Starting on my first needle turn applique project
 

I watched the Missouri star Quilt Company tutorials on needle turn applique. I decided to go ahead and order the kit and try it out. The kit is here:

http://www.missouriquiltco.com/kits/...uilts-inc.html

I am hoping that I enjoy this process.

The video tutorials made the whole process seem so easy. We shall see!

That is so cute! I took a class at the City Quilter called something along the lines of aplique without tears. We cut out templates out of freezer paper and then ironed them onto the back of the fabric. We cut out the fabric 1/8 or 1/4" bigger than the template and then folded the edges over rhe freezer paper and pressed with iron. Once the edges were turned over we removed the freezer paper and were ready to start the aplique. Good luck!
By the way, I ran out last night to a horribly overpriced LQS and got myself an aplique kit just to find out it is not needle turn but fusible. I was maaaaad!

Are the applique pieces precut? If you have to cut your applique pieces out, all is not lost. Just add the 1/4" seam allowance when you cut and you can still needle turn.

I've been watching those tutorials, too, and I am going to order the kit. I've been afraid to try applique, but I agree that these tutorials are great!

Needle turn is not as hard as i thought. However, my DM gave me the Nancy Chong video from Pacific Rim quilts and it is incredible. Slow, precise and logical directions with perfect results. I have fallen in love with needle turn appliqué.

I was wondering what you would pick up! I really can't wait to hear about the stores there. Hopefully, you'll be able to salvage the kit. Again, applique is something that I seem to have had an irrational fear about. Kind of like the flying geese. I don't know why, but in my mind I thought that you had to scoop the 1/4" under with the needle as you stitched. So silly!

That's not silly, that's EXACTLY what "needle-turn" appliqué is. You must have seen someone somewhere using this technique! Thankfully, there is more than one way of doing appliqué. You can fuse it; you can stitch the raw edges with a buttonhole stitch or a satin stitch; you can turn under the appliqué seam allowances and starch them, then hand or machine stitch. No rules except have fun and enjoy the process!

I picked up McKenna Ryan's Hanging in the Hood from Home Tweet Home collection. Some pieces are so intricate and narrower than 1/4", such as bird feet, so it is impossible to turn them under. They must be fused. Live and learn I suppose. People at the LQS are nice but the prices are outrageous!!! So, i found a walmart, got a sticker shock there too ($2.50 for a poopy fat quarter which is $.99 in the US), and bought a jelly roll instead. All is well in my universe now. I have just finished 1600 top. I will NEVER complain about our LQS prices ever again. Good luck with your appliqué. You will get addicted. It is calming and portable. By the way I am horrified of flying geese. Maybe you can teach me when I come back from this land of prohibitively expensive fabric.

I love needle turn applique. So fun to do. Takes practice to get your stitches to be just so, but I'm wondering if this Missouri Star kit could be used as a wool project. I love their kit pattern and would do one of each if I thought it could be done in wool as well as cotton.

Take it slowly, be kind to yourself and remember that only practice makes it easy. I used to be the person who said "if god wanted me to sew by hand, the machine wouldn't have been invented." Hmm...fast forward to about eight years ago when a friend showed me her method and I am a convert. I do needleturn applique like a fiend now.

"I picked up McKenna Ryan's Hanging in the Hood from Home Tweet Home collection. Some pieces are so intricate and narrower than 1/4", such as bird feet, so it is impossible to turn them under. They must be fused. Live and learn I suppose. "
Don't let a pattern dictate your method. I needle-turn applique a lot and find embroidery stitches look better on these tiny pieces better than trying to turn-under such narrow pieces. I've done several methods, traditional turn-under-as-you-go, templates with starch and iron, and combinations. A wooden toothpick dipped in water is a tool I cannot do without. It tucks those stubborn edges under, smooths out unwanted "points", tucks under frayed threads, really sharpens inside angles, etc. Good luck with your project!

Hi, newbie here with first post. I've ordered this kit too, may take a while to arrive, I live in Ireland. The tutorials were fab although I did find some of the first one hard to understand, so I may be back in touch to ask for your help :)

The pattern definitely can be done in wool on cotton. I am actually thinking of doing another one in wool as well. It would be very cute in wool.

I luv needle turn appliqué ... Started about 3 yrs ago ... Going to start the Baltimore Christmas quilt 2013 .... Would luv to find the Baltimore Halloween at a reasonable price ....

Have to agree with all of this post - slowly slowly and enjoy

Hi Roisinom! Glad that you found us. I'm looking forward to hearing how you do with your project. It is alot of fun. We're all here to help as much as we can!

I remember seeing McKenna Ryan many years ago when she was on Simply Quilts. It was when Storybook Farm first came out. I always loved that quilt but it is way too fussy for me. I loved that she used all different batiks.

Yes, we'll do flying geese when you come home. You'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was at how easy they are!

Thank you for the warm welcome & here is the first question. Looking at the picture of the project, I'm going to have to buy some new thread for this. Are there any particular brands/weight of thread that you could suggest? I have 2 spools of 100 weight YLI silk which looks perfect for fine stitches but the wrong colour. I also have 30 weight guterman silk but that looks very thick. Any thoughts/suggestions? TIA, Ro

I began an applique pattern last night. Been a couple of years and yes I did it all backwards thinking I knew best. Stick to instructions not you mind.

I recommend buying one of those assortment of bobbins of Bottom Line thread. It's a finer thread (60 wt) and sinks into the fabric just like silk does. There is PLENTY on the bobbin for applique. It's what I use for hand applique and it's absolutely wonderful. Some stores have them in the donuts, or you can purchase directly from Superior's website.

https://www.superiorthreads.com/medi...00x300_q85.jpg

Exactly! The MSQC tutorial shows a few different types of applique, not just needle-turn, and whatever works for you is the right one! I prefer needle-turn (with no freezer paper, glue or hot irons), but there are plenty of methods out there. Enjoy the process!