Your Favorite Applique Tips
 

Hi all! I'd really love to hear what tips you all have to share about applique -- of any kind. For instance, I'm awful at interior points (like the "cleavage" of a heart) and I'm hoping to see someone's pet trick for that. But meanwhile, here are some of mine -- even if they seem obvious, they weren't to me when I started!

Do not clip outside curves for needle-turn applique. Not clipping avoids both points and fraying.

When clipping inside curves, don't clip until you absolutely have to, when your next stitch requires it. This cuts down on fraying, too.

And just like in life, when you come to a curve, concentrate only on your next stitch. The stitches an inch away will get their turn!

Excellent tips! My best tip always helps me.....do not just jump right in. Take the time and really look things over, read instructions and tips on patterns and play with fabric choices.

My tip is to buy the best needles you can afford. Either straw needles or superfine applique needles. What an amazing difference it makes in being able to make those stitches just disappear. MJ

No joke, I've wasted a lot of time fixing mistakes. I just LOVE ripping out stitches! Said no quilter ever :)

Welcome from Maryland! Very true. What are your favorites?

Fo needleturn applique I love silk thread and superfine needles. I use 2 layers of freezer paper as a template ironed on to my piece. I then use some liquid starch applied with a paintbrush and a mini iron to press my seam allowances down. I then remove the freezer paper and stitch it down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvnqtxBeBj8
For the pesky little inner points, I use just the tiniest little bit of elmers glue just to hold those few centre threads. Don't use too much as you wont be able to stitch though it.

You know, I had read somewhere a while back about running the needle tip through a glue stick before sweeping the inner point, but I never have a glue stick (and never remember when I'm at the store). I do have a little Elmer's liquid though, I'll have to try it!

Use a wax on the thread it slides much better,
Check your thread colour carefully so it disappears into the material.
I like to star h the fabric before cutting it puts a barrier on fabric especially if you are marking the fabric for placement.
Helpful to place applique pieces onto the fabric using a Pruitt stick to hold while you sew

Oh, I love the starching before cutting tip - a great way to make sure the markings for placement come off much easier!

Thank you JulieR for mentioning those interior angle Vs...and for letting me know that i am not alone.....i just cannot seem to get them to turn out right...and actually avoid any applique that has them because i feel like they "ruin" all my hard work. Really hoping someone can give the definitive "hint" on that!!

i use glue to hold my pieces now but for those who do not like to use glue the very best tip[from Lucian Newman fogive the spelling]-==pin from underneath the work so no pin ends to catch the thread where you are working

Jenny @ Missouri Star has a four part series on applique with an applique expert. It is really worthwhile watching in my opinion.

I love using YLI silk thread. It's wonderful stuff.

this is the same way i do it

i love this tip!!!!

I'm working on my very first applique project, so I appreciate everyone's tips! I do have one of my own - don't be intimidated! I don't know why, but I was really intimidated by applique and thought it was going to be really difficult. (I'm doing needle-turn hand applique.) There are certainly challenges, but after all, it's just fabric and thread. If you mess up, take it off and start over. I'm having a lot of fun!

I love applique in all its forms. Latelly I am basting the piece before appliqueing it. It is much better than having the pins that catch your thread. I haven't tried pinning from underneath! I guess i need to try.

These are some great tips, everyone! I'm trying out a lot of them this morning - so cool. Thanks!

I always starch my fabric befgore cutting out the pieces, helps prevent fraying. I use Caryola washable markers for marking I need to do. I alos use a round wooden toothpick to roll under my seam allowance as stitching. The roughness of the wood grips the fabvric and makes turning under a breeze. The last itme I cant be without is my 3.50X magnifing glasses, so much easier when you can see what youre doing!

love the tip of pinning from the backsite!!!!
Gonna try that immediately

I glue, either with stick glue or Elmers School. Use just a tiny bit at each place. One of the neat things about using glue is you can make detailed things like hummingbird or flowers, or, in the case of one of my grandchildren, totem pole images of Raven or Eagle, etc. and get them exactly where they should be, and they'll stay until you sew. These all come completely out when washed.

Hint for grannies: help a child find a picture s/he finds exciting (not toooo detailed); use tissue paper to make templates (we don't have a printer); go to your stash and choose bright plain colors and let them choose (provide guidance when necessary because you want the child to really like the outcome; teach how to cut the patterns, (for really young or unsure children it can be better to not have seam allowance, for older the can understand why); help them paste the cut pieces on to the chosen backing; and bingo, your little one has a wonderful picture to give Mommy or Daddy and they are so proud! AND you have used a bit of your scraps. I've never done it, but they could design quilts this way also and make mini quilts for their paperdolls or rungs for their doll houses, or.....

I'll add what I just learned today. I had accidently got Heat 'n Bond Lite fusible onto the top-side of my applique background and paniced out. I asked this board for help and several came to my rescue. The first suggestion I tried worked.

I put my iron on scorching hot with steam on...held slightly above the spot and shot it with the steam for a few seconds. Then I quickly applied a cloth to the top and steam-ironed back and forth several times shooting the steam. I did the same thing 3 times and by the third time it was all gone.

Needless to say I am very grateful to those that tried to help me and especially to the one that thought of doing it this way.

Hope this helps if you are every as careless as I was.

I am going to subcribe to this thread. I would like to try applique and need all the help I can get.

Thank you for all the great tips, I am marking this one so I can write these down later. :-)

As a total noob to applique I can't wait to put these tips into practice.

Jenny and Jan Patek did a very good job with the four-part applique that covered many of the tips discussed and visual close ups. I purchased the kit but assumed the, "special thread" and a "special needle" would be included. I haven't found the needle and have yet to get the thread. So I have an applique UFO not even started.

FAMOUS SEWING SAYING......"As ye sew, so shall ye rip" : )

I agree...another thing I do constantly is starch lightly...helps with the fraying and turning under...on inside dips the one trick I found is to take a very tiny stitch into the top fabric, (not the base fabric) it seems to "roll" the fabric over and then I take the next stitch right at that point. nice flat valley.

LOL, I just started an appliqué class Tuesday. Many of your hints were in the class. So far, I LOVE it! I did find I had to go out and buy a magnifying lamp so I could see the stitches I wanted to make. Glad to say my stitches are tiny. LOL I had requested suggestions from the Board and I ended up getting one from Micheal's that was $99 with a 40% off coupon so it wasn't soooo bad. I didn'y know you could even buy 3.5 reader glasses. I'll have to look into those for class work!!

I use fusible interfacing and then glue stick and iron the extra clipped fabric over the back. I also use a blanket stitch because I like the thread showing on the sides.

All great tips. Thanks to everyone.

I use the tothpicks from Crate and Barrel to turn the edges, also glue stick to hold in place.

"the very best tip[from Lucian Newman fogive the spelling]-==pin from underneath the work so no pin ends to catch the thread where you are working "
Simple. Why couldn't I think of that. Thank you.
"Do not clip outside curves for needle-turn applique. Not clipping avoids both points and fraying.

When clipping inside curves, don't clip until you absolutely have to, when your next stitch requires it. This cuts down on fraying, too."
Simple again. Thank you.

"You know, I had read somewhere a while back about running the needle tip through a glue stick before sweeping the inner point, but I never have a glue stick (and never remember when I'm at the store). I do have a little Elmer's liquid though, I'll have to try it! "
I will try this too! I am not a fan of glue and starch. I am too heavy handed then can't get my needle through.
So many wonderful ideas to try. I love needle turn applique and will surely be thankful for reading this thread.

This, by far, is my biggest challenge, also, PenniF. Here's a link that I've actually printed out and have next to my machine, because I don't do it enough to remember. Hope this helps.

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/techni...-tips_ss9.html

I took two classes on needleturn applique, one taught by Donna of Heartworks,LLC and a class taught by Karen K. Buckley. Both excellent classes. Lessons I learned - starch your fabric, use school glue with toothpick for V angles, Thread Heaven to prevent tangles and use silk thread. I also prefer KKB applique scissors and Tulip needles.

I am a big fan of back basting for appliqué You mark the pattern on the back of the background fabric. Then pin a piece of fabric roughly the size (with some extra) of the item you will appliqué on the front and baste from the back using an obvious color of thread and a big needle so it makes good sized holes. Turn back to the front side, remove the pin(s) and trim excess fabric away leaving bought 1/4" or less to turn under. Now you can get out your favorite appliqué needle and thread. Take out a couple of the basting stitches, turn under using the holes in the fabric and background as your guide and stitch it down. The basting keeps everything in place with no pins in the way. Keep taking out a stitch or two and sewing down until you reach the end. This is very portable because you need no templates, starch or other tools.

I also use fray check on the clipped areas. Comes in a little bottle and works great but best after the point has been sewn rather than before. If there are tiny whiskers sticking out, just drop a bit of this on the spot and sweep them under with your needle. Stays in place without a problem.

Do try to borrow or buy Pat Campbell's book on applique. She is a top-notch teacher--the best one I've ever had. Her pictures and explanations are great.

I'm so glad to read this -- I just finished stitching a piece that had a ton of sharp interior curves, and I'm thinking about taking the whole thing off and starting over! I know I have some fray check upstairs... Thanks!

How do you subscribe to a particular square?

I love to do hand applique. I make a finished size pattern out of freezer paper and iron it onto the wrong side. I then baste it rather than use the glue. I find that I can do inward and outward curves better that way. I do clip the inward points. I can then press it, and even use starch if I wish for a crisp edge. I also like to pin from the back side. As I applique, I take out my basting thread and remove the freezer paper before I finish the last stitches. With it pressed, the line of the applique is there when I take out the last of the freezer paper. I use, I think it is FRAY BLOCK, on points and anywhere I think I need a little help against fraying. It is the June Taylor one in the gray packaging and on the back of the package it tells to heat the tube under water and then to shake it before using. It goes on clear and dries clear, and doesn't have a shiny appearance when dry. It doesn't show at all that you used something, unlike some of the other fray stuff. I also use the straw needles.

Does anyone sew with water soluble thread and light inner facing to right side of applique pieces and turning inside out, pressing with lots of steam, and popping the inner facing off.. leaves lovely clean turned under edges. Martha Pullin taught this trick many years ago on PBS series.

I do a lot of raw edge applique using the buttonhole stitch & embroidery thread. Fray Check R my best friend. The kind I use dries clear and soft. After stitching I 'paint' fray check around every cut edge and it doesn't show & doesn't wash out.