Sun Bonnet Sue
 

I always liked the Sun Bonnet Sue Quilts I have seen. I found the directions too complicated so I never did one, however I came across some premade ones on EBay for a reasonable price and I took a chance and ordered them. They are beautiful and very well made. All 30's fabrics. Do you have to hand applique them or can you do it on the machine? What stitch would you use. I have some white on white I want to use for them. Any suggestions? Maybe sashing between the blocks?

I am not a hand appliquer so I do machine buttonhole stitch. Did sashing on the two quilts that I made. Good luck and have fun with them.

I would do it on the machine. The stitch would depend on the edges of the Sues. If they have been turned under, I would use heavier black thread and the blanket stitch so it would look more like 1930. If they had fusible all the way to the edges, I would use a satin or button hole stitch in colors that matched the pieces.

I made a Sun Bonnet Sue quilt a few years back with Mary Engelbreit fabric for one of my granddaughters. If I remember correctly, I used a white on white background fabric and did a machine blanket stitch. Since it was for a child, would be put to good use, and would be laundered frequently the machine blanket stitch worked out perfectly.

I love SBS also as you can tell by my avatar. I do only machine work. I fuse the applique to the fusible then to the background block. Most of the time I use some kind of stablizer under it also. I use either the applique stitch or the buttonhole stitch on my Baby Lock. I have also used a very narrow, short zig-zag stitch, whichever is easier for you to manipulate around your applique pieces.

I have used Sunbonnet Sue for all kinds of things besides quilts(bed) using machine blanket stitches with fusable and Elenor Burns method of using fuseable interfacing . In her book she uses the interfacing with the glue side sewn to rightside of piece and then slits the fuseable and turns them rightside out. This leaves no raw edges and can be hand sewn or machine sewn. My favorite book is "A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF SUNBONNET SUE". A different wall sized quilt for each month. I'm off to do Aprils'-Sue in the rain waiting for May flowers. P.S. I usually blanket stitch with black thread.








s

My machine doesn't have the blanket stitch, but it does do buttonholes. Is there some setting for buttonholes that would allow me to get what looks like a blanket stitch? I hate to think my machine was capable of it all this time and I just didn't know...

Thanks!

a zig zag stitch would work too. or a satin stitch. i've seen all sorts of stitches done. good luck and have fun.

I agree! Last year I made a SunBonnet Sue quilt for my granddaughter using fabric from dresses I had smocked for her when she was a toddler. Since I used a fusible, I used a satin stitch in matching colors. I used a tear away interfacing under the stitching which I later removed. With most other machine appliqué, I use a button hole stitch. I think either would look good.

Perhaps if you show a picture of the stitches on your machine, that people sould suggest a stitch for you to use girls. I am in full agreement about using the stablizer behind the piece while you stitch them down. It makes all the difference in the world in how they look when they are finished.