I was reading through a magazine today, one of my older ones, and saw a quilt that was made from reverse applique. This is such a beautiful quilt I think I'd like to learn how to do it! My question is, I've only done applique with my machine, do I need to practice needle turn applique to do this?

Any suggestions from those of you out there that do this form of applique?

im realy interested to i think you can do it by machine but id be interested in knowing what more experianced quilters say

I too am interested in the answers as I have never done reverse applique before either and would like to learn.

I did it once, by machine. I used a double blanket stitch but instead of pointing the stitches towards the piece being appliqued, I directed them towards the background color. Turned out real cute.

Reverse applique can be done by hand or machine, just like regular applique. The only difference is how you layer the applique pieces. With regular applique, you cut out shapes to sew on top of a background fabric. With reverse applique, you cut the shapes out of the top fabric, leaving "holes" that you applique around, sewing the top layer on to a background fabric. If you needle turn, then you have to clip any curves to get them to fold under 1/8" or so. I've found that using pinking shears works great for appliqueing curves.

This is an easy reverse applique called Flip Flop Butterfly by fons and porter

Here are two blocks I did awhile back and really enjoyed the needle turn process but it became a UFO because I'm not sure to how to quilt it :oops:

Oops! Here's the other one

We have a lot of Hmong people around here, and they have some of the most exquisite hand work in their clothing that you've ever seen. I once bought a woman's fancy apron from her in a flea market. I was with a dear friend who had just gotten a terrible diagnosis from her doctor, and she instantly fell in love with that apron. She wore it all the time after that, and her DH said she gave it to her only daughter when DD hurried up for her final meeting.

Check this out on the Internet, you'd be surprised at what lovely hand work other, even extremely poor countries can do.

Sure do love yours, and wish that I had the talent to make some as lovely as yours. I think that I would make them in green or cobalt blue, my daughters' favorite colors.

Yes, that's how it's done.
Once you get the hang of it, you'll like the idea.

Here's my last blocks from a couple of weeks back, done by hand, needle turn.:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-113812-1.htm

And here's the finished quilt:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-114479-1.htm