Quilt in a Day Forums

My niece is taking classes on applique and instructer hadn't shown up for last two classes and she has this question.. I had done some years ago and I had clipped my edges, is this what you do or is there a better way..Would appreciate some advice. thanks loads. Mary Ann

I have a lot of luck with using the fusible. Sew with shortened stitch length, turn, sometimes stuff with batting. Oh, before turning, I trim with my pinking scissors so no need to clip. Then I do machine appliqués around it with the blanket stitch. Sometimes in matching colors and sometimes with contrasting.

If you have the Egg Money quilts, look at instructions for the Dresdan Plate, it gives very clear instructions.

Here's mine:

I've never done circles, but did some heart shaped applique pieces not so long ago. I assume it is not so different...

I actually used a thin cotton muslin instead of fusible (I wanted to be able to iron them with a hot iron before I appliqued them). Before turning them, I only clipped the "sharp turn" where the two round areas met, otherwise I just cut down the seam allowance to very thin (approximately 1/8") and the round parts worked fine.

But, then again, you may not want to listen too much to my advice, since this was my first and only attempt so far...

I used pinking shears to cut the fabric instead of snipping it. It really lays flat with all those little snips at the edge.

beautiful...

Pinking the edges is a good idea. Can pinking shears be sharpened? Mine are so hard to use and sometimes they eat up the edge of the fabric. They are Ginghers so I really don't want to replace them but I would love to pink my edges like y'all have suggested here.

We had a local man that sharpened scissors and he did sharpen pinking shears also.. maybe if you check around and call some one that sharpens scissors he may help you. I know with Ginghers you might not want to take the chance.. Write to them and see what they say..Ginghers that is.. maybe they have a web site. I would look into it.

Evie, I love your dresden plate. I have cardinals come to the feeder outside my kitchen window everyday. I may have to borrow that idea.

Ann, I have always clipped, but pinking shears sounds like a good idea.

I cut sandpaper to keep my pinking sears sharp. I cut through course sandpaper and end up cutting emery paper to smooth the blades. That is what my grandmother did and I have her pinking shears. They have the black meal handles and are very heavy. I don't know if the new expensive pinking shears would sharpen with sandpaper.

Sewbug - my pinking shears don't have a black handle but they are Ginghers. They were my mother's and she's been dead since '70. I'm guessing she bought them in about 1960. They are heavy and very stiff to use. I can get sandpaper from the garage. Where do I get emery paper?