Questions for those who Applique
 

Although I'm going to try and switch my focus from my love of piecing to using my new (used) long arm, the fact remains that I moved more fabric than I wanted, I have a lot of novelty/hard to use fabrics but I also have a lot of basic bland (boring?) calicos and such. I'm thinking of doing projects like quick crazy quilt blocks, or string blocks, or maybe simple log cabins that can be used as backgrounds for applique.

I think once I can drive again, I should join the local quilt guild and meet up with someone who would like to work with me. There's gotta be someone out there who would love to have someone piece together the drudgery of the background, and then allow them the artistry of the applique on top of it.

Until then, what is it you would look for in the background work?? I usually press my seams open and flat with a tiny stitch. My tops/blocks are very flat and trimmed square. Larger pieces or tiny or does it really matter? The design and fabric choices would depend of course on the project.

I’ve machine appliqués large flowers and stems to Jelly Roll Race quilts. Loads of seams not pressed open. So if machine appliqués are planned just piece as usual. Hand appliqué is another matter. I oversized my blocks by an inch and trim down when machine applique is complete just in case the background distorts any during the applique portion. Using a stabilizer helps prevent this but sometimes I forget to use it. Well maybe not forget as much as laziness. I’m certainly not making award winning quilts but usually gift mine away to those needing a bit of comfort. Hopefully someone with more experience can give you more or better suggestions.

Oh, I like the idea of the large flowers over the jelly roll strips. I already can think of a lot of light greens for the race part...

I think it will be fun to collaborate with someone and maybe learn/change some things in the process. I've always appreciated applique but is not in my skill set so much.

The Jell Roll Race quilts with applique were gifted and I didn’t get photos before gifting. I used a multi colored jelly roll so it would resemble a flower garden in the background and then appliquéd long leaves, stems and flowers growing up from the bottom of the quilt. I remember the flowers being tulips but it’s been so long, they may have just been made up flowers from my imagination. LOL I do remember the first JRR quilt once done, I just didn’t like it and decided to add the flowers. It turned out well and I didn’t a few more before moving on to something else. Have fun experimenting.