, 5 inches tall. I’ve made a few practice pieces and can’t seem to make one of these without some type of puckering usually along the stem where leaf meets. I’m using a thin web on the back and turning inside out. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.[img]blob:https://www.quiltingboard.com/1abe3327-51f4-46e5-89aa-8fe7b45c3e7c[/img]

I tried to attach a pic and am having a hard time with it on my mobile device.

Hopefully it made sense what I’m trying to do.
Thanks again.

That’s exactly what I’m trying to do. I don’t think I clipped the edges... will try that. Thank you!!

Pic below- maybe

Before turning, clip all the corners and curves all around, almost to the stitching line, like where I have marked in red. Should make for a much neater fold.

Thank you- it looks much better. I’m planning to stitch around the inside with a straight stitch.

For the footprints, I made the with freezer paper and pressed the edges down. I used the fray stop on those where the indents are —- I’m guessing this is a preference question; how would you stitch around the footprints? I’m planning to use the machine for it.
Thanks, as always, appreciate the help.

Since this looks like it is for a child and will probably get a lot of use and washing, I would suggest, fusing down in the inner part with Steam-A-Seam Lite. Or any fusible that is machine washable and can be sewn with a sewing machine needle. You don't need anything heavy. Or you can do some actual stitching in the interior as accents.

Then, you have several choices... a straight stitch inside the edges, a small zig zag on the edge or a combination of both. A heavy blanket stitch around the edges could make the applique too stiff. My friend uses 90 or 100 wt thread and a very small zig zag and just catches the edges. You can not tell it wasn't hand done.

I think the spines on the dinosaur should be left loose, so I think sewing just inside the outside edge with a zig zag stitch would look cute.