applique

I am just learning how to applique and have a few questions-If i go around the egdes of my applique with fray check do i need to use a zig zag stitch? I am also trying to find a comfortable material to put on the backside of the applique that is not itchy or uncomfortable. any suggestions would be appreciated. Do I need to put a light weight interfacing in between the applique fabric and the wonder under? I have been using heat and bond light weight does anyone use another brand they would recommend? thank you

I am not a heat n' bond user -- I use either Wonder Under and Steam a Seam- Steam a Seam has a light weight product that
I like especially if you are going to machine applique your design.  If you are looking for something to put on the back of the garment after you applique to keep it from scratching I love Fusi-Knit or Knit Fuse - great product - irons on very easy and
doesn't look like you have ironed anything on.  The Knit Fuse has so many uses - As far as using something around the
edges of the applique - I have seen them use Aileens Stop Fray- put it on very even and thin and it goes on looking like
white glue and dries clear - it is soft to the touch and is washable and dry cleanable. i hope I have helped you a little-

I personally hate wonder under! It is much more difficult to use than Heat N Bond lite, so if I were you I'd stick to using that. If you are going to be washing the applique you need to sew it down. Just fray-checking the edges won't cut it. Fusible web will only hold up for a few washings unless it is anchored down with stitching.

The edging of an appique can be scary at first, but just go slowly and use a zigzag instead of a satin stitch to begin with.

I also use heat n bond lite and it works great.  Do you have a clear presser foot?  I use that when I do any applique and it helps me so much to see where I am going and where I need to turn.  There is an applique tutorial pdf here on the SMS blog that I used to get me through the process.  Check out: http://www.sewmamasew.com/media/blog/SMSSummerAppliques.pdf

Good luck.

When I applique, I use a fusible like your Heat n Bond on the fabric and fuse it down.  Then, when I do the zig zag stitch around it, if it is on a knit, I like to iron some freezer paper on the back of the garment before doing the zig zag stitch.  After stitching, tear away the freezer paper.  If it is going to be against a child's skin, then I fuse some fusible knit on the back to keep anything from itching.  If you are nervous about the stitching, I've seen some cute tutorials for frayed edge applique that involve straight stitching a little bit away from the edge and just letting those edges fray.  But if you practice a bit, the zig zagging isn't hard.  Just go really slow and use an open foot so you can see your stitching.  As you go around curves, stitch a little, turn a little, stitch a little, turn a little.  Having a needle down feature helps a lot because you want to have your needle in the fabric when you adjust the fabric.

I cheat ... this is what I do with simple shapes :
http://madquilter.blogspot.com/2008/10/applique-made-easy.html

This is a great tutorial for doing appliques from someone who has done a great volume of them:

http://disdressed.blogspot.com/2006/04/tutorial-hand-stitched-applique-with.html

It is very detailed and includes step by step pictures.

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Please include me in FFF. Thanks! (:

I like Heat and Bond too.  Last time I made an applique I wasn't at home though and I was stitching by hand.  I did have a glue stick  (side note: I've often thought that many problems can be solved with either hot glue, post it notes, or glue sticks.).  The glue stick had just enough stick to keep the fabric in place while I stitched around it.

I do something very similar to what Tracy does-


except that I use used dryer sheets as the backing.   This only works for smaller appliques, but there haven't been many pieces I couldn't make this work with.  You lay the used (ironed) dryer sheet on top of the RIGHT side of your applique, stitch around the edge, trim seam to 1/8 inch, and snip a hole in the dryer sheet.  You can then turn the dryer sheet through the hole to the back side of the applique (Tracy's pictures are better than my words).

Anyhow, just like to throw my little recycling suggestion out there, since I know there are many eco-conscious folks on the forum.

Trina

If the applique is on something that is going to be washed, then yes you do want to do some sort of zigzag stitch around the edge or do something else to make sure the raw edge is not exposed.  I learned the hard way that fray check washes out of fabric on one of my favorite bags.  Sometimes it just breaks down over time too.  I have long velcro lines on the floor in my classroom that my students sit on that I applied fray check to to see if they would last longer.  While they haven't frayed as quickly as my old velcro lines, there has still been some fraying over the year that the fray check has been on it.

I use heat and bond lite and like it.

Another way to do the applique is to just sew around the applique with a straight stitch and let the edges fray on purpose.

I used Tracy and Trina's trick... and it worked great!  Thanks ladies!