Thank you! I learn so much when I listen to you quilt. I have done appliqué on clothing items but am just starting appliqué on quilts. It is a bit different and I so appreciate your tutorials. Thank you!
Hi Leah - I am working on a quilt top that has appliquéd poppies. If I choose to zigzag on my quilt top should I use some sort of interfacing on the back of the quilt top where I zigzag. Will the interfacing (lightweight) make the zigzag stitch look better or does it even matter. Thank you!
If it's an open zigzag, then you shouldn't need to use interfacing. If it's a very dense zigzag like a satin stitch then yes, two layers of tearaway interfacing are necessary to support the density of that stitch.
No problem! I use 50 wt Aurifil so it's super thin and doesn't show up much on the surface. You can find it here: leahday.com/products/aurifil-cotton-thread
Does the blanket stitch stop fraying? I want to use this method for a quilt for my 2 year old granddaughter, so it will need washing. Can I use running stitch to edge the appliqué? My blanket stitch attempt is a bit dismal. Sorry, I am a newby!
Yep, blanket stitching is meant to stop the quilt from fraying when it's washed. You can stitch 1/8-inch from the edges of the appliques and they will only fray a bit on the edges. You could also satin stitch. I know it seems like a lot of blanket stitching, but this quilt will definitely give you lots of practice! By the time you finish, you will be VERY good at it!
No, not for a blanket stitch or a zigzag. If you use a dense satin stitch you'll definitely need stabilizer. I usually use 2 layers of lightweight OESD tear away stabilizer for satin stitching.
Using stabilizer on the back really helps. Also when satin stitching, you’re completely covering the point so it’s okay to trim the fabric a bit if it’s fraying and distracting you.
Hi lea, may I ask what are the stops you have emailed n the end of your pins please. I use quilting safety pins, they are quite thick and those stops are definitely a sensible idea.
Great question! They are pinmoors and lock the pins in place so they don't stick you or fall out. You can find some here: leahday.com/products/pinmoors-100-pin-anchors
Girlfriend I am anal just like you are. Being inexperienced and anal is a very frustrating mix. It’s like I know exactly what I want something to look like and what I need to do to achieve it, but when I sit down at the machine things don’t turn out like I I had imagined. I just need lots more practice.
LOL! I'm glad I have company with my crazy perfectionism! Just keep stitching. Even if it's not perfect. Most likely when you look at the quilt again, you won't be able to see the spots that drive you crazy.
