Goodness! With that method I can see why you don't like applique!
There are so many ways to get nice applique. The one I use the most is cut the freezer paper to the exact shape of the applique shape- no seam allowances. Iron the freezer paper shape with the shiny side to the wrong side of the fabric. Cut out with a scant 1/4 in. seam allowance. Then turn the s.a. under using large basting stitches and a single thread. Or use a washable glue stick to turn under the s.a., but that method is awfully messy for me.
Another method is to use a piece of lightweight fusible interfacing. Mark the shape without s.a. on the wrong side of the fabric. Place the fabric's right side to the fusible (bumpy) side of the interfacing. Stitch around the shape on the marked line. Cut the shape with a scant 1/4 in. s.a. Carefully make a slit in the interfacing and turn right side out- if you have curves clip them before turning and trim any corners. You will have to 'work' the edges a bit to get sharp points and nice, smooth curves. You will be able to fuse the applique to the background fabric in it's proper position. Then stitch around the shape by hand or machine. You can also trim the fusible to approx. 1/4 in. from the stitching to reduce the bulk- trim after you make the slit and before turning. If you don't have any fusible interfacing use a thin fabric and treat it the same except you won?t be able to fuse it in place on the background, of course. Some quilters do this method and use a used dryer fabric softener sheet instead of interfacing or fabric. It all works.
There are many more methods for applique, but those two should cover just about anything. Both are easy and accurate and don't require advanced skills. When you stitch the applique in place you have many options. You can use black or matching or invisible thread and use a buttonhole or blanket stitch- by machine or hand. You can use a narrow long-ish zig-zag stitch with matching or invisible thread- zig onto the edge of the applique and zag off onto the background fabric. You can use a washable glue stick to hold the applique pieces to the background to avoid using pins while you stitch the appliques in place.
Or use a satin stitch and don't turn the edges of the applique at all. And, as Polly said, you can use different methods for different appliques on the same quilt. Some methods work better for different size or shape appliques.
I hope this will help you. The pattern is absolutely adorable!
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.
Hello everyone
I know there is help out there so I'm asking!!
My best friend is expecting her first baby; a girl!!. She's due in August. I found the absolute perfect pattern for a baby quilt for her.
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This link shows the pattern.
Now, let me start by saying that applique is ot my strongest point, nor is it something I particularly enjoy doing. But this pattern is just about to kill me!
Some of the pieces on this pattern are so small that I can't get my fingers around them! Much less manipulate it so that I can get the edges ticked under! Cuffs and collars for example; some of the cuffs measure less than 1/4 inch by less than 1/2". How am I supposed to work with that????
I know it can be done, but I'm not sure how I can do it! I've tried freezer paper: I iron it onto the right side, mark all around the piece, then remove the freezer paper and put it on the wrong side of the fabric with the freezer paper "sticky" side up. Then using the Clover mini iron, I try to press the seam allowance inwards and "stick" it to the freezer paper. Then I remove the frezer paper and theoreticaaly this leaves me with a perfect piece; press it and sew it/ applique it onto the background.
Thory is very nice, only problem is that in practice it does not work for me. I end up with a warped piece of limp fabric.
HELP!!
So, I figure that I am not doing it right.
I came to the conclusion that I might have to desist. Or maybe I can use a different technique on these super tiny pieces: I could apply heat and bond to the wrond side and just stick these tiny pieces in place once the larges pieces are done, and then use invisible thread to stitch them in place....
What can you tell me?? How can I do this without losing what little is left of my cold, stuffed and runny head in the process??
If I get any more frustrated, I will end up making her a rag quilt and forget about this!!! But I SO love this pattern....
Thanks!!
Claudia