How to Quilt Around Appliques

Appliqued quilts are popular at quilt shows.

Applique is a technique of adding one fabric on top of another to create an applied design. Quilters often use applique to add special shapes, scenes, designs or patterns to a quilt block. An applique can be hand sewn using the needle-turn method to hide the stitching, or it can be attached using a fusible interfacing which is ironed to the block with the edges turned under. Machine sewing around the applique allows for great creativity and detail.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• Graph paper
• Tape
• Tracing paper
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Sketch your quilt block on a piece of graph paper. Tape the paper down and tape tracing paper over the graph paper. Sketch the types of shapes or designs you would like to quilt around the applique. Try several designs on different pieces of tracing paper until you create one you like. The design should add to the motif and mood of the quilt and that specific block.

2. Tape your sketch close to the sewing machine for easy reference. Place your block in the sewing machine and sew a stabilizing seam around the perimeter of the block inside the seam allowance.

3. Quilt from the outside edges toward the applique to push the loft of the batting toward the applique. If you sew around the applique first the applique will flatten out, and the background will receive the loft.

4. Follow the stitching guide on your sketch, sewing toward the applique on all sides. Finish by sewing an outline stitch around the outer perimeter of the applique.

5. Stitch around the edges and between applique pieces last to stabilize the loft in each piece.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also quilt on top of the applique for beautiful textural effects.

References

• Sandra Leichner: How I Machine Quilt Hand Applique
• Ivory Spring: Quilting Around the Applique