I have always loved the look of Needle turn applique and have tried many different methods but was never happy with my results, I just couldn’t get the perfect finish untiI I found Semi water soluble Applique Paper. My applique pieces are so neat and tidy, I am now hooked on this method. The paper is left in your project & will break down into fibers when washed, fabulous for Hexies as well. The paper has a paper side & slight shiny side which has a small amount of glue for ironing onto the fabric. Applique paper, glues and threads available on the Notions page.
Gather your Tools
Semi water soluble Applique Paper
Lead pencil
Sewline glue pen
Roxanne Applique glue baste
Milliners needle size #11
Bottom line thread – Taupe 617
Fabric
Awl or cutex stick
Tracing
Trace your shapes with a lead pencil from pattern sheet onto the
paper side of the applique paper.
Cut out on the drawn line.
Shapes can be drawn very close together to save paper.
Ironing
Iron shape onto the wrong side of fabric.
Cut fabric leaving a scant 1/4″ seam allowance.
I will sometimes leave a smaller seam allowance depending on the shape.
Fussy Cutting
Have fun with the fabrics & place your papers to create different looks.
This can create completely different looking pieces for your designs.
Glue Pen
Run a line of sewline glue along the paper edge of paper shape, a section at a time.
Use the awl or cutex stick to ease the fabric onto the paper shape using the edge of the paper as your guide .
Take small “bites” of the fabric & ease onto paper as you go to create smooth edges.
If you are getting “pleats” then your bites are to big and your edges will not be smooth.
My pointer finger follows the seam as it is glued & I press down as I go.
Press all finished shapes with hot iron.
Perfect Points
Add extra glue at the points & using your awl tuck the fabric points in.
Clip the point to reduce bulk if necessary
Curves
When gluing down the fabric take small “bites” to make a perfect curve.
The smaller the “bite” the better the curve.
Practice makes perfect
Convex Curves
Snip into the fabric just up to the paper at regular intervals to help ease the fabric into the curve.
Glue basting
Just a few drops of Roxanne glue baste onto each shape will secure your applique into place.
Assembly
Glue baste your shapes in order from bottom pieces onto the background then top pieces on top, press with a hot iron as you put each layer onto your background, alternatively pin pieces.
Tip – If I am doing layers of applique shapes I will glue baste & sew them together first before adding to the background there fore only needing to sew the bottom applique piece, this makes it much easier to work with.
Example – Center circle – glue baste small circle on top of large circle hand or machine stitch.
Glue bast finished section to background, stitch.
Stitching
I use 2 different methods depending on the project and will even use both methods.
Hand Applique
Bottom line thread & Milliners needle
Thread alternatives – silk or your preferred fine thread
Use small invisible stitches to attach the shapes to the background.
Machine Applique
Clear monofillament thread in the top & bottom line in the bobbin.
Thread alternatives – cotton in the bobbin
Small zig zag stitch is used, play with your machines sizes to find the perfect size for you
.9 & .7 is my preferred size using a Janome Horizon – all machines are different.
A beautiful block all done ready to be added to a project -this block is in my Hennessey Park BOM
A pile of applique shapes ready to go on my next project – Avonleigh
Enjoy Needle turn Applique the easy way