- Help for Quilters!
Applique has a reputation for being difficult and only for those who have time on their hands. Making an appliqued block by hand has an advantage in that you can "take it with you" and work on it while you wait in an office, travel, or maybe while your husband watches professional sports. But applique by machine is easy, quick and attractive.
I did this one years ago with a buttonhole stitch. It took months!
Applique may have started by putting patches over torn or worn clothing. Then more affluent ladies began decorating clothing and quilts. The Baltimore Album quilts in the 1800's were delicately appliqued with flowers, wreaths, vines. In the 1930's Sunbonnet Sue flourished. In recent years fine quilters have re-discovered both the Baltimore Album style and Sunbonnet Sue.
Applique consists of turning under the edge of a cut-out design and stitching it onto another piece of cloth. The easiest way to accomplish this that I have found is with thin interfacing and my sewing machine.
These "Dresden Plates" were machine appliqued using interfacing.
First prepare the background block. Pay attention to grain as you trace the applique design onto fabric. For the block to lay flat and straight when finished, the motif as well as the background block should be on the straight of grain. Cut out the design to be appliqued, leaving at least 1/4 inch around it. Now lay thin interfacing on TOP of the right side of the design and stitch on the outline of the design. Trim off the excess interfacing, clip curves and inside corners. Cut an X in the middle of the interfacing and turn inside out. You now have all edges neatly turned under on your motif.
Pin or baste the applique in place on the background block. Using a top thread to match the design and a neutral thread in the bobbin, stitch around the applique with a narrow zig-zag stitch. Simple!
Another simple applique method is to back your applique motif with fusible web (following manufacturers' instructions) and cut it out ON the design line. There is no edge to turn under in this method. Fuse the design onto the background block and zig-zag all edges to hold permanently in place. I use this method for items that will not be laundered, such as seasonal wall hangings. Just be sure you don't set your hot iron on the fusible web - - You'll find it is also permanent web!
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