stefanib123

I am determined to learn machine applique. I am making all kinds of beautiful appliques with my Cricut machine, and I am butchering them with my machine! LOL!

I do like hand applique, but it is so slooooow. I really want to learn machine applique. I have a lot of pretty stitches on my machine, too.

Anyone have any tips on how to do it better?

Right now, I use fusible interefacing, so that holds it in place without me having to baste or anything, so I don't have any problems with that. Its my stitching. I have a lot of trouble with curves.

kathy

go slow, use a short stitch length, stop needle down , outside, turn just a tiny bit, take just a few stitches, wash, rinse, repeat, till you get back on the straight and narrow!

sorry, been hanging with Patrice too long!

sharon b

Welcome to my world :lol: I am also just learning and the biggest thing I can tell you is play with the stitches on your machine . I have several but one makes me happier then the others :wink:

Also GO SLOW , ask me how I know :roll: LOL on curves don't be surprised if you have to take a stitch or two, stop, turn the fabric, another stitch or two stop turn . It can be tedious with lots of heavy curves , but the more you do it the better it gets :thumbup:

donnajean

I have a Viking Rose machine. I use Steam n' Seam. There is a stitch that goes 2-3 stitches forward, nip to the left, 2-3 stitches forward, nip to the right, & so on. I use YLI invisible thread & my machine applique looks very close to hand applique. My Avatar has a quilt done this way.

stefanib123

Thanks, guys.

So, I guess I'm trying to go too fast. Even the "Pros" have to go sloooooowly?

amma

Yes, slow is the key :D Just remember that going slowly with the machine, is still much faster than stitching by hand :wink:

littlehud

I am just starting with this and I have to go really slow. It's still faster than by hand.

martha jo

Sometimes I lay a piece of freezer paper under the work and the satin stitch looks nicer. It just comes right off when you finish.

mlaceruby

OK I love doing machine applique.
as stated go slow at first
and try a simple pattern with curves like a heart
after you do several of these you will be much better!
also if you have any puckering you need extra stabilizer
I use coffee filters use 1-2 layers under the background fabric.
some of the really decorative stitches don't work well with curves

justwannaquilt

I agree GO SLOW. and another thing is don't scrimp on pivots. Some times you can only take two or three stitches before you have to pivot just a tiny little bitty bit to make it "hug" the applique.