what is my next step?

[Marilynsgrammy]

I am attempting applique... I have everything ironed onto my back ground fabric... just need to add a few more little things.

Do I put the batting and backing on then applique ( sew) it all down or do I swe it all down ( applique) and add the backing in the end.

And, say I have small things to add, bugs, hearts, etc that are smaller than a penny, how do you applique those?

I will either be zigzaging around my pattern or blanket stitching around it....

I sure appreciate having your help.

Chriss

[sunsup]

I just started doing a little applique, and I stitch down the applique before putting the quilt together. I don't know if that's right or not. But, pretty soon someone who knows will come along and help us out.

[Eajosian]

Marilyn , when doing applique, I first applique (sew) the design to my background fabric..after sewing all the blocks together...if more than one block.... I will then do a satin, or small zigzag stitch through all 3 layers ,block-batting-backing- to quilt-:)

[mic-pa]

Hi,After fusing my applique down I put a stablizer behind it and use a satin stitch, or any decorative stitch that looks good on the piece and when I am done i tear away the stablizer and put the batting and backing together with the quilt top. Then I quilt the top however I want. But I don't want my applique stitches to show on the back of my quilt. HOpe this makes sense. Marge

[apolta]

Chriss...
When I applique... I iron all my pieces down to the background block and then applique or buttonhole stitch around all the pieces (that stitch kind of pulls in the shagginess of the raw edge... if you zig zag some threads may slip out and fray)... the I press again... then I sew all the blocks to one another to make the top... then sandwich and quilt... I do not use stabilizer under my applique just because the one time I did when I tried tearing it out I tore my stitches... I believe most recommend using a stabilizer but my machine does a good job self adjusting tension and have had no problemos... good luck... and hope you post some pictures!

Cheers!
-Alina-

[Marilynsgrammy]

Thanks all for the help... now I am wondering about something really small.... like a small shirt button size... how do you sew around that? How do you applique it down?

Chriss

[IowaGal]

I use iron on interfacing for the really small pieces. Well for all of my applique, in fact. I leanred from the better homes and gardens book, teach yourself to applique, which made everything very easy.