Help with machine applique

I have just assembled all of the pieces for my tumbling block quilt (48x60 wallhanging actually). The disign has three large blocks, two medium sized blocks, and about 30 very small blocks. I would like to applique these by machine but since this is my very first quilt project, I have lots of doubts and questions.

I have read Harriet Hargrave's book on machine applique and several others but I have not found instructions on how to applique completed "blocks" (pieced squares, diamonds or other shapes to the base fabric.

All of my completed tumbling blocks have little fabric tags at exposed seam ends. Should these be cut off?

I read about turning the outside seam allowances under freezer paper or other stabalizer. When I tested this out with one of my blocks, there seems to be too much fabric bulk where seams touch the outside edge. What do I need to do in order to turn my edges under without getting this fabric lump at all the seam jointed edges?

Can I just use a rotary cutter to trim away my exposed seam allowances (1/4") and then applique my raw edged blocks to the base fabric?

All help and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. This is my first quilt project, it looks great on the design wall, and I sure do not want to mess it up. I,m apprehensive to say the least.

Jerry in North Alabama

Reply to
MaleQuilter
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Somebody maybe has already suggested this, but if not: Place your completed blocks RST with very thin, soft interfacing/ organza/ whatever you have that's thin. Or soluble stabilizer. Sew all around the seam allowance, but Don't overlap the ends of your stitching (bulky). You might want to trim the corners. Cut a slit in the thin backing and turn RSO. Use an appropriate tool to poke out all the corners, and press. You may then machine applique using a blind stitch.

It is also possible to use iron-on interfacing for the backing. The "right side" is the sticky side. After you turn the block RSO and poke out the corners, finger press the seam and use a wooden presser to crease it really flat. Then trim away most of the interfacing, leaving only about 3/8". Press and fuse in place on the background. Roberta in D

"MaleQuilter" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

Reply to
Roberta Zollner

Jerry, I "pre-assemble" all my applique and sew it all by hand onto my quilt tops. Have you considered hand sewing?

And for next time - now that you have experienced making and assembling you can think forward when you start your next quilt and maybe consider pressing seams open and flat. It's not the traditional method, but for a project such as this one it would have made your outside seam allowances much easier to deal with.

Pressing to one side dates from days when seams were all sewn by hand, and it relieved pressure on seam stitches to press that way. But with modern threads and sewing machines, if you are using good quality fabric and your tensions are correct there is no reason not to press open if it will help reduce seam bulk and it is physically possible (eg. you obviously can't do this for FPP). My machine pieced applique pieces are generally pressed with seams open where the seams are straight, and with seams to the inside curve where they are rounded.

All the advice you have been given by others is good. But you can always be experimental too as you progress with your quilting. Just remember to pass on your brilliant discoveries to this group lol

I hope we get to see your first project soon. Have you been "hooked"? Are you planning your next dozen projects yet?

Reply to
CATS

Patti, Roberta, Cheryl (Cats), thanks for the helpful suggestions.

I do not want to show my total ignorance, but what the heck is RST, RSO, & FPP?

I've been quilting for less than a month and in these discussion groups even less time. Please be patient while I learn all the right lingo.

Jerry in North Alabama

Reply to
MaleQuilter

Right Sides Together Foundation Paper Piecing

can't recall RSO right now lol but could be Right Sides Out?

This is from Sandy earlier this month -

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other abbreviations found in this group: BEX = Book Enhancement eXperience (variation on S.E.X.) BF = Boy Friend BFPH = Big Fat Poopy Head (because this is a G-rated newsgroup) BOM = Block Of the Month BQ = Baby Quilt (crib-sized or going to a baby) CMQ = Commercially Machine Quilted COC = Cream on Cream (Fabric print) CQ = Crazy Quilt (quilting pattern/technique) CW = Cathedral Window (pattern) D-rivatives: DH-DD-DS-DW = (Dear/Darling/Darn/D**n) Husband-Daughter-Son-Wife DIL = Daughter In Law DWR = Double Wedding Ring (pattern) EPP = English Paper Piecing (piecing technique) FIFI = Find It, Finish It FPP = Foundation Paper Piecing (piecing technique, sometimes called PFP) FQ = Fat Quarter (1/4 yd of fabric, cut 18" X 22") FS = For Sale (more appropriate in rec.crafts.marketplace) FW = Feather Weight (model of Singer sewing machine) GFG = Grandmother's Flower Garden (pattern) HMQ = Home Machine Quilted HST = Half-Square Triangle ISO = In Search Of LQS = Local Quilt Store/Shop LTP = Long Term Project MA = Machine Appliqué MEQ = Mind's Eye Quilt (existing only in one's imagination, so far) MFP = Mini Foundation Pattern MIL = Mother In Law MLB = Major League Baseball (a yearly fabric swap) MPP = Machine Paper Piecing (piecing technique) MQ = Millennium Quilt MSM = My Sainted Mother NQ/NQR = Non-Quilting / Not Quilting Related OT = Off Topic PIGS = Projects in Grocery Sacks PIMP = Peeing In My Pants! (Warning to read the following message at your own risk) PITA = Pain In The Asterisks PP = Paper Piecing (sub-categories: PFP = Paper Foundation Piecing; PPP = Precision Paper Piecing)

  • QI = Quilt Inspector (4-legged kind) QIAD = "Quilt In A Day" (TV show and technique by Eleanor Burns) QIP = Quilt In Progress QNM = "Quilters' Newsletter Magazine" (Lehman Publishing) QOOT = Queen Of Off Topics (Sarah) QP = Quilt Police (no such thing) RCTQ = rec.crafts.textiles.quilting RR = Round Robin (block exchange) SA = Seam Allowance SABLE = Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy
  • SEX = Stash Enhancement eXperience SIL = Son In Law SITD = Stitch In The Ditch (quilting technique) SM = Sewing Machine SNS = Stack 'N' Stash (pattern/cutting technique) SNW = Stack 'N' Whack (pattern/cutting technique/book) SO = Significant Other SSS = Secret Sewing Sister TANQP = There Are (Ain't) No Quilt Police TATW = Trip Around The World (pattern) TOL = Top Of the Line TSWLTH = The Store We Love To Hate ("JoAnn's Fabrics") TTYL = Talk To You Later UFO = UnFinished Object USO = UnStarted Object VSC = Vertical Surface Cover (for those who just can't bring themselves to say "wallhanging") W&N = Warm & Natural (a brand of quilt batt) WIP = Work In Progress WOF = Width Of Fabric WOW = White On White (fabric print) WUH = not an abbreviation, just a cyber-stutter for those who have trouble saying "wuh- wuh- wallhanging!" (see VSC) WS = Wrong Side (of fabric) WTB = Want To Buy (more appropriate in rec.crafts.marketplace) WHIM = Work Hidden In Mind
Reply to
CATS

Looking back at Roberta's post, RSO does mean 'right side out'. It's a very useful applique method that Roberta describes, but I have only done it on petal or leaf shapes not actual corners. . In message , CATS writes

Reply to
Patti

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