!: Applique and Embroidery Stitching in Quilting Projects

Applique and embroidery stitching in quilting projects will add those beautiful professional finishing features which will enhance and complete your quilt design. Contemporary quilting has taken on a more artful emergence than former years. The advancement of new technology of fabrics, notions, threads and mechanical sewing equipment and their accessories have brought new stitchery opportunities.

As you browsed among the quilts at the show admiring applique and embroidery stitching in quilting projects, did you notice the wide range of simple to complex stitchery? As a beginner choose simple designs until you become more skilled.

You can choose between machine and hand stitching. Your quilting project may require both methods of stitching or choose to mix and match.

The basic steps behind an applique is to cut out your design then turn its edges under 1/4" and stitch on quilt fabric by machine or by hand. As a beginner, machine stitching on straight lines and gentle curves should be rather easy. Yes, you can glue or use a fabric glue tape, but stitching is much more secure.

Are you hand stitching?

Use a running stitch, a blind stitch, or a whipping or back stitch:

A running stitch is nothing more than taking the needle in and out of the fabric in a continuous motion forming a straight line of stitches from the beginning to the end of the object. To me, it looks like a series of dashes marking a straight line. The applique will lie flat. A blind stitch is the same stitch used in hemming a skirt. It appears invisible to the eye. Pick up a thread from the fold of the applique, and pick up a thread from the background fabric, then pick up a thread at the fold of the applique, pull through and if done correctly you should not see the thread on the applique as it is hiding under the applique. The edges of the applique will be a bit puffy. A whipping stitch is a diagonal stitch used to hold the edge of the applique flat against the background fabric. Because the edges of the applique may fray, quilters will do embroidery work or hand stitch a blanket stitch to decorate and conceal the edges.

Do you have an embroidery machine?

The software has an array of stitches that you can use to outline the appliques. Popular stitches include the satin stitch, straight, zigzag or cross stitching, border stitching, leaf stitching, and many other decorative stitching.

Are you hand embroidering?

There are many embroidery stitches to select. Some of the basic stitches include single stitch, chain stitch, cable stitch, feather stitch; various leaf stitches, cross-stitch, braid stitch, and many more. Embroidery stitches are available in a wide range of simple to complex and elaborate stitchery.

Learn more about quilting. Visit the hobby page of Tricia Deed at http://www.Infotrish.vpweb.com/ Review Quilting Gems. Do download your free quilt pattern.