Buzzings from a quilter who bumbles her way through life!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Applique Tutorial

 A great big THANK YOU to everyone who is visiting here for the first time and an even bigger THANK YOU if you are returning!
Some of you have seen this tutorial on my website, but if not, here it is on my blog. This is not the most common freezer paper applique method. You would be surprised how many people tell me they already know how to do this only to be surprised when they see it actually done. In this method, the freezer paper is ironed to the FRONT or RIGHT SIDE of the fabric. The edges are turned to the wrong side. The freezer paper makes it easy to turn the loose edges under. The glue stick makes them stay in place. When finished, you have a figure with all edges turned under. You can see exactly what it will look like on different backgrounds. This is not a good method for tiny pieces although it works well for pieces as small as leaves, etc. I've used it for letters, too. It makes large applique pieces extremely easy. So......take a look and see if this is something you might want to try!
1. Trace the pattern piece off onto the DULL side of the freezer paper.

2. Cut out the freezer paper pattern on the lines. Do not add seam allowances.
3. Press the freezer paper onto the RIGHT side of the fabric. NOTE: Place the shiny side against the fabric and press the dull side. The shiny side will stick to your iron if you do this backwards!!!! This will not hurt your fabric and can be easily peeled off (unless your iron gets hotter than a normal cotton setting.)
4. Leave the pattern on and cut out the fabric leaving a turn-under allowance of about 1/4". Clip inside curves, inside points, etc.
5. Run a line of glue stick along the seam allowance. Be careful to not press hard enough to pull the fabric off the paper. (The new fabric glue pens make this really easy, but regular washable school glue works fine. I do not recommend the blue or purple kind, although it may be fine. Test first.) If you are not using 100% cotton, it might be harder to get the glue to adhere your seam allowance. It sticks really well with cotton.
6. Turn the seam allowance to the WRONG side of the fabric, using the edge of the freezer paper as your guide.  (It is a little hard to tell in this photo because the wrong side of this black fabric is almost white like the paper! What you are seeing is the wrong side of the fabric. The seam allowances are turned under and ready to be pressed.)
7. Press the seam allowances in place.
8. Peel the paper off the right side of the fabric. (Save it to reuse if you want. You can reuse it several times before it stops adhering.)
9. Pin in place on your quilt to see if you like your fabric choices. If so, you can stick them in place with more glue stick to help keep them in place.
10. Either hand applique or machine applique  your pieces to your background. 
That's all there is to it! Give it a try. It is really easy. 
The figures in most of my patterns are appliqued using this method. It is fast, easy, and you can see before you sew exactly what you are going to end up with. 
 

37 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great tutorial. I am going to give this a try later this week.

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  2. I am new to applique, and this looks like something I could manage. I read Stray stitches and I loved the Old Lady quilt she posted. How fun!

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  3. The small applique has always been daunting to me, but your work is gorgeous. I saw your darling patterns on Linda's blog and they are beautiful. The story of the Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly has always been a favorite around here.

    I think your last cold storm will arrive this week as my cousin is coming to SA to visit her daughter! What a fun town it is.

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  4. I came here from Stray Stitches.. and I have to say.. I love your patterns. I especially connect with the pattern the old woman who swallowed a fly..I return to my years as a home daycare provider.. telling that story over and over to the children and listening to them giggle.. oh the joy!

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  5. Hello Linda! I also dropped over from Stray Stitches and I love this tutorial. I have problems with my hands and have been having a devil of a time trying to to needle turn applique, but your tutorial is the best I have seen yet, maybe it will help. I've been thinking I'll only be doing blanket stitch applique but I am going to try this method and see if it works for me. Thanks again...OH, I have to tell you the The Old Woman Who Swallowed the Fly quilt just tugs at my heart strings. I still have the book I used to read to my two daughters when they were young, (over 40 years ago), then we raised two grandsons who also loved the story. My poor book is a little worse for wear but it was all loving wear! When I saw your quilt design I thought, "How fun would it be to give each of my daughters one of those"...Hugs...

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  6. I saw this on there, I've never tried it this way but I do think I will try it. Thanks so much!
    Blessings...
    Kristie

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  7. Will be following your blog for sure! Traveled here from Stray Stitches and it was/is a good journey!

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  8. I came here from stray stitches to see your wonderful patterns. Thanks for the tutorial on the freezer paper technique. Love the bunnies in your patterns.

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  9. Hi Linda, Just popped over from Stray Stitches. Thanks for the great tutorial. I haven't done much needleturn but really must give it another go.

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  10. Hi, Christine! This is not actually needleturn applique, at least what we call needleturn in the states. This is turned before you even pin it to the background. That part of the work is already done.

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  11. Linda from Stray Stitches sent me over.

    I have tried your version and the other version of freezer paper applique. I like your version with the paper on the front much better. I have been slowly practicing needle turn applique and your version helps me keep all the shapes accurate.

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  12. Ok, so now when you are ready to hand applique, what stitches do you use? What do they look like?
    I know, I sew, but not applique.
    :)

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  13. Hi, Lana!
    First of all, I use a #100 silk thread in a color that blends into the fabric or is the same color as the fabric. You will use very tiny stitches - 1/8" apart is about right. Either hide your knot under the applique piece or come up from the back of the background fabric into the edge of the applique piece, catching only about 1 thread on the turned under edge. Go straight down into the background fabric and come up 1/8" away in the fold of the applique piece. Continue in this way. You will discover that you either like working from left to right or right to left and also you will find a preference of working at the bottom edge of the piece or at the top edge of the piece. If after a while you are having trouble, try shifting to see if a different direction or area is easier for you. The "object of the game" is to make stitches that are hidden just under the fold of the piece. Sometimes I will make a running stitch inside the fold going in and out into the background fabric. I do this if I have a long straight stretch to sew down. Does this help? I have a previous post about thread that might help with that.

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  14. Thanks for the lovely tutorial! I am over from stray stitches and I love love the quilt pattern of "there was an old lady..." Thanks and I have enjoyed reading your blog.

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  15. I think I will give this a try, thank you for the tutorial. Linda from Stray Stitches sent me.

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  16. Linda, where have you been all my life?!?! Well, at least the last few months since I started quilting and didn't find THIS story type quilt until just now?!?!? Love your work and your tutorial totally looks like I could achieve applique success! Thank you!!!!! Bookmarking you now!

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  17. Stray Stitches sent me here. I love the Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly.

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  18. I'm going to be away from my computer for the next few days, so I will not be able to thank you personally for comments and following until I get back on. I do thank you, though, for stopping by!
    Linda

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  19. Linda from Stray Stitches sent me over and I'm glad she did. Great tutorial. I've done applique with freezer paper, but the opposite way...I'll give this one a try. Thanks.

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  20. again, Linda from Stray Stitches sent me over and this tutorial is fantastic. Sure I am trying it.
    Thanks
    Gina

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  21. I am hopping over here on the advice from Linda at Stray Stitches. I love this tutorial. I have never seen this type of applique done. I love it. Now I just need tp try it. Thank you!

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  22. Just like many others who have commented, I came over from Linda at Stray Stitches... I also saw your blog from another blog but I forget who exactly... Anyways this looks like a fun way to applique! I will try it on my next applique, I can say that the last time I tried doing applique it did not turn out how I wanted it to. And now that I think about it... I'm not sure what I did with my freezer paper... hmm might need to purchase some more. Anyways! thanks!

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  23. I'm visiting via Stray Stitches. You have some fun patterns and lovely quilts. I love the Old Woman Quilt. My grand kids would really like it! I enjoy doing applique but have never tried your method. I'm bookmarking your tutorial to try sometime.

    vail in tn

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  24. Linda at Stray Stitches sent me over here and wow am I glad she did. I am in aww of your sewing room. So much beautiful fabric and threads and all so very organised. Plus you are so talented. Your work is beautiful. Will pop back over and thank Linda for introducing us.

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  25. I'm visiting from Stray Stitches. Linda has shown a few of your designs, and they are truly creative and lovely. Thank you for the tutorial. It's helpful to see how to use the freezer paper the right way.

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  26. I'm here from Stray Stitches...I love your tutorial. I have never been able to get my head around the freezer paper method, but now I think I've got it! I love your Bunny Shop hopper quilt!
    Jacque in SC
    quiltnsrep(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  27. I'm a new follower of your blog!
    Jacque in SC
    quiltnsrep(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  28. linda from Stray Stiches sent me and I'm in awe of your skills!

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  29. ok, don't laugh. but I started your bunny pattern last week and figured out there wasn't a seam allowance...so I came back today to look at this tutorial I had seen...(and I didn't quite understand it last time - I have to see it in real life remember?) but this time...I got it.
    I GOT IT!!!!!! WHO HOOOO!!!!
    NOW!!! I am excited to go back and try this again with my little bunny!!!!

    I know. Crazy huh??? LOL!

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  30. Glad I was scrolling around your site this morning! Great tutorial! I am going to try it this morning, as a matter of fact. THANKS!!

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  31. I have avoided this kind of crafting because I was not sure how to do the seam allowance and keep it in place. Now I do thanks to you. Really appreciate the secret tip. Happy New Year.

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  32. Think must be a slow learner! You lost me on step 5. It looks like you are putting the glue on the right side of the fabric?? MAybe you can straighten me out. THanks

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  33. Think must be a slow learner! You lost me on step 5. It looks like you are putting the glue on the right side of the fabric?? MAybe you can straighten me out. THanks

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  34. This is the second of your tutorials I'm pinning today. I found your blog through a search on pintrest for coffee and tea dying. Thanks!

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  35. Thank you im going to give this a try.

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  36. Do you have templates for the faces?

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