Raw edge appliqué tips
 

I've bit the bullet and my daughters' mermaid quilt is under way. It's my first time raw edge appliquing on something that will be washed (and fairly often at that).

Do you wonderful ladies (and gentlemen) have any suggestions for me? I've used Heat N Bond Lite for the fusable, and now I have to wrap my head around what stitch to use and what thread. I have a horizon 7700, so there is no shortage of stitch options.

I like the buttonhole stitch.

I do either the buttonhole (heirloom) or a close zig zag. I'll use whatever thread I have in the color I want. sometimes I match, sometimes I outline in black. once you get good, you could go either way. show us what you do. good luck and have fun

I usually use a satin stitch on my raw edge appliqué and I also use Heat'n Bond lite. I don't like the look of loose threads that happen when I use the buttonhole stitch.

You could always do a satin stitch or other denser decorative stitch, but then you probably should also get some tear-away stabilizer to adhere to the back of your background fabric.

I use my free motion quilting foot and zip around the edges about 1/8-1/16th from the edge. I change thread to match the applique piece. Sometimes I need to go back around!

I've used FMQ with multiple passes.....It actually goes very very fast....and I've found it holds up well.... I tend to like to use a color one shade darker to kind of show an "outline"

I use blanket stitch

Lynnie, care to post any close up pictures of some of your work? I want to do more, but the few pieces I have done I am not happy with - and I don't think I am doing them right. I would love to see some of what others have done so I can figure out where I am going wrong.

Rennie