Applique with Accuquilt part 3

 Hello everyone and welcome back to my series on appliqueing with Accuquilt dies.

I hope the first 2 posts have been useful and if you are just joining in I highly recommend that you check those out first.

Applique part 1: https://myfarmhousequilts.blogspot.com/2025/09/applique-with-accuquiltintroduction.html

Applique part 2: https://myfarmhousequilts.blogspot.com/2025/09/applique-with-accuquilt-part-2.html

Let's move on to the next step: Fusing down your shapes and getting ready to stitch them down!

I made a video ( quite lenghty) that explains everything I will talk about here in this blog post, so feel free to check that out over on YouTube. Here is that link: https://youtu.be/d9zlJgUSn5w

To fuse down your applique shapes you want to start by cutting your appropriate sized background fabric, and then following the manufacturer's directions on your package of fusible web. They all work a little differently so just make sure to follow YOURS.

You may choose to cut your background fabric a little larger than your pattern requires, just in case your applique process shrinks the background a bit. This is not super likely, but if you want to be sure, give yourself that security.

After fusing down your shapes, you are now ready to go on to the next step, which is stitching them down. I know you have all been waiting for this particular section, but there is some prep you will want to do first:

First you will want to decide on which STITCH you want to use for your applique.

Even though you might have a hundred and one available stitches, I recommend that you start with one of the following:

• straight stitch
• zig zag
• blanket stitch
• satin stitch

The straight stitch is a fun one if you are looking for a more modern, artistic look. I like to stitch right inside my applique shape with black thread and sometimes will go around my shape a few times to give it a "drawn" look. 

The zig zag stitch is, in my opinion, the easiest to work with: 

The satin stitch is really a very closely spaced together zig zag and it is a good option, but it does take more time and thread:

And finally, the blanket stitch: 

This is a great choice for doing "blocky" shapes, but can be a little tricky in tight corners or on sharp points.

As well as choosing your stitch, you will want to attach the appropriate foot and install the correct throat plate ( if your sewing machine has those options).

If you are going to choose a stitch other than straight you will want to make sure you use a throat plate with a wide throat and the appropriate foot, otherwise you will break a needle.

Before I start stitching, 

I ALWAYS check my stitches by using a scrap piece of fabric. That way I can adjust the size to what I need/want. Generally I use smaller stitches on smaller shapes, and bigger stitches on bigger shapes. And do NOT be afraid to use different sized stitches on your shape(s). There is NO QUILT POLICE and you can do what you want!

Because fabric sometimes tends to get pulled into the throat plate, you might want to use a stabilizer on the back of your background fabric. There are many choices out there so just see what you have available to you...

Finally, we have to discuss thread choice just a little bit. 

I like to match my thread to the color of my applique most of the time ( close is good enough!). I use 50wt thread, unless I really want my stitches to stand out and then I might use a thicker thread. I DO NOT WORRY about what TYPE of thread I'm using. There is advice out there that warns that polyester thread will wear through cotton fabric. I am not making heirloom quality quilts that are still going to be around in 300 years, so I do not worry about that possibility. You need to make your own choice.

Already then, I think that just about covers everything in part 3. For part 4, our final lesson, I will try to go into as much detail as I can about the stitches and how to handle corners, overlapping shapes,  etc.  That topic needs to have its own post and video, with lots of detail so I didn't want to tack it onto this one.

If you have followed along with all the lessons so far, then you will be all set for the final part!

No promises as to when I will have that ready....as you know, block number 8 in our Qube sewalong is due out on Wednesday so that has to take priority. And then I promised an up close and personal account on the Morning Star die as well, so need to work on that. But I will do my best to have this final lesson ready really soon!

Until next time~happy stitching!

Monique