Re: Applique - following from Did you Get one thread.

Reading that people wound 'lots of different colours' onto bobbins for applique so they could carry them around easily, does this mean they applique by hand using a colour which matches the bit being appliqued?

I used to do this, but the other day my LQS said you should use the colour of the background.

I am putting various shades of blue on a white background, so what colour thread would everyone use.

I am now dithering uncontrollably! I have lots of shades of blue threads.... but should I be using white?

Reply to
Sally Swindells
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I always thought you used the color of the applique. That's where the thread would show if you have a less than invisible stitch.

Reply to
KJ

Sorry to contradict your LQS Sally; but everywhere I have read says match the thread to what you are appliquéing. If you think about it, the only part of the appliqué which has any length is the bit where it goes round the edge of the piece, not the background - the long part of the stitch then is underneath. . In message , Sally Swindells writes

Reply to
Patti

Yep, same here on using thread that matches the applique piece (unless I'm too lazy to rustle through my threads - in that case, I use VERY teeny-tiny stitches and use a neutral thread!).

-- Connie :)

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Reply to
SewVeryCreative

When I taught quilting, I always did an in class demo of hand applique- a pastel applique on a white background and I used red thread. I did it to show my students that you *can* make invisible applique stitches. It blew their minds every time and the only way you could see the red thread was the show thru from behind the white fabric. So- a close match in color is good but it's all in the stitch!

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

Reply to
Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Okay so I guess I need a demo from you 'cause I sure as heck can't do invisible applique stitches .... I am not happy with my hand quilting either....thank heavens for sewing machines or I would get NOTHING done!!

But seriously - any links to applique tips?

Allis> When I taught quilting, I always did an in class demo of hand applique- a

Reply to
allisonh

Sally: I seem to recall a teacher suggesting very fine silk thread for appliqué. Then the stitches would 'disappear' more readily. This assumes the stitcher is careful of course. Not that I do appliqué this way! I use regular thread in same color as the shape ... IOW match the patch.

Pat in Virginia

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Sally-i do ALOT of applique. i always use the color thread to match the piece. my stitches are small, but not invisible. For invisible, you may want to try the silk thread,i find its very slippery and i have to keep threading the needle, it gets very frustrating and i end up going back to regular cotton thread. i also use neutrals if i dont have an exact match to the piece: beige, tan, grays, ecru, white, and black. my granny always said....."it's not the size of your stitches..it's the love in them." i always listened to my granny. amy in CNY

Reply to
amy

Unfortunately many people only learn one way to applique so when talking or writing they refer only to the one method they know but often seem to be speaking more broadly. This sort of miscommunication causes all sorts of

Some of the books I've read do say to match the background rather than the applique, but they are almost always referring to machine applique using a stitch that shows more on the background than the applique piece. The usual stitch in the books looks like several short straight stitches on the background close to the applique then one short and narrow zig zag that catches the edge of the applique, then repeats.

For other machine stitches you might want something different. I match either the background or the applique, or choose to contrast with both, depending on the stitch I use and the look I want. Green feather stitch along the edge of a green stem will give the stem a thorny look, mock blanket stitch can be done with my overcasting stitch.

As to hand applique, some pros say to use shades of neutrals (grays or beige/tans) while others say match the applique color to get the best looking invisible stitch. Of course if you are doing blanket stitch you would use something that contrasts with both the background and the applique.

In short, there is no right or wrong thread choice. Use what works for you to make the applique look the way you wish. Why not cut two small pieces and applique them using both color choices and then decide which you prefer. A quilter I know recently ran out of white thread to applique white to a color and used a pale blue and decided she loved extra wintriest of the blue stitches and wished she had started the project with blue thread. Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra

Amy - silk thread: knot the silk at the eye ( a simple knot, tying one end of the silk to the other). For the first stitch, there is a little hiccup as it is pulled through. After that it goes through smoothly - you'd never know there was a knot there; and you never have to re-thread, until you run out of thread length naturally. . In message , amy writes

Reply to
Patti

Yeah...that makes sense to me, too. using a contrasting color is good for wool felt and the like. i was referring to needle turn. amy in CNY

Reply to
amy

Oh good - I've just done the frame bit using the background colour, and found it much slower - much happier using the blue.

Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)

Patti wrote:

Reply to
Sally Swindells

I like hand applique (must admit to always avoiding machine applique because mine never looks even) and I do tiny stitches that don't show.

Was happy with it until the LQS said I should have been using the white thread.

Anyway, I'm back to the blue!

Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)

Debra wrote:

Reply to
Sally Swindells

I like using freezer paper at the back, constructing the piece and then appliqueing on. Then I cut away the excess on the back and remove the paper. I also use the method where you back with a fine fabric inside out and then turn right side out.

The stems I have used my ironing rod thingys for (thanks for the help previously) and the 'frame' I have done I ironed over freezer paper, put a bit of spray starch on and removed the frezer paper before appliqueing.

Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)

amy wrote:

Reply to
Sally Swindells

Thanks - I do do tiny stitches that don't show.

Unfortunately I am one of those people who was brought up to believe that I had to do exactly as I am told, which is why the LQS threw me into complete confusion!! I am terrified of breaking rules! - Lightning will strike and thunder will bang!! I will be condemned for life!! There may be no quilt police, but I'm taking no chances.

But now you have all told me I am allowed to use blue thread I will - I am allowed after all. Yippee.

Thank you - thank you!

Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)

Leslie & The Furbabies > When I taught quilting, I always did an in class demo of hand applique- a

Reply to
Sally Swindells

Reply to
nzlstar*

hi allison, have you got any pix of your applique online to look at? how do the stitches look when you're done? if not invisible, what does show? how big are you stitches?

what dont you like about your hand quilting? pix online of your quilting?

more > Okay so I guess I need a demo from you 'cause I sure as heck can't do

Reply to
nzlstar*

Rulse? what rules? I didn't know there were rules. Maybe that's where I'm going right...bwahaha.

Jenn > Thanks - I do do tiny stitches that don't show.

Reply to
Jalynne

Reply to
nzlstar*

Why do I get the feeling that there's a VERY interesting story behind that sentence??? :)

Don't suppose you'd care to share a giggle, would you?! :)

-- Connie :)

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Reply to
SewVeryCreative

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