Applique Tips and Tricks

Today’s article comes from Amy Bunger’swonderful newsletter and is reprinted with permission. Using appliqué on canvas is a technique I’ve been wanting to try this technique but I’ve been hesitant. With Amy’s great advice I’m ready to try.

The green gloves on this gardener are an ideal location to applique the new Ultra Suede. Here are some tips for cutting out patterns for appliqué.

1. Make a photocopy of the design area. Carefully cut out that pattern, enlarging it if necessary to accommodate padding.
2. Use a piece of Glad Press’n Seal® sealing plastic wrap to adhere the paper pattern to the Ultra Suede. Put the pattern close to the edge or corner to save as much Ultra Suede as possible.
3. If you have multiple pattern pieces to cut out that are similar in size and shape, cut one at a time and either appliqué them to the canvas as you go or carefully mark each one noting where they go.
4. Use a single strand of light-weight thread (strand of oss or sewing thread) in a very close color match in a small sharp needle for your tacking stitches. Your stitches should be small, but not so small that they pull through the Ultra Suede. 1/8” is a good rule of thumb. You can anchor threads with a knot in the end of the thread that can be placed in the design area that will be covered by the Ultra Suede.

NOTE: Ultra Suede, if bought by the yard in fabric shops, is expensive. Look for it in needlework shops, which carry smaller square pieces. Some fabric stores also carry scraps of the material.

These scraps are leftover from cutting other items and are irregular shapes in limited colors. When I have found them they have been sold by the pound. If you are looking at scraps bring your canvases with you to check on the color and size.