Do you cut out the center of the traced appliqe paper pieces? This will give you a nice soft look. Just leave enough of the traced template to be able to iron it to the back of your fabric that you will cut your pieces out from. This takes away all of the stiffness. I use regular lite Heat n Bond and have for many years. I do the raw edge applique. If you are doing hand applique, you wouldn't use any stabilizer, just freezer paper that can be removed.

i am making a pattern for a lap size quilt that also uses Heat N Bond lite and was thinking same thing: too stiff to quilt. I'm glad to hear that it will soften once washed though mine is meant to hang on the wall under a cathedral ceiling.
That said, i'd still gift the light house. it would be a lovely addition to any home. i'd make room for it on one of my walls.

Your work is beautiful! And you are a beginner? Seriously?

Having been involved in the framing business, I have reframed fabric pictures, shadow boxes, and embroidery pieces that were close to a hundred years old and were not rotted......

Beautiful quilts!! I use heat and bond for applique, it is easy to peel off, unlike Pellon. I love the idea of needle turned applique if you do not want stiffness.

These are beautiful. The frames emphasis that they are truly a work of art. Well done and welcome to quilting.

I haven't tried misty fuze but have used lite steam a seam. Sut out the extra fabric from the back of your applique. That double layer of fabrid also contributes to the stiffness.

I don''t use anything under my needle-turn applique. Try to get one of Pat Campbell's Jacobean Applique books and study her system of "sweeping the edge under" with a needle. To me, when I make freezer paper templates and press to the pieces, I have made the flower, etc. twice. It does take practice, but it can be done.

I know Kay McKenzie (?) likes the SoftFuse. I bought some, but haven't tried it.