How to Do Hand Appliqué

Hand appliqué is one of the traditional methods of preparing quilt blocks. In hand appliqué, a prepared fabric shape is hand sewn on top of the block being created. The appliqué can range from the simple one shape per block to more complex blocks made with several shapes appliquéd on each block.

Things You'll Need

• Washer and dryer
• Iron and ironing board
• Fabric scissors
• Freezer paper
• Hand sewing needle
• Thread that matches the appliqué fabric
• Pins

Instructions

Choose Your Applique Design

1. Go to the library or book store. There are many quilt books available with reproducible designs for hand appliqué. Choose one that you love.

2. Surf the net. Many websites are available that provide hundreds of free appliqués for quilters to use.

3. Create your own. Find a picture or photo you love, trace darkly over the basic shapes and photocopy the image to use as a template.

Get Ready to Applique

1. Prewash and iron your fabrics. This will prevent your quilt block from shrinking and warping later.

2. Cut out the pieces of fabric that form the design and the quilt blocks that will be appliquéd.

3. Trace the wrong side of the design on the paper side of the freezer paper. When you finish, the design will be backwards, that's okay. Cut out the freezer paper along the lines that you have drawn.

4. Press the plastic side of the freezer paper to the back of the fabric with a warm, dry iron. Trim the fabric around the design leaving a quarter-inch seam allowance.

5. Clip the curves of the design so it will appliqué neatly. Then, press the seam allowance toward the wrong side of the fabric.

Appliqué the Block

1. Place the appliqué, right side up, on the right side of the background fabric and pin it carefully in place.

2. Baste the shapes in place, sewing the basting stitches at least a quarter inch from the edge of the appliqué shape.

3. Sew the appliqué piece to the background fabric. Work from right to left, holding the folded edge of the appliqué piece in your non-dominant hand.

4. Come up from the wrong side of the appliqué and catch a few threads at the outside edge. Then place the needle down through the background fabric and come up again one-eighth of an inch further along. Work your way carefully around the appliqué.

5. Use your fabric scissors to carefully cut a slit in the back of the background fabric. Then remove the freezer paper from behind the appliqué.

6. Iron the finished block with a warm dry iron.

Tips & Warnings

• Start with a simple design for your first hand appliqué project. You can always increase the difficulty as you become more comfortable with the technique.

• Use short lengths of thread (about 18 inches long) to avoid tangling and knots.