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Quilt
Tips From Quilters Around The World
Applique
How to save your applique templates: Purchase 5 x 7 brown envelopes or larger. Label envelope front-
Pattern,
Date, Content. Use your templates to draw on front of envelope the pattern
and insert templates in the envelope. This way you will know exactly what
your templates in the envelope look like if you choose to use them
again. - Lorraine in New York
Before I press freezer paper to my fabric, I punch
a small hole in the paper. After I have finished the applique, I can put my
needle in the hole on the freezer paper, and it pulls right off. - Ellie in
Idaho
When doing hand applique and traveling, simply
place your bobbins with the color threads needed and place them in a medicine
bottle. Drill tiny holes through the top of bottle and pull up your
thread colors. They will stay neat and easy to use! One medicine
bottle holds approximately 7 bobbins of color. - Nancy in Florida
To make a handy applique board,
I used a polyurethane
cutting board and hot glued a piece of sandpaper all around, cut it to fit,
and it even has a handle for hanging or carrying...works great! - Bev in Ohio
Glad Press 'N Seal is a great tool for applique
- trace your pattern onto it and use it as an overlay for positioning - it
is terrific! - Sharon in Montreal
I have my local copy shop spiral bind my all
appliqué pattern books so that when I want to copy a design onto my
template material...the book lies flat. - Deb in Minnesota
When making templates, I use a medium sand paper to cut out the
template
patterns. This does not slip around or move while cutting on the
material. - Mary in Colorado
When appliquéing small pieces, make an overlay
from Glad Press N' Seal as a placement guide - it is easily maneuvered and
allows easy placement. - Sharon in Montreal
If you trace appliqué patterns onto fabric
be sure to do it on the wrong side so the lines won't show if you miss
cutting on the line. - Ferrell in California
I like to blanket stitch with my machine around my
appliqués, but hate to stop and start all the time. To avoid this I have
found that I can blanket stitch around one piece, stop and lift
the needle, change to a straight stitch and proceed around the edge until
I have reached the next point where I again lift the needle and change back
to the blanket stitch. It does not hurt anything to have those extra
stitches, but it does eliminate all those threads that have to be tucked in
on the back. - Sandy in Idaho
I use a padded board for applique, it sits
nicely on my lap. - Ginger in Massachusetts
I like to applique but to applique onto a
block draws it up and therefore it is no longer square. To counteract this I
aways cut my base block at least a half inch bigger than I want the
finished block to be, than square it up after it is done. - Ferrell in California
When doing machine applique, use a lightweight
thread in your bobbin. This will lessen the bulk, especially if you are using
any type of stabilizer. - Sue in Michigan
I like to add flat puffiness to 3D flowers. I
cut two pieces of the same fabric for each petal, sew them right sides
together, leaving an opening at the base to turn right side out to line
each petal. Then cut one piece of thin batting and two scraps of
paper just smaller than the petal. Sandwich the batting between the
two pieces of paper and using long tweezers, wiggle the sandwich into the
petal. Pull the paper out with the tweezers gently. The petal is ready to
applique or just tack the back down so it wont flop around. - Bertha in Tennessee
When doing reverse applique, I find it very
helpful to lightly spray with sizing then iron before you start cutting and
turning your fabric." - Melody in California
If you cut your pieces
for applique on the bias they will be much easier to
turn. - Kathleen in Michigan
Plastic gallon milk jugs
are great for cutting small applique templates out of.
- Mary Ann in Winnipeg
When I work with small
pieces for applique, I work on a rigid placemat I got
at the dollar store - if I get glue on it, so what,
and it's easy to carry the small threads left on it
to the garbage. I wipe it clean when done and
I'm ready for the next time. - Sharon in Montreal, Canada
Check greeting cards
for great pics of future applique quilts! - Mary Ann
in Winnipeg
I use a glue stick to
position applique pieces and while paper piecing. It
doesn't displace the fabric or get in the way like pins
can. - Clarissa in Arizona
Should you ever use invisible
thread for machine applique, do not use a hot iron on
it! It will melt, but not come apart until it's
washed! Too late, I learned to use a cool iron
or better yet, finger press the appliques, and iron
carefully if you must press the background. - Su in
California
Old CD's can be cut with
a pair of craft scissors into small applique templates.
- Mary Ann in Winnipeg
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