hand vs machine for bed quilt?

[donna b.]

Which works best for a bed quilt: needle-turn applique? or fusible machine applique? I'm an applique novice, and I'm imagining that machine applique would be much faster for a quilt that size. But would it wear as well as a hand-appliqued quilt? Or would it even make a difference?
Thanks.

Kay

[donna b.]

I have a hand applique quilt on my queen-size bed. I made it 3 or 4 years ago. It's been washed a number of times, slept on, slept under, and it has held up really well. I remember, when I was doing the applique, telling myself "Small even stitches...small even stitches".

[Eileen K.]

I would think fusible could be very stiff in places, plus if you don't anchor it properly, it will fray when washed.
eileenkny

[Hannelore N.]

Eileen, it's not a problem if you use the fusible stuff only around the edges of each shape.

Personally I wouldn't comtemplate hand appliqué (and I love all sorts of embroidery) if there is a lot of it on a large bed quilt. It would be a question of time for me. Whichever way you look at it, machine appliqué is quicker.

Talking about 'stiff appliqué shapes': I have always wanted to make a set of small, identical pieces, using all the different fusibles on the market and compare afterwards how they feel, handle, wash, and wear........ Ah well, I'll look into that when I retire in 2016.

Lorchen

[Hannelore N.]

Why not try the best of both?
You can use needleturn with machine applique, and without fusible--no raw edges, no stiff fusible, and quicker than hand applique. To do this, use freezer paper templates, starch to iron under raw edges, a washable glue stick hold your template in place, and free motion machine stitch the applique to your backing fabric. You can use either a straight stitch or decorative stitch to attach your applique, since you have no raw edges.

Check out this interactive project ---> http://www.flickr.com/photos/sykossa...7602282539312/ It uses raw edges, but inspired me to develop the technique I described above, because I don't like raw edges and like to avoid using fusible.

[Hannelore N.]

Nancy are you taking the templates out after you iron down the edges, or are you cutting it out from the back after?

Florence

[Hannelore N.]

Nancy are you taking the templates out after you iron down the edges, or are you cutting it out from the back after?

Florence

I take the templates out just after I iron them, before they are stitched to the background fabric. I hold the applique in place with just a touch of glue stick.

[Hannelore N.]

Thank you, Nancy. I think I will try your technique.