I have just finished using steam a seam and affixing all of the designs to 12 SS blocks. I'm really new to applique and have a question. When you do the applique, do you do it after you make your quilt sandwich and it becomes part of the quilting, or do you just use a tearaway stabilizer behind the block and machine quilt before making combining the blocks and making your quilt sandwich?

Also some of the pieces of the designs (flower stems, etc.) are really small. Even my smallest setting for the blanket stitch will still practically cover the whole stem??? What so most of you do for small pieces.

Sorry I was hurrying too much and my grammar and spelling weren't very good in my previous message.

I do mine before!! Ive used decorative stitches on my machine too! Learned the stitches at the same time!!

For real small appliqués I do by hand.

I do my decorative stitch before I sandwich- otherwise that is what shows on the back of the quilt- also depends on what stitch you are using if you need stabilizer behind her :wink:

For the smaller pieces I would use a small straight stitch

I do mine before sanwiching, I think it would be to bulky to do after. I'm still struggling with small pieces. Good luck and take your time.

Thanks for your help. Sounds like it will just be a learning experience.

i did mine with batting behind them. cotton batting that is.

"Ditto"

No stablizer if using blanket stitch...any heavy decorative stitches then I use tear away...For stems I use invisable thread and my smallest blanket or straight 2.0 length, works fine and can't see thread...