Padded Appliqué- Batting or Polyfil?
 

I am about to try my hand at padded appliqué creation. I have a pattern with flowers that have a top row of rippled petals, sort of like “S” curve, about 3 inches across and 1 inch tall. I can see how the pattern is large enough to cut out batting in a corresponding shape and glue to the back of the fabric before sewing down, or do you think I should sew down the shape and open up the background fabric to add polyfil? Would you change your method for small appliqué pieces?

I appreciate your ideas and experience! Thank you!

Take a look at “trapunto quilting” on YouTube. This method allows you to add variable thicknesses of batting behind different parts of your work to add dimension. Man Sewing has a good intro video. This is using a panel, but this could also be applied to a pieced block or panel onto which you have already appliquéd as well.

when I have done trapunto which isn't often, I learned to just cut a piece of the poly, then stitch around the applique shapes I wanted padded, then trim the poly from around the filled shapes. At least that is what I recall doing.