Making Appliqué Stems/Vines
05-24-2021, 04:49 PM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Central PA
Posts: 1,920
Making Appliqué Stems/Vines
Karen Kaye Buckley taught a class of quilters how she makes stems. You will need to raid someone’s stash of “zip ties” and collect several sizes about the width of the stem you desire. Cut the bulky end from the tie. Cut bias strips wide enough to wrap the tie plus approximately 1/2”. Stitch the strips together and trim seam close, press seam. Put your zipper foot on, wrap the fabric around the zip tie, and adjust the needle to crowd the tie. Using a shorter stitch, stitch the length of your stem. Trim the seam allowance to about 1/8”. With your iron ready, roll the seam of the back side of the tie and press. Press a section, slide the tie forward, press and repeat to the end. If you cannot pass thru where the bias has been stitched together, remove a few stitches. The thickness of the tie will not crush the stem. At this point you can lace yarns in the tubing if you wish to give some dimension. Now you can appliqué by hand or machine.
I hope this clear!
I hope this clear!
05-25-2021, 05:31 AM
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 932
Originally Posted by Suz
Karen Kaye Buckley taught a class of quilters how she makes stems. You will need to raid someone’s stash of “zip ties” and collect several sizes about the width of the stem you desire.
How to use Perfect Stems video
05-25-2021, 07:24 AM
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 1,398
Making applique stems/vines
Originally Posted by Suz
Karen Kaye Buckley taught a class of quilters how she makes stems. You will need to raid someone’s stash of “zip ties” and collect several sizes about the width of the stem you desire. Cut the bulky end from the tie. Cut bias strips wide enough to wrap the tie plus approximately 1/2”. Stitch the strips together and trim seam close, press seam. Put your zipper foot on, wrap the fabric around the zip tie, and adjust the needle to crowd the tie. Using a shorter stitch, stitch the length of your stem. Trim the seam allowance to about 1/8”. With your iron ready, roll the seam of the back side of the tie and press. Press a section, slide the tie forward, press and repeat to the end. If you cannot pass thru where the bias has been stitched together, remove a few stitches. The thickness of the tie will not crush the stem. At this point you can lace yarns in the tubing if you wish to give some dimension. Now you can appliqué by hand or machine.
I hope this clear!
I hope this clear!
05-25-2021, 07:42 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 932
Originally Posted by rvsfan
Extremely dumb question but what are zip ties and where do you get them?
They are also called "cable ties".
Zip Ties
05-25-2021, 07:48 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,489
Thank You!!!! I have these, and they are wrapped with a rubber binder, with no instructions, stuck in a bin of miscellaneous stuff. I got them with a bunch of quilting things my cousin gave me. I do a ton of applique so these make perfect sense!
