Over the last few weeks I have shared 5 mini tutorial videos demonstrating steps for hand applique, from preparing templates to making stems to stitching points and inside corners. To see these videos, you can go to my last blog post: Applique Mini Video Tutorial – Part 5
There you will find the final video as well as links to parts 1-4.
So now on to some up close views of stitching. To get started, you will want to come up from under the project with your needle catching the edge of the seam allowance of the applique piece:
Next, this is a photo of how I use the tip of the needle to sweep the clipped seam allowance under the applique piece before continuing to stitch…. this is where the term “needle-turn” hand applique comes from.
Now, insert your needle right next to where you came up but in the background fabric only:
Next, come back up with your needle once again catching the edge of the seam allowance:
By stitching this way, as you can see by this close up photo, the stitches show as small “dots” on the top of your project!
Using threads that match the color of your applique piece, or neutral threads that match closely, you can achieve almost invisible stitches. My favorite threads to use are 100% 50wt cotton threads with a silk finish. I like Mettler brand the best.
And my favorite needles are John James Gold ‘n Glide. I use size 9 which is the correct length for me. Try different size needles to see which is the best for you. Remember, the larger the number the shorter the needle.
So that’s it for my “up close” stitching! If you have some tips, questions or comments, feel free to post below. I will be holding a drawing for a free applique pattern from those of you who comment! Here’s the pattern you can win:
The drawing will be held on Tuesday, June 11th. ***We have a winner! Congrats, June!***
Until next time…. Happy stitching!
Deanne
Thank you for the videos. They are very helpful to me since I am just learning how to do this technique in sewing. I very much appreciate it.
I love your fabrics and tutorials.
I love your Tutorials!
Thank you for your great videos. I love needle turn applique and your videos are wonderful. They are a great resource.
I have yet to try this type of applique, but I have a sister that love to needleturn. Your work is lovely….
Thank you for showing me a different way of Applique. I am still a learner!
Your pattern is great. I truly enjoy doing applique and always on the lookout for new suggestions!
This is my favorite type of applique. As matter of fact it my only way. I will convert patterns so that I can hand applique if the pattern doesn’t have it.
Love the tutorials.
Thank you.
I really Appreciate all of the help you are putting out there in your videos. Every little tip always helps. Thanks.
Thanks for the wonderful videos and tutorials. Appliqué is my favorite! Your patterns are beautiful. Thanks for the opportunity to win this beauty!
I love this beautiful quilt with a little piecing and beautiful curvy appliqué. So pretty an just right for a summer project.
Love that pattern
Thanks for the tute
“Summer Serendipity” is a beauty! ❤️
Love your applique! Thanks for the tips and your technique. I’ll be looking for the John James needles.
I’m a long time fan of your work and am so enjoying your expanded website. I have the previous 3 years of your block of the month and am currently doing this years also. I love needleturn appliqué, and always incorporate it into all my quilts. Thanks so much for continuing to inspire and encourage quilters to try appliqué. Keep those wonderful patterns coming!
For the first time in your close up I see that I am suppose to clip the edges of the piece I am sewing down. I actually think I will be able to accomplish this technique now. Thank you so very much for helping me “get this” part that I had missed! I love your patterns.
I have been following you for awhile now…love your work and appreciate your sharing your techniques and tips…thanks Deanne.
Thank you for the tutorial. I’m looking forward to watching your videos. I can use all of the help I can get. Because I can’t quite get the hang of needleturn applique.
Thanks for the tips on the type of thread & needles you prefer for needle turn appliqué. I love appliqué & needle turn is the best technique.
Thank you for the videos and instructions. It’s amazing to me how different instructors teach appliqué. Your technique is the easiest to understand and your instructions are just perfect. Thanks to you, I’m appliquéing again 🙂
Thanks for your tutorial, very helpful. Perfect prize if I’m chosen.
Just subscribed to your blog and really enjoyed the videos and tutorials of needle turn applique- love your patterns and am currently doing your wool BOM quilt- just starting applique and working with wool – I appreciate all your time and effort in doing this blog and helping us learn these great techniques
take care
your appliqué videos are very helpful. Thanks for sharing with us out here in cyber space. Love your patterns and thank you for offering the one on the blog. It is awesome. I’m really enjoying your BOM. I’m a little behind but all this rain we are receiving is helping me out. Thanks again!
Your stitches are invisible. So lovely. Thank you for sharing the tutorial.
Thank you for the great applique videos. Applique is my favorite quilting technique.
Thank you for the close-ups. They have been very helpful. Love your instructions,
they are so clear.
Great tips and tutorials! I will have to give needle turn applique a try.
Love your tutorials. I’m still working on needle turn appliqué but have found some of the other ways to do it works better for me.
Thank you! Your series came along at just the right time for me as I am about to add appliquéd twigs and birds to the top border of a bed quilt I am making. We’re antique collectors and so many of your designs will fit perfectly with our decor! I look forward to ordering several on the near future.
Thank you. Love the tutorials.
Your tutorials are very helpful by demonstrating exactly how you achieve such beautiful applique quilts!
I love your use of ric-rac to trim the tops of the flower pots. 💖
You make the turned applique technique look very achievable for beginners in applique. I had never seen the method so clearly shown as well as described.
Thank you.
Also, I’m enjoying your block of the month for 2019!
I love doing applique. I took a class and got addicted. The pattern is fantastic.
Love applique. Thanks for the draw and tutorials.
Needle turn applique is what I love the most.
I have tried a different method than this as I think this a always looks too hard.
Your tutorial is wonderful and I will give it a go ! I love your giveaway pattern and also look forward to your emails.
Thankyou
I love needle turn applique! Just wish I had more time for it.
Love appliqué but have trouble getting the hang of it. You patterns are beautiful.
Your videos are a big help, my points are always difficult!! Thanks for your time and devotion!! Beautiful designs!!
Thank You for sharing your expertise with us. We love you!!!
Great tutorials for review when I’ve been away from applique for a while. Thanks!
Beautiful pattern – love the colors you used!
I enjoy all your tips/techniques/instructional videos; even if it’s something I have already tried, I always learn something new/useful.
Thank you!!
Thanks for sharing your videos with us.
I always had trouble doing needle turn and after reading this post I realized I needed to clip the seam allowance every so often to make it easier. Thank you for this tip as well as many others.
I am such a visual learner and your tutorials have helped immensely! Thank you soooo much!
This is on my bucket list this summer-I have done wool appliqué, I love the look of wool cotton intermixed. Just need to fine tune “needle turn” appliqué!
You make it look easy. Going to give it a try.
Wow…I adore the quilt pattern. Just starting to do needlework applique and your tutorials are great. Being left-handed is a bit challenging but I’m in my right mind so I’m figuring it out ok. Thanks so much.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! So glad I found your tutorials. You make it look so easy, but I know it’s taken a lot of practice to get to that point. Hopefully I can work up to what you do. Your are tutorials are very easy easy-to-understand.
Great videos. This is the way I learned to do it.
I just joined your blog and am a new to applique stitching
your video encouraged me to venture out and try it with a little less fear
thank you
I love what you do. After taking a class with you, it reinforced what I was doing. Your workmanship is beautiful.
Thank you for your videos. I am rather new to applique so I really enjoy seeing demos on how to proceed. The closeup shots really helped.
Your tutorials are great. They show the steps in such detail and its easy to understand. Now it’s just practice, practice, practice, love your designs, I’m going to try this very soon.