catrancher

I do lots of blanket stitch applique. I always leave them up. Never even occurred to me to put them down. Pivot around curves by leaving the needle down (set it to stay down if you can), and then pivot like the numbers on a clock. (Hope that makes sense.)

Judie

up, up, UP... It is the only way you can stitch evenly... and for machine applique you want a beautiful, smooth, consistant line around your applique piece. It is so much fun... You'll love it! Use some tear-away stablizer behind your piece, it helps to keep everything smooth around the bends and bias.. It's addictive, once you start it's hard to stop!

Yankee in Texas

When applique around something like an animal, heart, flower, etc. It is better to leave the feed dogs up - they help guide the fabric along. And yes,can use a satin stitch or a zig-zag st. I also use the blanket st. that is built in my machine. If you put the feed dogs down, you REALLY have to guide the fabric yourself.

k9dancer

UP.

grandma sue

up

BettyGee

I leave mine up for machine applique.

redpurselady

Do you mean shadow quilting around an appliqued section, or actual applique? If you mean applique - then up. I've done shadow quilting with the feed dogs up as well.

Snorky Lvs2Quilt

I always applique with feed dogs up. Have never had a problem.

playswithcolor

I think it depends on wether you are doing a set stitch to outline the shapes or if you are tread painting while securing the edges of the applique pieces.

Simple stitching around the outside- feed dogs up so the machine regulates the stitch length.

Thread painting to secure the edges + add detail & dimension--feed dogs down.

quilt3311

Usually up. However when I am using a tiny zig zag and lots of sharp curves I will sometimes work with them down, I will say this takes quite a bit of practice though.