Newbie Question
 

I've seen lots of applique on this board, but can someone please tell me how to make applique?
I have something that I would love to put applique on, but don't know how to make one.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Oh my, there are so many different ways to do applique. First you need to decide if you want to do hand or machine applique. Then you need to decide raw edge fused applique (which is probably the easiest method) or the kind with a turned under edge. There is needle turn applique, which is done by hand and the seam allowance is turned under as you go. Raw edge is done with a fusible adhesive and if the quilt is to be washed (not a wall hanging art type quilt) it then needs to have the raw edge sewn down. You can do that with a satin stitch, small zig zag, blanket stitch (aka buttonhole stitch) or a straight stitch just inside the applique, but this last method there could be fraying.
Some people do applique by sewing the shape to a dryer sheet or lightweight muslin (right side of fabric facing dryer sheet) then cut a slit in the dryer sheet or muslin and then turning the piece right side out and pressing and machine stitching to the block using a blind hem stitch.
There are so many different ways. I think for a newbie, I would dip my toes in with very simple shapes and experiment with several different techniques until you find the one you like. Most people like fusible because it is very easy and no raw edge to turn under. But some fusibles can make the applique kind of stiff feeling.
There are countless tutorials out there on blogs, pinterest, and even here on the QB.

What would you like to put applique on?

What do you want to put on it?

How will the item be used?

I would check YouTube for visual help.

The easiest method, IMO, is to apply wonder under or other fusible web to the back of the applique fabric, cut out the desired shape, fuse it to the quilt before quilting or to the block before piecing, if possible, and then stitch around it with the machine. I like satin stitch and blanket stitch. When I quilt the finished top, I do not quilt the applique. I do like to quilt a few lines around it if it's big enough to feature.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]577067[/ATTACH]

Hi patsan! There are many different ways of applique-ing and if you google "how to Applique" many tutorials will show up! Its fun to do!

I want to put it in the corners of a border on a quilt I am making. Where does everyone get the applique from? Do you make it or buy it? I think I'd be okay with putting it on, I just don't know where everyone gets it from.

Do you mean the pattern? Again, loads of sources. You can trace shapes. Like a circle you can use a glass or small plate. You can use cookie cutters to trace shapes. Lots of people like to use children's coloring book pages for shapes because they are usually not to complicated. You can draw your own. Go to the library and look at quilting books that have applique, many of them have the template drawn out that you can trace and then make a template out of. And of course there are applique patterns out there, loads of them. Like Bunny Hill Designs https://bunnyhilldesigns.com/ (some freebies on her site!) Piece o' Cake https://pieceocake.com/ They also have freebies.

And there are free patterns out there, just google free applique you will probably get loads of hits.

There are even places that make laser cut prefused shapes and all you have to do is iron it on and stitch it down. Like here:
https://www.quiltingcreations.com/st...CategoryID=202
But the problem with these is you have to go with the fabric they have used. Most people make their own shapes from their fabric either using a pattern or making their own patterns.

If you mean the fusible webbing like wonder under or steam a seam you can buy that at loads of places too. Walmart usually has it as does Hobby Lobby and JoAnn Fabric. It comes in sheets, in strips and by the yard on a bolt. The directions on how to use it are right on the product.

Do you want to use paper backed fusible ( like heat n bond lite or steam a seam and machine appliqué?) or do you want to do hand appliqué?
hand appliqué people often use freezer paper ( not waxed paper-freezer paper in the blue box at the grocery store) to create their appliqués. Machine appliqué you can use a fusible. Either way you trace your shapes on the paper. Freezer paper you use the drawn shapes as your template press the shiny side of the paper to the right side of your fabric, cut out adding seam allowance, turn under edges & hand stitch in place. Fusible/ machine appliqué you reverse the images draw on the paper side of the fusible. Press the fusible to the wrong side of the fabric, cut out the shapes, peel off the paper, fuse to the background then machine stitch in place.
People get their appliqué shapes/ designs from any number of places...coloring book pages, photos, hand drawn designs, commercial patterns, clip art, the sky is the limit.

You can also cut out a shape from the actual fabric if there's one you want (like a leaf, an animal, a flower, etc). You need a small seam allowance so don't cut right up to the edge of the shape.

As long as the shape is simple to cut (a dolphin is much easier than a 4-legged animal, a daisy is easier than a dahlia, etc) then it should be easy enough to sew. But this is something you should practice with fabric that you can mess up. Takes a little bit of patience, like anything new you're learning.