I’ve been having so much fun doing machine embroidery using die cut appliques. It makes the dies so much more usable because you can get a project up and going in no time at all. I have digitized a lot of the Accuquilt dies, but the ones I’ve been playing with this week are the Critters die, the Fun Flower die, and the Holiday Medley die.
Using die cuts is the best way I have found to do machine embroidery applique. I have tried stitching the fabric down and cutting around it as well as cutting the applique shape by hand. Neither way has been satisfactory to me. Die cuts are the cat’s pajamas!
Another option you can consider is that you can use Elmer’s school glue stick (the purple stuff) on the base fabric just inside the die line and fit the appliqué shape onto that and then press that with the mini-iron.
Here’s the quilt top that is almost finished:
Closeup of Critters and Flowers
Notice that for most of the appliqué that I do, I only use one color thread – that makes it easy to stitch – but it’s a way of showing off and enhancing the appliqué shape and the fabric.
And here’s a closeup:
Butterfly
Fun Flower
And a pic-tutorial showing how I did these – it’s so easy and fun.
Notice that I ventured into Christmas!
Stitch the Die Line onto the Base Block
Fit the die cut applique onto the die lines
Fuse appliqué shape into place using small iron
And a completed Christmas Tree
Holly Leaves
And here’s the Christmas quilt I’m going to make with the holiday medley die:
EQ Christmas Quilt using Holiday Medley Die
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed your visit. Come again soon.
Marjorie
