Dmcthread's Blog

Make an Appliquéd Quilt!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

It’s Appliqué Week here on the blog!

Today’s tutorial is on making appliqués with a paper pattern for perfect, turned-under edges stitched invisibly on your ground fabric.

This technique will give you sharp, well-formed edges on your appliqués.

I’ve used it to make this pretty pink Appliquéd and Embroidered Quilt – and I will share this pattern with you later in the week!

The three-colored blossoms are appliquéd in place using using DMC Machine Embroidery Thread in an invisible stitch.

The delicate stems and tendrils have been embroidered in stem stitch using 3 strands of DMC Embroidery Floss.

The awesome range of 135 colors for the Machine Embroidery Thread makes it easy to perfectly match the colors of the fabric (I used colors 604, 602, 963, 368, and 320) – and the color numbers correspond to our embroidery floss numbers so you can easily match your floss as well. 

To make the appliqués, simply trace the individual appliqué patterns onto lightweight paper, cut out the shapes and pin them to the fabric (I used printer paper, but you can also use freezer paper and iron the shiny side to the fabric instead of pinning).

Cut out the appliqués 1/4-inch from the edges of the paper.

Using matching DMC Machine Embroidery Thread, gather the outside edges of the applique and fasten off the thread.  Press the applique pieces to give them sharp, clean edges.

Then, arrange the appliqués on the fabric ground, and using matching Machine Embroidery Thread, attach the appliqués using the invisible ladder stitch – shown below.

The paper is removed about halfway through the stitching and does not remain in the appliqué.

The dashed lines show the path of the thread through the fabric of the applique and along the bottom (wrong) side of the base fabric.

This leaves an almost-invisible crosswise stitch connecting the applique to the fabric.

So simple!

Watch for the FREE pattern later this week!