Applique question

bkay2000

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I've never appliqued anything. I'm working on a quilt that almost demands stars. I had planned to use a star printed fabric instead, but I didn't like it. So, I understand that making a 5 pointed star by applique would be the easiest way to make it. I've found a pattern and sized it to fit my border. I'm cutting it out today and will use fusible and turn it.

I would prefer for the way it's affixed NOT to show. I understand that the fusible is more or less temporary, so a permanent method is necessary.

Would hand stitching be sufficient? Or, must I do it by machine? If I have to machine stitch, other than matching the thread, should I straight stitch or use some type of decorative stitch?

bkay

Just as I posted this, I realized that I could put the stars on the border and then attach, which would be easier.

This was my initial inspiration. I will use a wide red border rather than the printed one.

This is the ugly border I decided to replace with stars:

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Comments (4)

glassquilt
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I just did four 5 pointed stars by hand. Initially tried to do needle turn and couldn't. Too pointy for my skill so ended up pressing the edges under with a mini-iron and pinning them with ½" straight pins.

Your idea of doing them on the border will make it much easier.

Hand or machine? How secure do they need to be? Which method would meet that requirement
aviastar 7A Virginia
8 years ago
I’ve always matched my thread to the appliqué fabric as close as possible and then done a tight zig zag around the edge. I try to stay on the inside of the appliqué- just barely riding that outside line. It’s not invisible, but from any distance it’s very blended and I personally like the 3D nature of appliqué so I don’t mind the visual of the zig zag.
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susanzone5 (NY)
8 years ago
Appliqueing pointed anything is very difficult. Unless you are skilled in applique, you will not be able to make it neat and invisible.

The best way is to do it on a machine and either use same color thread and a fancy stitch or make it really fancy with a different color thread. You can use a buttonhole stitch or any other decorative stitch. Don't even try to make it invisible or you will get stressed out and it won't be as nice as you want.

Applique is a skill best practiced on straight edges first. Points are the hardest thing to do.
latifolia
8 years ago
Am I understanding that you are going to sew the stars RST with fusible web, cut a slit in the web, turn them and adhere them with steam? That method works fine, although the fusible stiffens it a bit. If that’s what you’re doing, then I would just slip stitch them with very fine thread, silk or thin cotton. It will be invisible.

Another method is to dip the edges in starch, press them over a Templar template, and hand stitch them. I like that method, because the starch washes out and there is no added bulk. Once you have created the stars, you can adhere them to the base fabric with temporary fabric basting glue, avoiding the need for pins.

The only appliqué method that really requires skill is needle turn, in my experience. YMMV.