Wavy Applique
#21
Super Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Merced, CA
Posts: 4,188
I remember my Grandmother cutting the square larger than needed.
She then sewed that to a larger piece of feed sacks, and locked it in
an embroidery hoop. Then she could sew it by hand as she got to it,
and her sewing was lovely. I do this sometimes when I have fussy
little pieces to put on a lap quilt. The "sacrifice" pieces can be used
several times.
She then sewed that to a larger piece of feed sacks, and locked it in
an embroidery hoop. Then she could sew it by hand as she got to it,
and her sewing was lovely. I do this sometimes when I have fussy
little pieces to put on a lap quilt. The "sacrifice" pieces can be used
several times.
#22
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Originally Posted by thequilteddove
I tried this last night... WORKS FABULOUSLY. Best ever!
Originally Posted by Prism99
For something like that, I starch the background fabric very heavily before cutting. This is how I do it (fast and easy).
Mix a 1:1 solution of Sta-Flo laundry starch and water. (Sta-Flo is sold in a blue quart bottle in the laundry section of most grocery stores.) Lay the fabric out on my kitchen island and "paint" the starch onto the fabric using a large wall painting brush. I saturate the fabric, then toss it in the dryer. Finally, I iron it with steam. This leaves the background fabric about as stiff as cardstock and very stable; there is no need to use a stabilizer under it.
I also starch the applique fabric, although not as heavily.
I prefer using the very tiny, short applique pins to secure the applique to the background. You need at least 3 pins to prevent shifting, but these can be an inch or so away from the edge.
Starching the background fabric heavily prevents "tunneling" of the satin stitch and eliminates the need for a stabilizer underneath. I normally don't use spray starch because I have a lot of trouble controllling over-spray, plus I tend to have my iron too hot and have both gunked up my iron and scorched the spray starch. None of that happens when I use the Sta-Flo method above.
Mix a 1:1 solution of Sta-Flo laundry starch and water. (Sta-Flo is sold in a blue quart bottle in the laundry section of most grocery stores.) Lay the fabric out on my kitchen island and "paint" the starch onto the fabric using a large wall painting brush. I saturate the fabric, then toss it in the dryer. Finally, I iron it with steam. This leaves the background fabric about as stiff as cardstock and very stable; there is no need to use a stabilizer under it.
I also starch the applique fabric, although not as heavily.
I prefer using the very tiny, short applique pins to secure the applique to the background. You need at least 3 pins to prevent shifting, but these can be an inch or so away from the edge.
Starching the background fabric heavily prevents "tunneling" of the satin stitch and eliminates the need for a stabilizer underneath. I normally don't use spray starch because I have a lot of trouble controllling over-spray, plus I tend to have my iron too hot and have both gunked up my iron and scorched the spray starch. None of that happens when I use the Sta-Flo method above.
#24
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 29
I agree with the starching of the fabrics, but I will add an idea for keeping the butterfly from shifting while doing the applique. I use the temporary spray glue for the butterfly parts. You don't need much, and you can reposition it if needed. HINT - I use an old cardboard box to spray it onto the wrong side of the pieces of the butterfly. The box keeps the spray glue from going all over the table or work surface.
#25
Originally Posted by Texas Yankee
I agree with the starching of the fabrics, but I will add an idea for keeping the butterfly from shifting while doing the applique. I use the temporary spray glue for the butterfly parts. You don't need much, and you can reposition it if needed. HINT - I use an old cardboard box to spray it onto the wrong side of the pieces of the butterfly. The box keeps the spray glue from going all over the table or work surface.
#26
Look at all the help ideas that have come out with this topic. I think this is the wonderful thing about this site. I am new to quilting and have learned so much from all of you just by following along. One idea might work for one person and another for someone else. But the ideas are here and we can try them out for ourselves. I know my appliques will be better after reading this information. Thank you all!
#27
Originally Posted by Jeri6
Look at all the help ideas that have come out with this topic. I think this is the wonderful thing about this site. I am new to quilting and have learned so much from all of you just by following along. One idea might work for one person and another for someone else. But the ideas are here and we can try them out for ourselves. I know my appliques will be better after reading this information. Thank you all!
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09-15-2009 04:15 PM