Applique Quilts

I have made many many applique quilts.  Most of them were baby quilts.  Some years ago I made more of them than now, because I worked as a cashier at a car wash.  Every morning before going to work, I would make sure I had my hand work, my applique, ready to take along.  In between customers, instead of just sitting and twiddling my fingers or just watch TV, I would work on my applique, and still watch TV.

When sitting and waiting, like at a doctor’s office, or when traveling,  I like to bring along my small bag of appliqué.  I always have some project or other that I work on.

I have had this little bag for at least 15 years, and it’s gone all over the world with me.  It’s gotten worn and has marks on it, but I still use it.

There are a couple different types of appliqué.  I’m familiar with both, but one I have by far the most experience with and enjoy the most, is just doing a very small close together button hole or blanket stitch on raw edge fabric.  I attach the fabric pieces with small pieces of wonder-under.  I don’t like to put wonder-under under the whole piece, because it could make it stiffer.  I just tear small pieces and put them on the perimeter of the appliqué piece.

The other appliqué method is needle turn.  For this you add about ¼ inch for seam allowance to your appliqué pattern.  You can glue down the center of the piece and as you begin sew turn under the section that you want to stitch, and make a couple stitches and then turn under some more.  Turn under as you go.

I have done needle turn, but since I’m so familiar with the other type of appliqué, I get impatient with this one.  I’m short on practice.  Whichever one you’ve practiced with more, you will be most comfortable with.  And, as always, remember, practice makes perfect.

Here are pictures of a many of my appliqué quilts.