I work long hours so mostly use fusibles now a days. I love the look of hand applique and admit that most of my pieces have been gentle curves rather than corners. But if anyone has the blind hem stitch on their machine, you can get the look of hand without the time it takes to do hand stitching. It requires a lot of prep work, I find. But it might be an option for someone who wants the look of hand stitching w/out the time it takes to do it!

I want to do something while I am waiting for my ride and I do most things by machine. Since lugging a machine with me is out of the question I thought of hand applique. I figure this is one of things I will love or hate, no in the middle. From the post it can go either way. You never know til you try.

I do most of mine with fusible, some I do machine blanket stitch and some I do hand blanket stitch just because I like the look. I have done some needle turn but fusible is sooo much easier! I dont use a hoop either.

This is one I just finished that I did hand blanket stitch with fusible. It was one of those "take alongs"

It isstunning!

The needle turn method is my favourite technique to appliquing!! I don't use a hoop either

I'm jealous. :) I hope to make something beautiful in the near future. I see so much I want to learn and do but there just isn't enough time. My other desire along with hand applique is to learn stain glass techiques. There is a class starting in Sept. I will have to take a day of vacation to attend. I look at this way, if I was going to work that day I would have to drive the 100 mi so why not drive it for something pleasurable. I think the class is a monthly block class. I won't get to attend each month but hopefully enough to understand.

That not having enough time is why I want a quilt as you go project such as yours. The people on this board are sooooooooo talent.

Okie,
I am doing the Baltimore Blues w/ Sindy and the Koi pond.

I trace all my pieces on freezer paper. Don't buy it from the fabric store either--go get the big Reynolds roll at the grocery store. W/ Sindy's patterns, her lines are bold enough, you can usually turn the pattern over and trace onto the freezer paper. (You have to do the pattern in reverse.)

After you trace your pattern, cut out the freezer paper "templates". Cut on the line you just finished tracing. I don't cut mine out until I"m ready to iron them to the fabric. LABEL them. Some of the B. Blues have similar sizes/shapes.

Once you have your fabrics chosen, iron your freezer paper, shiny side, to the wrong side of your fabric. Cut out around your template w/ 1/4 in seams--you can trim it smaller later. You have to remember to clip around curves so you can turn the fabric over the back of the freezer paper. Here, I usually tack down pieces w/ thread. Other techniques don't do this at all and still others use glue or glue sticks. Personal prefernce I guess.

Once all your pieces are prepared, you have to attach them to your background square. It's probably easier to work from the background to the foreground. Lay everything out before you begin to attach anything. Once you are satisfied, I remove my foreground and start w/ the background pieces. I'd refer to Sindy's layout as most of her pieces are tucked under others in the bblues pattern. I use very small stitches and try to match the thread to the applique piece. If I don't have a color that matches, or am using white as my background square, I use gray thread. I don't use a hoop either.
I made part of the 4th B. Blues block this morning. I"ll attach a photo for you.
HTH
Julie

quiltwoman, how do you remove your freezer paper? do you remove it before you finish stitching your piece or by cutting the back ? I have seen it done differently but wondered which works best.

I will remove the freezer paper on some of the smaller pieces that are "tucked under" larger pieces, once they are secured. For larger pieces I will leave a small area, take a pin and run it just behind the fabric to losen the freezer paper and pull out the freezer paper. Then, I finish stitching my little opening.

I admit, sometimes, I have to cut thru the back of the fabric to get at those tiny little ones.
HTH,
Julie