Machine Quilt Blind Stitch & Applique Techniques

Try using your sewing machine for appliques and blind stitches.

Blind stitches and appliques have traditionally belonged to the domain of hand quilting, but in recent years quilters have begun using sewing machines for all their quilting projects. Using a sewing machine speeds up quilting exponentially, and it's hard to sit and hand quilt knowing that there are other quilts you'd like to work on but may never have time for. Therefore, mastering machine quilting techniques can speed up your production and give you access to techniques you may not have considered trying with a sewing machine.

Use New Embroidery Needles

Look for sewing machine embroidery needles at quilting shops.

Prepare your sewing machine for blind stitches or appliques by installing a new, sharp embroidery needle. Appropriate sizes for these tasks include 60/8, 70/10, 75/11 and 80/12. A new needle will help your work to be exact and will cause less frustration.

Choose Cotton Embroidery Thread

Take your quilt top to the store with you when you buy thread so you can match it exactly.

Thread your sewing machine and its bobbin with 60-weight cotton embroidery thread. Depending on the style and design of your quilt, you may choose matching or complementary colors. For applique, the thread will be very visible as you will use a zig-zag stitch. For blind stitching, choose a thread color that matches the background of your quilt as closely as possible.

Stabilize Fabric for Applique

Use fabric stabilizer underneath your fabric as you applique. Stabilizer holds your fabric taut so that it won't pucker or move around while you applique. You can buy several different varieties of fabric stabilizer: cut-away, tear-away and wash away. Try out all three types and see which one works best for you.

Pivot Along Curves

Pivot along curves to keep your curves looking even and regular. Use a washable fabric marking pen to make dots at regular intervals along your curves. As you are zig-zagging your way around the curve, stop at each dot. Keep your needle down, but lift up your presser foot and pivot the fabric. Put the presser foot back down and continue along your way until you come to your next marker dot, where you will pivot again.

Stitch in the Ditch Instead of Hand Sewing the Binding

Machine stitched bindings are more durable than hand sewn blind stitch bindings.

Stitch in the ditch to imitate blind stitching with a sewing machine. Blind stitching is most commonly used for binding quilts because it gives a professional look to the edges of the quilt, but you can use a machine to stitch the binding. First attach one edge of the binding to the front of the quilt (right sides together) and then pull the binding to the back, fold it under, and stitch in the ditch to attach the binding to the back side of the quilt.

References

• Debbie Mumm: General Quilt Instructions
• All People Quilt: Applique Techniques