October 28, 2013

Applique Rings Tutorial

 
How to get beautiful turned applique with these rings or anything with a curved edge. It's really pretty easy with a couple items.
You will need:  Light weight fusible interfacing, and a Teflon sheet for ironing. The usual items. Sewing machine, thread, scissors, and iron.
 


My fabric is ready for the applique process. I have laid it right sides together on the fusible side of the interfacing. It feels bumpy on the fusible side. I have smoothed out the ring and pinned them together. This avoids any shifting while sewing. I also left the interfacing bigger just in case anything shifts. You never know, and I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 
I am going to sew a 1/4 inch seam around the outside edge. I am using the right side of the presser foot as my guide. I keep the fabric lined up with the edge of the foot.
 
 
I am going to sew 1/4 inch on  this inside edge going in the opposite direction. I want to make sure that the needle is in the down position when I stop sewing. This makes it efficient to lift the foot and pivot the fabric and follow the curve with the right side of the presser foot. I went a little slower on the inside to make sure that I get the nice curved stitching.


 
Once sewn, I trimmed off the excess interfacing around the outside and cut out the middle. I also cut the little notches around the outer and inner circle. I made sure not to cut past the seam. It takes some extra time, but it makes turning easier.  I cut the interfacing right in the middle of the circle area. Be careful to pull the interfacing apart from the fabric before you cut. You don't want to slip and nick the fabric. I did that on the 2nd one. Not good.

 
Now, we are going to turn it right side out. Finger pressing to get a nice circle.

 
 Lay it fusible side down on *Teflon (which is shown in the above photo) and  use the iron with no steam. I  tried to stay close to the edge when ironing to keep the fusible from wearing off. The Teflon is keeping the fusible from sticking. It's really neat to use this for the first time. Good stuff!
 
 * The longer the iron stays in contact with the fabric, it will be heating up the  fusible. It will make the fusible wear off from getting heated up too much. *
 
 Then, work your way around the inner edge tucking and quick pressing with the iron.

 
Here it is before sewing. Now, I place it where I want it to be and iron it down. I start with the outside and then do the inside. Now, you can really press to get the fusible side to set.


 
I used the nylon clear thread in the top, and a colored thread in the bobbin. I used a invisible hem stitch.  You can also use whatever thread combo you want to use and whichever applique stitch on it that you want. You can use a straight stitch close to the edge even or a blanket stich. That would work well here. A zig zag would work too, but it's really up to you.
 
 
Thank you for stopping by my little blog. Blog at ya later.

2 comments

  1. I'm currently designing a wall quilt with applique' circles and rings, your technique sounds just perfect and the Teflon ironing sheet has just gone on my shopping list ;) thank you for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. Good luck with your quilt, and I am sure it will turn out lovely!

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Maira Gall