patricej

here's a list of links to free tutorials. none of them covers all the bases of either hand or machine applique, but they are among the least lousy i found this morning.

http://www.quilterscache.com/StartQuiltingPages/startquiltingfour.html
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562234447pKnxdt
http://www.quiltersbuzz.com/2006/04/mastering_the_a_wordwith_a_tut.html
http://barbarabrandeburg.typepad.com/photos/easy_applique_tutorial/buttonholestitch_1.html (interesting method for fusing the piece to be appliquéd onto the background)
http://sewthatsit.blogspot.com/2007/08/freezer-paper-applique.html
http://disdressed.blogspot.com/2006/04/tutorial-hand-stitched-applique-with.html
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=76089.0;topicseen
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting_other/article/0,1789,HGTV_3305_1389996,00.html
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting_instructions/article/0,1789,HGTV_3302_2757688,00.html
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting_instructions/article/0,1789,HGTV_3302_3351952,00.html
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting_other/article/0,1789,HGTV_3305_1394022,00.html
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting_other/article/0,1789,HGTV_3305_1392247,00.html
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting_other/article/0,1789,HGTV_3305_1391569,00.html
http://snippetsofaquilter.blogspot.com/2007/08/applique-method.html
http://www.needlepointers.com/ShowArticles.aspx?NavID=712

please feel free to add questions to this thread or to send me a pm. :P

patricej

One of the most popular methods of applique is fused applique. quilters use a double sided adhesive ... usually something that irons on.

the shape is cut out of the adhesive material before it's laid onto the fabric.

then the shape is fused to the fabric.

**** completely forgot to mention that you next cut out the actual shape ****

then the fabric piece is fused to the background.

use a lightweight adhesive product so it'll be easy to stitch through by hand or machine.

patricej

i'll use a satin stitch to finish the heart around the edges. notice:

1. I started at the inner point of the heart

2. I started with my needle down in the rightmost position. I do this so I know right from the beginning where everything is supposed to line up.

3. I pulled the thread toward me. I will satin stitch over that thread to give the front a finished look from the start.

4. When I got to the tip, i ended with the needle down in the rightmost position

judee0624

:)

patricej

great looking neighborhood you built there, judee. if i'm not mistaken, it's a pattern you can get free from the hgtv website. it was a block of the month series in 2002. it started here: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_quilting_monthly_blocks/article/0,1789,HGTV_3303_1394939,00.html

in this next example, i used an "open" zig zag stitch. it's a good stitch to start with because it's a lot easier to pick out than satinstitching. once you're comfortable with the process you can use whichever stitch you like best.

in this photo, i want you to notice the way the stitches are wider in places, and bunched up in places. that's because i got impatient. i didn't let the machine pull the material under the needle. i pushed or pulled.

also, i tried to sew too quickly.

sew at a slow to medium speed. use your hands only to move the fabric gently to the left or right as you go around curves. do NOT use them to push or pull the project under the needles. you may need to stop once in a while, raise your presser foot, and reposition the piece as you go around curves. that does NOT mean you don't know what you're doing. it's often necessary. :wink:

patricej

in this example (sorry for the blurry photos :oops: ) i

printed the pattern onto the dull side of freezer paper. then,

cut out the pattern. i do not include the seam allowance

iron the freezer paper pattern to the back of the fabric

cut out the fabric, making sure to leave a seam allowance

clip about every quarter-inch around curves and at points

press the seam allowance inward over the freezer paper

some people paint the edges with liquid starch to glue the allowance down.
some use glue sticks.

i didnt' glue the allowance down because i pull the paper away in the next step. just know that if you don't glue the allowance somehow, you will have to press it several times to get it to stay flat

patricej

again, sorry for the blur.

patricej

the next method ... good for curvy, pointy pieces is as follows:

cut out the shape on freezer paper or from a manila folder. anything that will hold the shape during the whole process

cut out the shape from the fabric, leaving a generous seam allowance

make a small running stitch around the fabric. notice, please, that i pressed the points in before stitching

gather up the running stitch

fiddle with and flatten the piece ... press well from both sides ... back tack to hold it ... remove the paper

patricej

you may notice that one of the tips on the leaf looks funny. there's also a spot on the curve that isn't smooth. both of those things happened because i used a back and forth ironing motion while the piece was wet with spray starch. if i had used the proper up and down pressing motion, it would have come out looking better.

i decided to leave it the way it is because i wanted to warn you. besides, i'll tell people later that it's wonky so it will look more lifelike. :lol: :lol: :lol:

patricej

here's my test run using the blind hem stitch. by changing the stitch width and length, you can find the one that looks best. normally, i think it's best to use matching thread so the stitches almost disappear. i used a contrasting thread so you could see the stitches

I always do a test first to find the right settings and to get used to the stitch itself.