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Aug
29
Back-basting hand appliqué
Filed Under Back-basting (no-template), Hand appliqué, Needles, Photo tutorial, Threads, Turned edge
How about a method of appliqué that gives super-accurate results, yet uses no glue, no starch, no freezer paper, no fusible web, no fusible interfacing, no vinyl or tracing paper. Just fabric, needle and thread, scissors, and a marking implement. Pretty cool, huh?
I promised awhile ago that I would write more about the back-basting, aka no-template preparation for hand appliqué. It’s really quite ingenious and is now my favorite way to work by hand. As I was stitching a Heart in Hand block today I took some pictures along the way to show how it works.
Use a reversed pattern for this method. Start by marking the reversed pattern on the back of the background fabric. I use the blue water-erasable pen. You can also use a marking pencil.
Rough-cut a hunk of the appliqué fabric that’s bigger than what you’ll need. Lay it in place on the front.
Pin the fabrics together. On the back, baste the two fabrics together with a small running stitch, exactly on the drawn line. Use a thick or fuzzy thread for this and a big honking needle. I use a size 7 cotton darner.
Baste all the way around the shape. This is what it looks like on the front.
Now trim the fabric to the shape of the motif, leaving your preferred turn-under margin outside the basting.
Clip and remove a section of basting stitches. In this freed-up area, start turning and stitching. Keep clipping and removing the basting a few stitches ahead of your appliqué. The thick needle and heavy basting thread leave behind temporary perforations that help the fabric turn along the stitching line. I use a size 10 milliner needle and DMC 50-weight cotton machine embroidery thread for appliqué,
Continue all the way around. Don’t press the block yet.
Hmm, not bad. A benefit of this method is that you can flip the block over to see how you’re doing. The marking serves as a built-in stitching guide!
Repeat the same process for the heart.
Once the block is completed, remove the markings from the back. I dip a Q-tip in water and stroke it along the lines. Let the block air-dry and check to make sure none of the blue has reappeared. (If so, just wet it again.)
After all the marks are gone and the block has air-dried, give it a quick press. All done!
I have really come to love this method, since it gets me on the sofa stitching a lot quicker instead of fiddling around with freezer paper templates at the ironing board. I hope you enjoy it too. Like anything new, it takes practice, so give it a whirl and then another. If you’re stalling because you don’t have the right needle or the perfect thread, well then there’s a kit available over at Quilt Puppy that has pattern, instructions, fabrics, both needles, and both threads all in it, to give you a jump start on becoming introduced to the method.
Until next time,
Kay
Quilt Puppy Publications & Designs
Comments
7 Responses to “Back-basting hand appliqué”
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Wow! Can’t wait to give this a try!
betsye, let us know how it goes!
Thanks! Kay
I’ve used the blue wash-out pen for years and it’s great…but I would still want to rinse the entire block in plain, cool water to be sure all the ink is gone.
This is a wonderful technique for applique.
Congrats on the book…will be watching for it’s release!!!
Sunnie, thanks so much for that advice. For me, sometimes it all goes away the first time. Others, I’m chasing blue as it migrates outwards and reappears later. Dunking the whole block would probably be faster, not to mention surer :).
Thanks for your nice words about my book.
Kay
Thanks for a new way of needleturn applique. I have struggled with it for ages and usually do buttonhole applique. Will certainly be trying your method.
Margaret in OZ
This looks like a great technique! I have recently done some applique and I really like it. I have a project right now I’m considering appliqueing pumpkins onto. So you just push the fabric under and up to your stitch line..right? I will go try a practice piece. I also started hand quilting as well…people say I’m crazy with all the machine quilters available…but..I kinda like the dip and dot affect of hand quilting. Thanks for sharing all your ideas with the masses!
Hey belinda!
Okay so back-basting is actually a way of prepping for hand appliqué. The actual stitching is a whole ‘nother ball of wax. There are tips and tricks for getting smooth curves, pointy points, and sharp notches. Try clicking on some of the categories here for some more information on stitching.
Welcome to appliqué! And don’t listen to those folks who say hand-quilting is crazy. That is such a turnaround from just a few years ago. Do what you love.
Kay