I have 3 questions about hand appliqué I want to ask each of you and I hope you will make comments and share your opinion and experience to answer all three questions.
As I have been appliquéing leaves on my leafy treetop bird blocks I have been wondering about all you quilters out there and what I can learn from you. I have taken 3 classes and all 3 teachers have recommended different threads, needles and methods.
1. What thread do you use when you hand appliqué?
2. What needle do you use for hand appliqué?
3. What method do you use for hand appliqué?
Now I will answer my own questions
1. I learned first on silk thread and didn't like it. Then I switched to DMC machine embroidery thread. And I was also introduced to Mettler silk-finish cotton thread. I think I pull pretty hard on my thread because at least some of the time the thread snaps while I'm stitching. I wish I had thread with the finish of the Mettler/DMC/silk but with more strength. If you look closely at the pictures you can see some of the ends of the spools are all chewed up. Thanks to our dog, Shadow. If I unknowingly drop the plastic spool on the floor and Shadow is around, you can bet he'll take a chomp.
2. I forget what needles all 3 classes recommended. I have been using size 11 straw needles. And I like them okay. But could I be using something better? I don't know.
3. I learned 3 different methods from all 3 teachers. I got better with each class, I think. And I use 2 of the methods depending on the project. I find I enjoy freezer paper hand appliqué because its more mindless and I really think it goes pretty fast. But I also like Jeana Kimball's method, though I machine baste my appliqué rather than hand baste. Jeana was a great teacher and I'd like to take another class from her sometime because at the time of the class I didn't pay enough attention to the more advanced techniques she teaches. I learned about how to place my hands and several things that improved the overall appliqué. That class was so much fun. It was in a big sewing room of a private home nearby, a great lunch was served. My friend Flora took me and it made for a fabulously fun day. If you ever get a chance to take a class from Jeana, don't pass up the opportunity. I can't say enough about her skills.
Shadow looks guilty here, doesn't he? I know its hard to see with his black eyes and black fur but I'm pretty sure its a guilty look. One new spool and one chewed-up spool sit tempting him.
The dress quilt was one of my favorite appliqué projects. It was extremely fun picking out fabric for this quilt and planning it. The quilt is from the book Quilting with my Sister by Barbara and Teri. It was the first time I'd done any layered appliqué. These two dresses are my favorites on the quilt because they were made from vintage fabric. My friend Anna went on a trip to Oregon and visited the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center in Tillamook. She bought 3 fat eighths of vintage fabric for me at the gift shop. I love all 3 of them. I still have one that I am hoarding and keeping safe for the perfect project. I haven't been to Tillamook yet but its on the list of places I want to visit. 
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I'll be putting up the pictures of the Valentine Flags that have been sent to me. They are all really cute. I can't wait. And if you haven' t quite finished yours, hurry up! - nanette
As I have been appliquéing leaves on my leafy treetop bird blocks I have been wondering about all you quilters out there and what I can learn from you. I have taken 3 classes and all 3 teachers have recommended different threads, needles and methods.
1. What thread do you use when you hand appliqué?2. What needle do you use for hand appliqué?
3. What method do you use for hand appliqué?
Now I will answer my own questions1. I learned first on silk thread and didn't like it. Then I switched to DMC machine embroidery thread. And I was also introduced to Mettler silk-finish cotton thread. I think I pull pretty hard on my thread because at least some of the time the thread snaps while I'm stitching. I wish I had thread with the finish of the Mettler/DMC/silk but with more strength. If you look closely at the pictures you can see some of the ends of the spools are all chewed up. Thanks to our dog, Shadow. If I unknowingly drop the plastic spool on the floor and Shadow is around, you can bet he'll take a chomp.
2. I forget what needles all 3 classes recommended. I have been using size 11 straw needles. And I like them okay. But could I be using something better? I don't know.
3. I learned 3 different methods from all 3 teachers. I got better with each class, I think. And I use 2 of the methods depending on the project. I find I enjoy freezer paper hand appliqué because its more mindless and I really think it goes pretty fast. But I also like Jeana Kimball's method, though I machine baste my appliqué rather than hand baste. Jeana was a great teacher and I'd like to take another class from her sometime because at the time of the class I didn't pay enough attention to the more advanced techniques she teaches. I learned about how to place my hands and several things that improved the overall appliqué. That class was so much fun. It was in a big sewing room of a private home nearby, a great lunch was served. My friend Flora took me and it made for a fabulously fun day. If you ever get a chance to take a class from Jeana, don't pass up the opportunity. I can't say enough about her skills.
Shadow looks guilty here, doesn't he? I know its hard to see with his black eyes and black fur but I'm pretty sure its a guilty look. One new spool and one chewed-up spool sit tempting him.
The dress quilt was one of my favorite appliqué projects. It was extremely fun picking out fabric for this quilt and planning it. The quilt is from the book Quilting with my Sister by Barbara and Teri. It was the first time I'd done any layered appliqué. These two dresses are my favorites on the quilt because they were made from vintage fabric. My friend Anna went on a trip to Oregon and visited the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center in Tillamook. She bought 3 fat eighths of vintage fabric for me at the gift shop. I love all 3 of them. I still have one that I am hoarding and keeping safe for the perfect project. I haven't been to Tillamook yet but its on the list of places I want to visit. 
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I'll be putting up the pictures of the Valentine Flags that have been sent to me. They are all really cute. I can't wait. And if you haven' t quite finished yours, hurry up! - nanette
1. I use Sullivan’s Quilt Basting Spray to adhere the quilt layers together. There are several basting spray brands but I prefer Sullivan’s because it adheres best. Beware; the spray carries in the air so the area surrounding the quilt may become sticky. I have tried using drop cloths, rugs, and the driveway to lay out the fabric and batting layers for prepping. I have found that a sheet of wafer board (mine is 4x8 feet) works best to use as a work surface to prep small quilts. I place the wafer board over my table or countertop. 
2. Lay the quilt back onto the wafer board right side down. Then lay the batting on top of the quilt back.
3. Fold the batting in half on top of itself while spraying the uncovered half of the quilt back with the basting spray.
5. Repeat for the other side of the batting and quilt back and check to make sure it is perfectly flat, smooth, and adhered to the quilt back.
6. Next lay the quilt top over the batting centering in the middle of the batting. 
8. Repeat for the other side of the quilt top and make sure the quilt top is perfectly flat, smooth and adhered to the batting. 
10. Turn the quilt over placing the quilt top down on top of the wafer board. You may have some wrinkles in the quilt back at this stage. Pull the quilt back off the batting, if needed, in places where the fabric may have wrinkled and smooth out any bunching.
11. Turn the quilt around right side up and make any adjustments needed in the quilt top smoothing as necessary. You now have a quilt sandwich created by the 3 layers consisting of the quilt back, batting, and quilt top. 
12. Move the quilt sandwich to your cutting mat and with your ruler, trim the excess batting and backing away from the quilt top.
2. Drop feed dogs, set the stitch length to 0 and put the darning foot on your machine. Before starting your quilt it's a good idea to do a scrap test. You could use a scrap you cutt off from the edge of your quilt sandwich for this. After stitching the test piece, turn it over and check the back to make sure the tension is set correctly. You don't want stitches pulling through or looking uneven on the top or bottom of your quilt. Then begin at the edge of the quilt and begin to stitch.
3. Remember to move your hands slowly as you move the quilt under the darning foot and run the machine speed fast as you meander around your quilt. Avoid overstitching into already quilted lines and creating angles or jerking corners while quilting. Try to make smooth even loops around the quilt. Take your time and be patient with yourself. You can do it.
4. You may also use quilting gloves with grabber type backs that help you move your quilt around under the needle with less effort. I cut the fingertips out of my gloves so that I can also feel the fabric while quilting.
5. Alternatively you can use a walking foot and stitch in the ditch, outline, or create straight lines on your quilt. This is also a good method for beginners to quilt small quilts.
6. After you have completed quilting the entire quilt use a good light and check all areas of your stitching in both top and back. Clip loose threads from areas where you changed bobbins. If you have a wrinkle in the fabric you can try unpicking stitches in that area and smoothing out the wrinkle and then re-quilt that little area. 
Good Luck
