I have become addicted to Hand Appliqué. Right now, I am using the freezer paper method to turn under the edge. I wish I had known about back basting first, I think it's easier, but once I learn how to do something one way, I have a hard time changing.
Anyway, as with any of my many obsessions, I am always looking for the "best" equipment to make the job easier.
Needles: I love Clover Gold Eye Appliqué needles, #12. I bend them after awhile, but I love them. Maybe because they are a bit flexible.
Thread: I have struggled with thread. When I first started, I just used whatever Coats & Clarks thread matched my fabric. And I wondered why my stitches showed! I tried silk thread and it just melted into the fabric. But I hated working with it. Even if I knotted the thread onto the needle I found that it would still come loose. Plus, if I had any kind of rough skin on the tips of my fingers, I was shredding the thread. It was a pain in the arse, but it looked great. Then I found out about 50 weight Aurifil and I really, really liked it. I started using it for everything - appliqué, hand piecing, even machine piecing. It's really fine and strong. Didn't melt into the fabric like silk, but it was easy to work with and there were really great colors.
A few weeks ago, I was looking at the Piece O' Cake appliqué website and they recommended and sold Superior thread called Frostings in bobbin sets for appliqué. They have 3 different collections of 12 colors each that are just beautiful. It's 50wt and just a little finer than Auriful. I really, really like this thread.
I went to the Superior thread website and found yet another thread. It's called The Bottom Line. I bought all three sets that were offered. It is
100% polyester. The colors are great and just enough different from the Frosting line that I now have a nice collection of colors. The only bad thing about this thread is that Polyester is just about as fiddly as silk. It has a mind of it's own and tends to flip out of the needles. Since I use the thread right down to the needle, it's kind of a pain.I won't be using this thread for hand OR machine piecing, so it should last a long time.
Anyway, that's my Report on Hand Appliqué.
Cindy