Friday, March 18, 2011

Applique - Glue Stick and Freezer Paper

This is my preferred applique method. Press your freezer paper shape to the wrong side of the fabric
For ease of applying glue, I do this on an old magazine. The glossy pages make this part of the job super easy and keeps everything much cleaner. You'll want to apply the glue onto both the seam allowance as well as a small amount along the paper's edge.

On this piece, I began with the corners firstThen the sides

Finally the curve
I do NOT remove the freezer paper, it stays in place until all of my pieces are stitched in place and is removed from the back as I showed in my most recent post.

Until recently, I have been using a regular glue stick that you can buy at any office supply store. These work fine, but there are some drawbacks. I find that they are quite "gooey" and can be a little bit of a mess, on top of that, areas where you may have been a little generous with the glue tend to be difficult to pass your needle through. Michele at Quilting Gallery asked if I would like to try a new product called Lapel Stick and offered to send me a couple. I must say that I am impressed with these. They are smooth and easy to apply, rinse out very nicely, stick well, are not nearly as messy and do not leave the fabric quite as stiff, so they do allow for much easier stitching. I did not hesitate to order more so I have a good supply of these on hand.

There has been some discussion in our Yahoo group about how to go about getting nice thin stems. I'll get some photos prepared and show this in my next post

12 comments:

Kim said...

this is just the way I do applique too.....that is one fine stem........
I look forward to learning your technique.
Your blocks are just beautiful....you have such a talent with color and texture.

Happy Sewing

Anonymous said...

This is the way I was taught applique. I too felt the glue was a sticky mess so would be curious about the lapel glue...not that I've been appliquing! LOL This has been one trade that I barter quilting for. How's the girls?

Createology said...

Your technique is very detailed and complete. A glue stick that is not gooey would be wonderful. Nice tutorial thank you. That stem is amazing...

Royce said...

I'll have to look into that glue. I use glue for a lot of stuff on fabric even thou I've not tried this technique yet. Love your blog, I'm learning all kinds of new stuff - thanks.

Finishing Lines by K.Sperino said...

This applique piece is going to be spectacular with your wonderful color choices and precise stitching. (Keep two glue sticks to use and put one in the fridge, swap them when the one you are using gets gooey.)

Karen S said...

I love this technique. And K. Sperino's advice is good -- I always keep glue sticks in the fridge to avoid gooiness.

Bunny said...

Hi! It has been a while since I came to visit you and wow you are amazing. I am just getting into applique in a BOM with Esther Aliu she uses spray starch to fuse the freezer paper to the pieces. Love that too. Your work is just gorgeous all I can say is WOW.

Diane J. Evans said...

Can't wait to see the flip side of this latest piece. And now I have to try the Lapel Glue. I've been a fan of Uhu Glue Stick, since that's the brand that Jane Sassaman prefers. However, I'm always open to New and Improved.

Diane

Joan said...

Your applique is amazing - thats my next challenge - soon.

Sew Silly Paula said...

Sew Silly Paula says - I have been doing this applique since I took my first and only applique class. I love it. It looks so much neater than some other types. Once I have my pieces all glued down, I take the Roxanne's Baste It glue and dab all around the back edge of the applique on the 1/4 in portion and set it where I want it and then do the invisible applique. Nice and neat.

Kim D. said...

Just stopping by, haven't visited in quite some time. Great idea to use the glue stick. I learned to use the glue stick only for the corners on applique, so they lay nice and neat before I sew them down. Works like a charm. I've found so many uses for a glue stick, it comes in handy for gluing the binding down as well, it keeps the binding in place for hand sewing. Thanks for the tip to use the lapel glue.

ferne said...

I just found your blog through the Small Talk Quilts Yahoo group and have to tell you that this is the most creative and informative blog I have ever seen and I have over 300 bookmarked in my google reader. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

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