Steam a Seam vs. Wonder Under
 

What is your opinion? Which is best to use for raw edge applique on a quilt?

I use Steam-a-Seam 2. I think that it works very nicely and is very light.

Are you going to be stitching around the edges to secure? if not wonder under is not a good choice. Wonder under is a good choice if you plan on stitching to secure , its lighter and less rigid than steam a seam or even Heat and bond lite.
If you are not planning on stitching to secure , Steam a Seam is better ( but check to make sure you get the right one). It has a better hold than Heat and Bond Heavy.

to me wonder under leaves it stiff, i use steam a seam lite, i don't trust any of it not to be stitched around

I am going to be doing a blanket stitch. I have always used Wonder Under 805 (the lighter one) but have never tried the others. I was wondering if they were lighter. I am making 4 of these Kitty Ballerina quilts for my grandaughters for Christmas and I want something easy since I will be making so many of them at once.

http://quiltbug.com/patterns/ballerina-kitties.htm

I would suggest using MistyFuse and simply doing a straight-stitch close to the edge of the appliques. MistyFuse leaves the applique very, very soft and is unnoticeable. You can Google for more information about it.

The question is rather like asking what's better, milk chocolate or dark chocolate. :) However, I do agree with Prism, Misty Fuse is the sheerest and changes the hand of the fabric least. Here are some comparisons of the types.
http://www.susanbrittingham.com/fusible_web.html

Great info, Thank you!

I glanced over the fusible web website and just wanted to mention that you can add a paper backing to Misty Fuse. Just iron it between two sheets of parchment paper, then peel off one of the sheets.

This is a great thread...I am making a memorial quilt for my husband's niece, her son was KIA in Afghanistan in Sept. 2010. It is a wall hanging--flag with a silhouette of a soldier kneeling at a fallen comrade's grave. I was not looking forward to sewing the silhouette down. Do you think it would be O.K. to fuse it down since it won't be washed often?

have you given any thought to the new featherlite from heat-n-bond? super light, but still gives you the paper backing if you need it!

I used steam a seam lite and it was great. You can't tell there is anything under the design.

Steam a seam Lt. with Button hole stitch.

Here's one with a silhouette I did a while ago. I used Wonder Under805. It was a little stiffer than I would like but it has been washed and held up really well. Just remember to mirror image your silhoutte.

I am making bed quilts so looking for something a little bit softer.

I have had very bad experiences with heat and bond and batiks. There is some kind of reaction between the two and the heat and bond shows thru onto the batiks. I thought at first it was a reaction with the residual chemicals in the batiks and the heat and bond.. but washed the batiks first and still had the "reaction". I ruined a piece using heat and bond on just the perimeter of the applique , you could cleary see every place the heat and bond was once it was ironed into place. This did not show up immediately .. but it was still very obvious that is was there. I did everything I knew to try to get it out , and thought everytime I had gotten it... but then would iron the piece to smooth it out and there it was again. A very expensive lesson on alot of batiks and the hours of effort gone.

I am delighted to see this topic. I come to quilting from a background with extensive hand applique and am realizing that I need to learn from experts on this topic. Thank you all.

I have had nothing but bad luck with heat and bond/light.....I now use Steam-a-Seam and so far am happy with it! I used to use Wonder Under, but my LQS does not handle it. I always liked the WU