What is your hand applique method?

[Mary K.]

I have taken several applique classes, watched technique videos/shows and I have always learned something new from each session. Since our BOM is an applique block. I would like to know; What is YOUR hand applique method? I will share mine.

I transfer my pattern by overlaying freezer paper, shiny side down, over the pattern and then I trace the pattern with a sharp pencil. I cut the freezer paper pattern out and iron the pattern to right side of my fabric(s). Then I take a pigma pen that is closest in color to the fabric, but still shows a little, and trace the pattern on the fabric, being careful not to run the pen under my freezer paper pattern. I remove the freezer paper patterns and then I trim a seam allowance around the lines I traced about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. Then I go around each fabric piece and snip into the seam allowance with my scissors cutting toward my traced line about every 1/8 to 1/4 inch. I try to get as close to the line as I can without cutting the line. Finally I lay out the whole block and get a feel for how it all goes together. Once I have it the way I like it, I take away all but the bottom layer. I glue baste the bottom piece to the background using scant tiny dots of glue. I always make sure my background is several inches bigger on all sides than what my finished block will be. Applique shrinks background pieces! Then I sew it on by hand(don't know the name of the stitch, just a traditional applique stitch I guess). Once I am finished with the bottom layer, I lay everything out again. See if I need to correct the bottom layer and then I take away everything again except the next layer, glue baste it, and sew it on. When I have a lot of layers, sometimes I will take the layers that will only be appliqued to another applique piece and put those together first. For example on my Monsters quilt I am making I put together their mouths first because they are going to be appliqued to the monster and not the back ground. Hopefully I did not miss a step.

I specifically would love to know how you lay out your layers. I have heard of cutting a large freezer bag or buying a piece of plastic and tracing you pattern on that and using it as a guide for laying out your pieces, but I have never tried it. I thought of trying to tape the pattern to a light box or piece of plexiglass with a lamp underneath(see Alex Anderson's blog on marking a quilt for quilting to see her set up) and laying the pieces out that way, obviously not as accurate as the overlay, but better than my eyeballing method. I have not had a chance to watch the latest show that has been posted on applique, I look forward to seeing what she does. I also look forward to seeing what YOU do!

Happy Quilting!

[Mary K.]

I'm still trying to figure out what my method is! I've tried almost every technique I've read about and I still have trouble with small pieces and with inner angles. I'm doing a little better with points. I'm not doing The Quilt Show's blocks because I've already got two other block of the month projects going from other groups, and one of those has an appliqued block each month. I'm going to try to use the techniques from the latest Quilt Show episode when I do the current block, especially for the stems. So far I keep coming back to basic needleturn and I haven't been successful with any of the freezer paper techniques.

CaroleD in the foothills of NW GA

[Mary K.]

We sound like we are in the same boat. What I do now is what works best for me, but I definitely have room for improvement. So far all the applique I have done do not require precision placement, but like you I have several applique BOM's going and one of them requires more precise placement than just eyeballing it. I know of a few techniques out there but I just wanted to see if there was something I hadn't heard of that would work well for me. I did watch the Suzanne Marshall show and it was so so good and so helpful. I will be trying her applique technique out on my next project. I have already tried out her hand quilting(being the typical quilter I have a couple of dozen UFO's) on a quilt I was quilting while I watched her show(talk about good timing!)and I really liked it! I just may be donating my hoop! Anyway her layering technique was one I have never seen. So I will give it a go. I still would like to know what you others have done. I love hear what other techniques are used by my fellow quilters.

[Mary K.]

I'm rather new to applique. I started a class at my LQS a few months ago which is a BOM that combines traditional quilting and appliqué. My instructor teaches needle turn and starch and press appliqué. I've done starch and press for that class and found it works well for corners and points.

For those who don't know, starch and press is where the pattern is cut from a THIN iron resistant applique plastic (purchased at LQS), then placed on the wrong side of fabric and traced with a washable blue or white marker depending on the fabric. Fabric is trimmed 1/8 - 1/4 from the marking, curves snipped. The template is then placed back on the wrong side of fabric, fabric is sprayed starched and pressed onto the template using a very hot tiny iron. This gives precise crisp edges that look great when finally appliquéd. The starching makes the fabric lie flat.

I'm doing needle turn for The Quilt Show BOM blocks and find my corners and points are coming out terrible, but starch and press is kind of difficult for the tightly curved leaf areas.

[Sandy F.]

I don't think I have one style either but rather what works best for what I am working on. For the stars on the block of the month, I pressed the freezer paper to the front of the fabric, cut out leaving 1/4" allowance or little less. Then finger pressed allowance to back on all the straight edges and then I basted around the piece. I had already traced the star pattern to my block with washable marker (and I made sure it would wash out before doing), pinned the pieces to my block an appliqued. I like the heat resistant templates but if the pattern is only used one time I use freezer paper but I like the tip Alex gave, iron two sheets of freezer together before cutting out the template, put dull side to wrong side and press seam allowance toward shiny side of template and it sticks like starch.

[Sandy F.]

Prior to this project I did very little applique so I am learning as I go and am using the BOM as a sort of sampler to try a variety of things. Currently I am needle turning the January block. I struggled at first but I seem to be getting the hang of it now. I find it rather relaxing 8) .The opportunity has also arisen for me to learn another form of applique from a master appliquer in our area, so I think I will take the February block to her and have her show me how she does it. She told me she does it with freezer paper on the wrong side so I am anxious to see how that goes. Her applique always looks so beautiful and I am thrilled to get to learn from her. I also plan on trying machine invisible applique and raw edge applique at some point too. I love learning new techiques!!

[Sandy F.]

What a coincidence yesterday I put in a request for a lesson on using freezer paper as part of the applique process at my LQS(differently than I describe in my initial message where I use freezer paper as a pattern for marking). They are having a BOM with a class but I really don't need another project. Her method sound different than anything I had tried before. I wonder if the method is similar to the one you are going to learn from you local Master Applique Quilter. What a treat to learn from such an accomplished person! I will post as soon as I take my lesson!

One thing I forgot to mention is before I get started cutting the pattern out I prepare all my fabrics by spraying them with spray sizing and then ironing them. My turned edges come out so much crisper. I had previously used spray starch but learned that roaches and earwigs like to eat the spray starch. I don't have those bug problems here(we just have to deal with scary critters like scorpions and pretty much anything else that stings), but I don't want to attract them either. Also the spray sizing is not as heavy as the starch.
This is so fascinating seeing how you work!

[Sandy F.]

Jan I just started working on my Monster block and I am appliqueing a bunch of points and corners. It reminded me of your post. Watch the 200 series Suzanne Marshall(right name?)applique show. although the camera angle is a little off she does a great demo and explanation of sharp points. The main thing you want to do is stitch all the way to the point and trim the excess fabric that is going to be turned underneath into your seam allowance. That works well for me. The other option is to say to heck with it and soften the points and make them gentle curves. Much easieir to applique. It's your quilt and whatever it takes to make it look nice and up to your personal standards is perfectly fine. Unless of course you are entering it in a show, then it needs to be accurate. My first applique piece has some pretty atrocious corners and points, but when you don't look close(which nobody does but you)its just fine. The more you practice the better your stitches will get. Hope this helped.

[Margo C.]

Jenny, you may want to check out the Forum threads under the title Block of the Month. There is a lot of applique info discussed there!
Margo

[Margo C.]

Thank you so much Margo, I will!

[Margo C.]

Thanks Jenny.

[Eileen K.]

I've tried applique many times over the years. I love the look, but I have to get over the instant gratification thing in my head. I know not everything has to be done in a heartbeat, but I need to slow "me" down.
eileenkny

[Judy M.]

I'm using the needleturn method for TQS BOM. I'm also using template plastic so I can see my fabric through the plastic before I trace the pattern on. I'm using a thin pigma pen, a white pencil and a regular pencil depending upon the lightness or darkness of the batiks I'm using. I'm also using my lightbox with the master pattern between my lightbox and my block to keep my pieces where they ought to be. One star point seems a little askew, so I may just add another leaf to cover it up. I'm also making the base of the vase in one piece. I guess all of this adds up to "artistic license"-- :lol: Judy in Torrance

[Judy M.]

Is anyone using back-basting? It was mentioned recently so I've explored how it's done & might try it for February... but one issue I'm dealing with is how to mark the pattern on the back of my dark background fabric, I don't think a lightbox of any type will work... ideas? Florence

[Ruth C.]

I recently read about a method to mark designs on black fabric: you turn the pattern to the reverse side and, with white/light chalk, trace around all the parts where the lines are. Then, turn over the pattern and put the chalk side down on the dark fabric and use something--pencil, perhaps--to trace all the lines from the front side. I haven't tried it but it seems like it would work.

Something I have tried, though I don't think it's ideal, is to use dressmaker tracing paper (hopefully the non-wax version) and use a tracing wheel on the pattern side.