Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Applique My Way

Pieced heart applique block

As my regular readers know, the word "applique" makes me nervous.  It is the one quilty technique that cause all kinds of consternation for me.  So many of you do this so effortlessly, that I always feel all thumbs when I look at any pattern that requires even the most basic applique.

Here is a method I have started using that I actually enjoy!
 
For this I use a light fusible interfacing, but I do not fuse it to the back.
 
I cut a piece of fusible the same size and shape that I want my applique to be.
 
For this heart shaped applique, I cut the shape after I stitched, but for circles and other shapes I often cut them both the beforehand.
 
 
For this heart I used a pieced square

 
paper template on interfacing

 
cut

 
pinned

 
stitched

 
trimmed to shape
 
 
I cut a hole in the middle of the interfacing.
 

opening cut in interfacing
 

Turn right side out and smooth into shape
 
front
 

cut background fabric square
 
 
Fold background block to center applique.
 
 
 Press front to background
 
 
Press back
 
 
Applique success!
 
 
Ready to finish!
 
I will stitch around this applique with a bling hand stitch or maybe use  a machine decorative stitch.
 
If you are as timid about applique as I am, I hope you will find this method easy and give it a try,
 
I am using this method for my current quilt test project, which has applique circles and plan to use it again soon for another project.
 
More applique posts coming soon to my scrapatch!

Today I am linking up with ...

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotion by the River
 
Thanks for visiting today!
 
:)  
 

11 comments:

Kat said...

This was the first applique method I ever used, it definitely "eased me in" to applique because I knew the edges were safe even if my stitches around the outside weren't perfect. Your patchwork heart is really pretty!

Sheila said...

I can feel good with that applique method Because I don't want my raw seams to pop out and I want a clean curve finish. Thank you for the tip.

sew.darn.quilt said...

This is the same method I used years ago with my heart quilt, it works like a charm :)

Deb@asimplelifequilts said...

I think this method is perfect for larger pieces and it gives such a nice clean & secure edge. Very pretty heart too!

Anonymous said...

thank you for this reminder of this technique! I appreciate it~ ♥♥♥

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

I have done applique that way before and it does give a very nice edge, I'm tickled you are enjoying applique! Thanks for sharing.
Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

Grammasheri said...

I've always enjoyed this method of applique. So easy and always perfect! Made a very pretty heart block.

Anna said...

Thanks for the tutorial! This looks pretty straight forward. Have yet to take a shot at appliqué, but maybe I'll try this method first :) looks great!

Elita@Busy Needle Quilting said...

Well done, Miss Pat! Good for you to take on something you were nervous about and make it wonderful!

Tammy said...

Thank you for the tutorial. I have't tried this yet.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

This looks great and gives a very neat and stable finish.