I am trying applique quilting...by hand...I am using the freezer paper but just don't know...it is stiff with the paper and the curves won't turn very well. I know to clip the inside curve but on the outside curve do you need to run a thread so it will curve in? Hope you can understand..I don't know if I am going to like this

Freezer paper is very hard to work with...in it's day that all most quilters had. Now you can buy paper and it even irons on the aplique piece nicely...if it does not turn out the way you like, I would go to your nearest Quilt Shop and get the new paper they have.

Good Luck...post pictures when you are done :wink:

Can it be done without paper or is it too hard that way?

I have never applique by hand, but my mother used to cut out the shape she wanted, press the edges in, or turn them with the needle as she went along, and pin it around with tiny pins to hold while she sewed. It always turned out great.

I just watched a video where the freezer paper was ironed on the front of fabric and turned under at the edge of paper as you go along..then paper just pulls off...it looked easier...

You can definitely hand applique without paper. It is called needle-turn applique. My hand cramps up during hand sewing, so I don't hand applique anymore, but needle-turn was my favorite way to do it back in the old days. I tried hand applique with freezer paper (my favorite way to do machine applique), but I didn't like it.

My method was to lightly trace the design in pencil on the right side of the fabric, just a smidge outside the sewing line. Rough-cut around the design. Use applique pins (tiny, short pins) to secure the design to the background (I liked to pin from underneath), or use glue. If you use pins, you always need at least 2 pins in an applique piece to prevent movement.

Cut just an inch or two or three at a time (depending on how large the piece is) before sewing. The cut should be around 3/16" outside your turn line. Use your needle to help you finger press the fabric into position, use your non-sewing thumb to hold down that couple of inches, and sew. Repeat the cutting and sewing all around. The pencil line doesn't show if you have kept the tracing fairly light but, in any case, you can turn so the pencil line is just under your sewing line.

Sometimes inside curves need to be clipped. Outside curves are never clipped; you just nudge the excess fabric underneath frequently as you sew.

If you Google needleturn applique, you should be able to pull up some websites with better instructions than this and some pictures. Good luck!

I've done needle-turn applique and freezer paper applique. Either is good, but there is a learning curve. With the freezer paper on the top, what I usually do is fold under the edge and finger-press the applique. Following that, if you want a crisper folded edge, I'd suggest perhaps using a mini-iron (Clover makes a nice one) to press a firmer edge. You can then get a nice crisp edge to work with. (If you press too frequently on the freezer paper, I have found that you can adhere it to the fabric almost permanently, so you will want to be careful).

Just take your time and only work a little bit at a time (maybe an inch or two) before moving on. Eventually you will work your way around the piece and it will be secured to its base. The more you work at it, the better you will become.

I can't guarantee that you will love it, but give it a chance ... you just may!

I cut templates out of manilla folders or cereal boxes. Cut the template the size you want to finished appplique to be. Cut the fabric 1/4" bigger all the way around. Fold the fabric around the template and press like crazy. Slip the template out and pin the applique to your block. Sew as usual.

I LOVVVVVVVE to applique and all I have ever done was needle turned.