Favorite appliqué technique?

[Lorna B.]

I will need to try the Soft Fuse. I use the method Sue Nichols showed when she was on The Quilt Show. As I cut out my fusible, I only use 1/4" around the edge. That way I don't have the stiffness from fusing the whole piece. The other advantage is it doesn't take as much fusible because I can cut the little pieces inside the big pieces. I have been doing Hugs and Kisses that way and it works well. I have then machine blanket stitched around the edges. I also love to do needle turn. I used that on the 2009 BOM.

[Margo C.]

Another TQS episode that you might want to review before starting your Ruffled Roses appliqué is 304 with our own Sue Garman! I just watched it again, and starting at about minute 28, Sue shows how she makes stems and berries and how she lines up her pattern on the background fabric, as well as some of her favorite appliqué products.

[Dawn S.]

I just bought a giant glue stick yesterday, and will actually use stable stuff and hand applique all of the pieces. When I first tried this method, I found the prepared applique piece looked so flat and stiff (from the ironing, to dry the glue). So, I did a practice piece where I hand appliqued them, then I washed it, and was pleasantly surprised at the softness, and the wonderful "puff" of my flowers. I love it! This is going to be fun!!!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Margo C.]

Yea!!! One convert! :lol:

[Margo C.]

I plan on doing my applique doing needle turn. I just learned this technique and since I was so kindly gifted a 6 months membership for the Quilt Show from a very generous member I decided I should practice. I also took advantage of the free lessons and watched the one on printing on fabric. My sister sent me a cell phone photo of her granddaughter Ay'men and here's my pillow I made her. I used the family history block from Elly Sienkiewicz "Baltimore Elegance" to practice on. I will admit that I traced the pattern onto my fabric in the middle of the night and was no where careful enough. I really enjoyed the practice and know my sister will love the results.
SueW
Upstate NY

[Margo C.]

What a great gift, Sue! Your sister will love it!

[Eileen K.]

That's a great gift and what an adorable little baby! I've tried so many different methods of applique and I'm planning on using several on our Ruffled Roses.

[Eileen K.]

Another TQS episode that you might want to review before starting your Ruffled Roses appliqué is 304 with our own Sue Garman! I just watched it again, and starting at about minute 28, Sue shows how she makes stems and berries and how she lines up her pattern on the background fabric, as well as some of her favorite appliqué products.

Thanks, Margo! I'd forgotten about Sue's episode. I'll watch it again this afternoon. Merry Christmas!

[Eileen K.]

I only do needle turn, so that is the method I will be using. It is difficult to teach an old dog new tricks, or as my departed husband use to say
...."I am a one trick Pony". Grin :P

[Eileen K.]

Margo,
Would Suzanne Marshall's method for making stems work in this quilt? I'm having a senior blonde moment here :x

[Margo C.]

Sue's pattern calls for all the stems to be made from one piece of fabric with all of the edges turned under and her favorite method is needle-turn. I don't think separate stems would be the best way to tackle this one because of the tight curves on the smaller hearts, but you are welcome to give it a try if you think you can make it work.

Sue shows how she does separate stems in Episode 304.

I found that using the Stable Stuff as my foundation and gluing all the edges to the back before I started stitching gave me a perfectly shaped stem/heart to start the appliquéd design in the first month.

[Margo C.]

Margo, when the center, applique pattern, is presented, will it come in sections that need to be printed out..... and then the paper pattern pieced back together to be traced....am I making sense?

Janice in Northern Minnesota

[Margo C.]

Yes, Janice! The pattern needs to be printed out on four sheets. You just need to match up the horizontal and vertical registration lines and tape it together for your master pattern. Sue gives instructions in the Introduction about how to set your printer so that the pattern is the right scale.
learn/all-boms

HOWEVER...In the introduction, the 1"x1" test square DOES NOT MEASURE 1" X 1". Therefore the practice pattern to paper-piece the little house does not come out to 4-1/2" (unfinished size). That is a great example of why the scaling is so important, especially for the paper-pieced foundations!

The four blocks for the first month's applique should print out to 7-1/2" x 7-1/2" but these outlines may be a little off also. Because Sue has us cut the background fabric larger than the final size, you just need to make sure that the applique shapes on your assembled master pattern will fit inside a 15" FINISHED size block, then line your pattern up on horizontal and vertical folds you make on your background fabric.

[Eileen K.]

Sue's pattern calls for all the stems to be made from one piece of fabric with all of the edges turned under and her favorite method is needle-turn. I don't think separate stems would be the best way to tackle this one because of the tight curves on the smaller hearts, but you are welcome to give it a try if you think you can make it work.

Sue shows how she does separate stems in Episode 304.

I found that using the Stable Stuff as my foundation and gluing all the edges to the back before I started stitching gave me a perfectly shaped stem/heart to start the appliquéd design in the first month.

Okay, now I'm really confused. So Sue is showing separate stems in 304 but she doesn't recommend it. :? :?

[Margo C.]

Sue's pattern calls for all the stems to be made from one piece of fabric with all of the edges turned under and her favorite method is needle-turn. I don't think separate stems would be the best way to tackle this one because of the tight curves on the smaller hearts, but you are welcome to give it a try if you think you can make it work.

Sue shows how she does separate stems in Episode 304.

I found that using the Stable Stuff as my foundation and gluing all the edges to the back before I started stitching gave me a perfectly shaped stem/heart to start the appliquéd design in the first month.

Okay, now I'm really confused. So Sue is showing separate stems in 304 but she doesn't recommend it. :? :?

In Episode 304, which aired in 2008, Sue was showing the separate stems that we used in her pattern for the 2008 "Bouquets for a New Day" BOM. The 2010 "Hugs and Kisses" BOM also uses straight stems.

For the stems in the Ruffled Roses pattern, however, Sue has included the heart shapes, heart cut-outs and the short stems which are attached to the main stem instead of being separate pieces of fabric. The design does not lend itself to easily shaping straight stems because the heart shape is a continuous unit, and the ends of straight stems would be difficult to camouflage. You can't just cover up the join like you would if it were a straight stem with a flower on the end of it.

Can you see why straight stems are not the best option?