I am in the planning stage of making a couple quilts for my married daughters.
I'd like to put their last name on each quilt.

I considered using shadow trapunto for their names but was afraid the cotton batiste might not hold up well since it'll be a quilt that will be used constantly.
I've never done trapunto.

So then I considered applique but I wonder how well the edges will hold up?
I've only done applique once so I don't really have alot of experience with it.

The quilts will have lots of washings and dryings and kids rolling around on top etc.

What d'ya think?
Has anyone made both kinds and have "statistics" for me? :D
Thanks--
Karen

Have you thought of embroidering their names?

Yes.
I could embroider their names but I thought that wouldn't hold up any better than the other 2 ways, maybe even worse?

what is trapunto?

I'm not sure about the trapunto, but either the embroidered version of applique should hold up just fine. I've done both on quilts that have been washed at least a hundred times and they are still there!

What kind of applique did you use? I really like to do needle turn but so far, I'm only doing it on wall hangings for fear that it'll rip off.

It is "stuffing your quilt"

In traditional trapunto the outline of thin shapes (imagine a stem) were sewn and a thick cord was pulled into the shape from underneath giving it that raised effect.

In modern trapunto, an extra layer of batting is added and the outline of the pattern secured through the batting. Any exess is cut away. Then the entire piece is layered with batting, backed and quilted, giving the outlined area that extra thickness.

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-tr...uilting-71255/

If you do the fuse and turn method of applique you get a finished edge and if you stitch that down with your preferred stitch it should hold up well. No worries about it fraying.

If you use cord in the trapunto you won't have to worry about it getting flattened.

I'm still a newbie to quilting but I've done a lot of other crafting.

Since applique sits on top of the quilt wouldn't it eventually start to come loose no matter which applique method used? I mean thread eventually gets old and weaker as it ages from sunlight, washing, drying etc. Also kids trying to pick at it, dogs lying on top of it. lol

Maybe there really isn't a "perfect" way to do this.
Each technique has its weak link sort of.
I'm leaning toward shadow trapunto but I have visions in my head of the batiste getting holes in it down the road.

I guess I really need to ask how well cotton batiste holds up? Its thin-ness bothers me.

Maybe I'm worrying too much. I have a bad habit of that.

I fused then zigzagged on the machine. I think needle turn is prettier, but was also afraid it would not be as sturdy.

I thought this too...

I have quilts with applique on them & they have held up well. My mom made each grandchild a quilt with lots of applique where she zig zagged around the edges. Mom wanted the quilts used & seems the fabric wore out before the stitching did.

Really? I'd never heard anyone say that before. I've always heard how brittle thread gets. Thanks!

Shadow trapunto is more for art and wall quilts. It DEFINITELY won't hold up to regular use or washing, but applique should last as long as the quilt itself. Good luck.

Really? I'm glad you mentioned that. I could be wrong, but I could swear that Karen Combs uses shadow trapunto on bed quilts. I have one of her books. I'll have to check. If you're right, then it'll at least narrow down my options to applique or embroidery. Thanks.

ooops I meant Karen McTavish

All my applique so far has been needleturn, and it holds up just fine. As long as it's stitched down well (nice stitches, not big gaping ones, etc) there's nothing to pick at. It looks like it was pieced in with the rest, no worries! And when it's quilted, it'll have even more support.

In my experience it's more likely the fabric will wear out than the thread!

When my sister and I made wedding quilts in the past, we would ask the quilter to quilt the couple's names and their wedding date into the quilt somewhere. Part of the fun for them is to try to find their names in the quilting. No worries about if it will wear out that way!
I made my DD and DSIL's wedding quilt 10 years after their wedding--I forgot to ask the quilter to put their names in the quilting--and I know my DD was disappointed in that. Don't get me wrong--she was thrilled with the quilt, but was really looking forward to their names being quilted in...

OK I guess I'll stop worrying about appliques coming loose as long as I use the correct stitching.
Thanks all.