GagaSmith

I made a quilt top that is just solid squares. I plan to machine applique a tree branch with leaves, a birdhouse, birds, flowers, etc. and quilt just diagonal lines through the squares. My question is, should I quilt it before I do the applique or after. I don't want to quilt through the applique.
Your help is always appreciated.

love 2 sew

I would probably sew the appliqué on first, especially if you don't want the stitching from the machine appliqué to show on the back of the quilt or if you think it would be harder to accomplish the machine appliqué with all the layers.
Other than that, whichever you prefer is fine.
Hope that helps.
Joan

LivelyLady

I would think it would be too difficult to machine applique after quilting, although I have never tried it. I'll be interested in hearing what others have to say.

SlightlyOffQuilter

I am participating in Project Quilting this season at persimon dreams and alot of the ladies that are doing applique type pieces are quilting first and applique after, so I do not think it would be a problem , unless like was said, you did not want to see the applique stitches on the back.

sushi

One thing's for sure: If anything goes wrong with the appliqué, it'll be a heck of a lot easier to take it out if you haven't quilted yet.

P-BurgKay

I am working on a quilt now that has the Rose of Sharon with a vine and leaves appliqued clear around the border and I have quilted it first, I do hand quilt and I am doing needle turn applique, I have not had any trouble at all.

earthwalker

I have always appliqued first then quilted....it seemed the natural order to me. I don't suppose it is crucial, but I am interested to read what others do.

quiltingbuddy

I do machine and hand appliqué and I always appliqué first and then quilt. I never thought to try it the other way around but I don't see why you couldn't. Let's see what others say.

QuiltnNan

on a small wallhanging, i appliqued after quilting and i liked the process. i like the look of diagonal quilting and it makes that so much easier.