How to Applique - Easy Iron-On Method for Quilts
Source: Missouri Star • Full tutorial: www.craftingstepbystep.com/quilting/how-to-applique
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Hands-on time
- About 45 minutes
- Cost
- About $8 to $15
Tools
- Iron
- Sharp scissors
- Pencil or fabric pen
- Sewing machine (with blanket-stitch setting)
- Cutting mat
Materials
- Heat n Bond Lite (fusible web)
- Fabric scraps for the applique shapes
- Background fabric to applique onto
- Pattern or template to trace
- Thread (invisible or contrasting)
Steps
1. Pick Your Pattern and Gather Supplies
Most quilt patterns include a printable applique template page. If yours doesn't, grab any coloring book or print a clip-art shape - simple silhouettes work best for fusible applique.
Tip: Save scraps from other quilt projects for applique. The shapes are usually small enough that fat-quarter leftovers go a long way.
2. Trace Shapes Onto the Heat n Bond Paper
Place your pattern under a sheet of Heat n Bond, paper side up. The paper is thin enough to see through.
Tip: Pack the shapes in tight to save Heat n Bond. Jenny scoots each new shape close to the last one - over a whole quilt this saves a lot of fusible web.
3. Cut Around Each Shape
Cut around each traced shape leaving a quarter-inch margin. You don't have to be precise yet - this rough cut just makes the piece small enough to fit on a fabric scrap.
Tip: Group shapes by color before you cut - all the boat hulls in one stack, all the sails in another.
4. Iron to Fabric, Cut on the Line, Peel Paper
Place the Heat n Bond shape glue-side-down on the back of your fabric scrap. Iron for 4-6 seconds (medium heat, no steam).
Tip: If the paper won't peel, the Heat n Bond didn't fully bond - usually because the iron wasn't hot enough or you didn't press long enough.
5. Position All Pieces and Iron Them Down
Lay every fabric piece on the quilt top before you iron anything. Slide the boat parts into place - hull at the bottom, sail above, mast across the diagonal, star floating beside.
Tip: Cover the applique with a thin pressing cloth before ironing if your fabric is delicate. Direct contact is fine for cottons but can scorch synthetics.
6. Sew a Blanket Stitch Around Each Edge
Set your sewing machine to the blanket stitch (looks like a horizontal line with a small vertical tick coming off it). Sew around the outside of every applique piece, with the horizontal line just inside the fabric edge and the tick reaching out into the quilt top.
Tip: If your machine doesn't do a blanket stitch, a tight zigzag works the same way. Hand-sewn blanket stitch with embroidery floss is also a classic and looks beautiful on baby quilts.
