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

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. Still others only use invisible thread. There is no right or wrong thread choice.  Use what works for you.  

Debra in VA See my quilts at

Invisible thread- yuck. If you tried to use it with hand applique I would think it would be a total pain. I used to use it with machine applique, but it leaves a hole where the needle went thru the fabric- the hole is very obvious. I haven't had much luck with the hole closing up even after washing the quilt. So I don't use invisible thread any more. It's really obvious in this block on the moon portion- and I used the clear thread and a size 9 needle. The stitches are right at the edge of the fabric, but it looks very exaggerated because of the holes from the stitches-

I had a bit of a discussion with one of our local quilt shops a while back - posed this very question. They said match the background - I disagreed - I match the piece being appliqued. It's mine and I like the look so why not? I use silk a lot in applique - it's lovely to work with, but I also use ordinary thread if I don't have the right silk to work with. Whatever we're happy with ourselves is all that counts in my book.

Sharon (N.B.)

i answered this before but i've thinking more about it since then. i use thread to match the applique'd piece on top. with really good small invisible stitches the colour thread used makes no difference unless its dark thread with light fabric and it showed a shadow. i'm now wondering with tiny invisible stitches if you match the background the thread wont show on the back either. have i been getting it wrong all these years. must think some more on this and next time i'll try matching the background. i usually use a light background fabric but either way.... hmmmmmmmmm more thunk'n in the south pacific, j.

There is an applique method where it is probably (?) a bit "better" to match the background.

If you bring your needle up under the turned edge of the piece and angle your needle out, catching the turned under edge of the piece and bringing your needle out at the folded edge, then make a stitch back into the background right where your needle came out (hope that makes sense lol) there is - maybe - some benefit to matching the background fabric.

I did a class where this method was taught, but it is not how I normally do applique so can't comment beyond describing what I was told.

If you take small stitches and use silk you shouldn't have to match any colours for needleturn applique. I do 99% of my applique with ivory, taupe and dark brown #100 silk.

My advice FWIW - listen to all the "rules", try all the methods, then do what you feel most comfortable with. I have always believed there are at least three ways to do everything - the right way, the wrong way, and MY way rofl.

Oh Cheryl, it is *so* good that you are able to pop in a bit more with your words of wisdom and humour. I appreciate the whole post, but I simply must adopt the last line as my new way of living. Fantastic! (and not just in quilting >gThere is an applique method where it is probably (?) a bit

Gee, and here I thought I was clever carrying my bobbins this way! LOL Actually, I use the Bottom Line Applique Thread (NAYY) and Superior Threads sells two assortments of 12 colors each, prewound on bobbins, for about $10-12, depending on where you find them. They used to come on plastic bobbins that I could refill. Now, they give you about 20 yards more thread, but on cardboard bobbins. I just bought a dozen plastic bobbins to load my newly acquired cardboard wound "Assortment 3" onto. I love carrying my bobbins around in the bobbin holder ring! The thread stays wound and I always have the right color and enough thread. BTW, I'm having great success teaching an applique class up here in the PNW. I always have my students match their threads to their applique piece, not the background, and I teach them a stitch using thick navy thread on light muslin and even then it is practically invisible, so with good thread and a good stitch, nothing shows.

Lorraine in WA

I'm with you. I have no intention of trying to sew with what looks like ultra low test fishing line. Debra in VA See my quilts at

I do all of my hand appliqué, regardless of color, with taupe silk thread. If you look closely, you can see the stitches, but it works for me.

Julia in MN

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Sally Sw> Reading that people wound 'lots of different colours' onto bobbins for

Hi Sally, my little house group are doing an applique challenge this year and everyone has to produce a 30 x30 inch background with a theme started for our next meeting. I was thinking of doing mine pieced so thanks for the picture link. I think it's the way to go. Not quite sure of my theme but I'm wanting a summer quilt and a flower one so may combine those two ideas and start with a nice big pot put on point onto the pieced background.... it's at the 'still in my head' stage

On the question of thread, if you are using a lot of different blues then a blue grey silk would most likely work for all of it. Rather than having to buy a whole load of different blues.

Looking forward to seeing how you progress.

Take a look on my blogspot to see how I do my applique...;)

Elly

I liked the pieced background too, but as this is for part of our WI's entry in the County Show (about 7 different items, including jam, flower arranging and a decorated umbrella) thought I'd better play safe. I'll try the pieced background and lots of fmq for something where I don't feel any pressure! The white really makes the blues pop too.

Thread: I had a selection of blues already - not silk but the Mettler Embroidery which is finer than normal, so am using those. I have some silk but its a bit too thick and my LQS didn't have anything suitable. Seems to be working ok - your applique method is exactly the same as mine.

I've done the inner frame, the broken heart in the middle, and tacked down all the twining stems, so, if I take the drawing along it will look as though I'm on my way when we have a meeting on Wednesday. Want to get on with it so I have plenty of time to devote to the quilting bit. I've divided the picture into 6 and have a printout of each section to try and concentrate my mind. The birds will be right at the end so I can get a good colour for them, and also make sure their size is right.

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

Elly wrote:

The Sulky Invisible is great to sew with--it is made of polyester, not nylon.

Sulky is also what I use when I want an invisible thread, but I've only used it in the machine. I'm not sure I'd want to use it for hand stitching.

Julia in MN

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Lenore L wrote:

I don't have any pictures ... but what shows is in the fold of the appliqued piece. Maybe I am being too picky about it since not much shows. Stitches are fairly small, less than 1/4 inch apart. Also I don't get the curves as smooth as I would like, and let's not get started on points.

For hand quilting I can't get the stitches even enough to please me. Of course I was trying to do a small sample of whole cloth (18" by 18" or so)to start off which was probably a mistake since every glitch shows up like crazy. I notice that if I do a regular type of running stitch the stitch is too small on the back side. I did better with stab stitching for front/back evenness but then the line tends to wobble.

I know that practice is the only way to get better but not enjoying the process makes it awfully hard to practice! What is strange, perhaps, is that I always finish my bindings by hand, and find it very satisfying.... so it is not the hand work per se that drives me crazy about hand quilting/applique....just that I don't like the effect that I end up with.

Again, thank goodness for the machine....and my MQ is pretty good now so there is less incentive to do HQ.... altho I keep thinking about it since projects would be more transportable (it would be neat to be able to bring a project to work to work on at lunch time...)

Allison