We have arrived at the end of my appliqué series. This week, I am going to cover making stems from bias strips and stitching points and inside corners (video only for this). This block we’re working on does not require bias strips for stems, but you may run into an appliqué pattern that does so I’ll share my tips. If you are just joining my blog, you can find the other parts of this series here: Part 1 and Part 2. In those parts I covered my favorite tools, tips on using templates, preparing the appliqués for stitching, preparing the background and motif layout, and stitching.
Let’s get started!
Making Stems from Bias Strips
A lot of appliqué projects include floral appliqué motifs. Because of this, it’s a good idea to know how to make stems from strips of fabric. Here’s a few of my projects that include stems made from strips.
Old Glory Garden on the left uses only curved stems and Cabin Garden on the right includes straight and curved stems. The reason I use bias cut strips if I want to curve a stem on a project is because the stretch of the fabric on the bias makes those stems more pliable and easier to create the curve I want. However if your project only has straight stems for the floral appliqués, you can cut and use just straight strips if you prefer, like we are doing for the block we’re creating for this tutorial series.
Here’s the steps to cut bias strips and make stems:
Step 1: To cut bias strips first lay out your piece of fabric on the cutting mat, usually with the width of the fabric running horizontally, and align the 45 degree line of your ruler with the bottom edge of the fabric.
The fabric I used for this example is a fat 1/8 (9 x 20″) and I have the 20″ side running horizontally, facing me. Then I place the 45 degree line of the ruler on that horizontal edge (photo above, right).
Now using your rotary cutter, make the first cut and then cut strips, on a 45 degree angle, the width required by the project.
Cut the bias strips 1/2″ wider than the stem width you want. For example, if you want stems that are 1/4″ wide, you will need to cut bias strips 3/4″ wide. If you want stems 1/2″ wide you will need to cut bias strips 1″ wide.
Step 2: To make stems from the bias strips, fold in the long sides of the strip 1/4″ in on each side. I like to use a tool called a bias tape maker. Here’s what mine looks like:
To use the tape maker you slide the fabric strip, wrong side up, into the wider end of the tool until the end of the strip starts to come out the narrow end. You will notice that the sides of the strip are folding in. Start pulling the bias strip through and press to keep the folded sides closed, making the strip the stem width you want. There are different sizes of bias tools to make different widths of stems.
To secure the sides of the stem in place, especially if you are making a lot of stems, you can use a few dots of Roxanne’s Glue Baste-it on the wrong side of the strip inside the folds.
As I discussed in last week’s post, stems are usually positioned and stitched down first when you have a floral appliqué project. Because of this, it’s a good idea to make all the stems you need for a project first before laying out the design.
Here’s my mini video tutorial on making stems for a project:
I made this video for those among us who are more visual learners and need to see a technique demonstrated. Hope it helps!
Stitching Points and Inside Corners
Many quilters just learning to appliqué (and even some experienced stitchers) have trouble with stitching points and inside corners. I found that this is the question most asked when I am teaching an appliqué class. Because of this, I decided to make a short mini tutorial video on stitching that includes points and inside corners. It’s easier to demonstrate than to explain in words, so hopefully this helps you understand this part of appliqué stitching.
The video is at the end of the post after my sign-off. I hope the video helps give you an idea how I handle these areas on an appliqué motif. Feel free to search out other quilter’s tips on this.
So that’s a wrap on this series on needle-turn hand appliqué. I hope you learned some new tips and are inspired to do some stitching! Have fun making this block… or several of them. Leave a comment or ask questions below and you will be entered into the drawing for my appliqué gift pack:
The winner of the gift pack will be announced on Monday, August 19th.***We have a winner! Congrats, Karen Addleman!***
Have fun!
Happy stitching!
Deanne
Hello Snuggles! Thank you for the work it takes to make a tutorial! Question for you-
I need to make two applique vertical panels with the same squiggle vine and flowers. Do you have any advise on how to make the vine have the same squiggle with my bias strip I have made? OR would you advise me not to worry that they are not the same?
Thank you
When I have something like that, I use my design wall. If you have a wall or large floor space, lay the vertical panels side by side and work on positioning the vines on both panels. Since they are side by side, you can work to make them as identical as possible.
I do this with a lot of my square wall hangings that have vines on all 4 sides. I’ll hang the wall hanging on my design wall and apply the vines as it hangs there so I get each side looking as close to each other as possible. I use rulers to measure where I start and where curves are, etc.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for this series. I will be trying your method for stars soon.
Thanks for the series. It’s always good to learn new techniques. I also use the bias tape makers for stems. Instead of using glue to hold them in place, I spray my strip with Magic Sizing before pulling thru the tape maker. Keeps them in place perfectly while handling them.
I like that idea. I’ll have to try it.
The bias strip maker is very helpful. Plus saves your fingers from iron heat.
Your tips are great but one additional one for
Linda says there is a ruler you can purchase
that is bendable so once you get one stem the
way you like use the ruler to copy it and place
the next stem or draw a line to follow.
Interesting! I will have to check out that ruler.
I have not used a bias tape tool, even though I have one, but didn’t know how. I can see how the tool is now used and definitely will be going to try it.
Thanks for sharing your insight with us. I love needle turned applique and I am always striving to improve my skills.
I have enjoyed your applique series, I have done applique for many years but I find that I always learn something. I still struggle with really thin stems, like 1/8″, what would be your suggestion or method for making skinny stems?
I’m not sure if I’ve ever done a stem that thin. I think you can find a bias tape make that would help with that size. I would use some spray starch to make it more stable.