Appliqué Lesson 1

Today I am starting a new series of posts I am calling Appliqué Lessons. This is just a brief primer on my preferred method of appliqué which is sometimes called “starch and press”. I LOVE this method of appliqué because it gives you a lot of control over your shapes and I can sometimes be a little, shall we say, anal about things.

I designed a block that demonstrates a variety of techniques I use in my designs to help you learn this method of appliqué. (You can download it here) This is my first attempt at putting a file (it’s a pdf) on my blog so I would appreciate it if you could contact me if you have any problems. Just leave a comment by clicking on the comment button below this post. Also, if you like this block you can make three more to create this little quilt. (The individual block size is 9", the quilt @ 40")

Lesson One: Gather Your Supplies

Here is a list of supplies I use in almost every appliqué project.

1.    Liquid Starch: I use Stay-Flo because that is the only brand my grocery store carries. I like this because it doesn’t have much of an odor and I am very sensitive to perfumes etc. I dilute the starch 1:5. To do this I use a plastic bottle with marking on the side. Some people like more starch, I prefer my shapes to be on the soft side.

2.    Stencil Brushes: You can get these at pretty much any hobby store. You have to play around with which size works best for each design but I generally use the smalls and mediums.

3.    Templar or heat resistant Mylar: You can find these in your local quilt store or online at Karen Kay Buckley’s website (she has pretty much everything you might need there)

4.    Mettler 60wt cotton embroidery thread (the green label Mettler) I usually match my thread color to the appliqué shape.

5.    Thread Heaven: This is a thread conditioner that helps keep your thread from knotting up.

6.    Bias Bars: there are a variety of bias stem making notions out there. I have the old fashioned metal kind. I mostly use the smaller ones.

7.    Clover Bias Tape Maker: I like this for stems ¼” or more but not for smaller ones.

8.    I have a special tool for turning points under that I can’t find anymore. Toothpicks work great for this. If I find it again I will post it here.

9.    Pressing surface: I wrote about making these in this post.

10.   Good Iron: I like to use a regular iron. Although they make some very nice small ones for appliqué I have had success with my standard iron (just be careful about too much steam and getting your fingers too close)

11.   Perfect Circles (from Karen Kay Buckley) or some other heat resistant Mylar circle notion.

Comments

[Karen]

we do it a lot alike I think! -- great minds think a like :)
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

[MAGGIE]

WATCHING YOUR VIDEO AND YOU LESSONS ON APPLIQUING AND NOTICED YOU WERE USING STARCH..............HOW MUCH STARCH TO WATER DO YOU USE. BY THE WAY YOUR LESSONS ARE GREAT FOR A NEW QUILTER THANKS SO MUCH

[Kevin Britton]

I tried searching, but I am coming up short... what size/style needles do you recommend? I've been using John James Sharps size 12, but I can barely see the eye and the thread I'm using (size 50) seems twice the size of the eye!
I am truly appreciative of your generosity and amazed at your sense of color and style.

[Kendra Winters]

Erin, I too am a new quilter and love you willingness to share. Once you have glued your flower together, do you pull up the petals to sew clear under each one or do you only do what can be seen once it is pieced? Also, is an applique like these (flowers and such) will they hold up under constant use if it were a baby quilt and run through the wash over and over? Thanks, kendra

[Connie]

This is the most informative blog I have ever read/watched. I'm new to applique even though I have quilted for years. This blog demonstrates and tell you everything you need to know to make perfect appliques. I'm a perfectionist and have bookmarked this blog for future use. Thank you so very much for sharing.

[JeanneM,wallace@yahoo.com]

Thank You for showing this to all of us, I will try this way next time I love trying different things. I guess as you have to try different things staying stuck with just one way can get boring, I like new change and I like the way this looks,, Thank you HUGS and Cheers Jeanne xox

[Shirley Grant]

Thank you so much for your most informative instructions and videos. I'm just starting to do applique and can't wait to start.

Many thanks.

[Cindi Becker Lemkau]

Hello,

I just found your wonderful site and wanted to sign up to receive emails and it seems the link is broken? Will you be continuing an email service? If so, I'd love to sign up as I'm not a member of the social media sites other than Pinterest and I am now following you there. =)

A new fan,

Cindi

[erinrussek]

I think I just added this