Welcome to wool appliqué class! As you can see by a lot of the patterns I sell in my shop, I love to design and make wool appliqué quilts. Some stitchers do their wool appliqué on wool backgrounds, but I do my wool appliqué on plain and pieced fabric backgrounds. That’s why I want to do this 3 part series so I can share my tips for my style of wool appliqué. So let’s get started.
The Beginning Steps
This week, we cover the basics from preparing templates and the background fabric to actually using the templates. I will also share some of my favorite tools and tips along with my mini video tutorials to demonstrate some of the things I talk about.
After collecting the fabric and wool required for your projects, the place to start with any wool appliqué pattern is the template page or pages that will be used to create the appliqué motif. If you plan to use the pattern multiple times, it’s best not to cut the templates out. To create reusable templates, I like to make a copy of the template page onto card stock and then cut them out using a scissors (designated for paper only of course!).
If you do not have a printer that also copies or do not have access to a copier, trace the templates onto plain paper and glue that paper to a piece of card stock. I like reinforcing the templates like this so I can use them multiple times without them losing their shape. You can also use other kinds of materials to reinforce your templates. Here are some of my templates:
Cut the templates from the card stock using a scissors meant to cut paper. My templates are marked with how many of each the shapes are needed and from what color wool. If your pattern does not have them pre-marked like mine, it’s a good idea to write this information on your reinforced templates. Easy storage for your templates after use is in a bag attached to the pattern or, if they are small enough, slipped into the bag with the pattern.
Once your templates are prepared and ready to use, it’s time to trace the templates onto fusible web. I use Heat n’ Bond Feather Lite for my fusible. Test out different brands of fusible if you like to see which one you like the best.
I like this Feather Lite version of Heat n’ Bond because it’s very light and I have not noticed it adding any bulk to my appliqué pieces or making them more difficult to stitch.
Trace the templates onto the fusible using a regular or mechanical pencil. Make sure to trace onto the paper side of the fusible web. If you have a template that are not symmetrical, you need to reverse that template before tracing since the fusible side of the shape is the side that will be face down on your background. For this example, I want the handle of the flower pot below to face to the left on the project so, the template is flipped with the handle facing to the right for tracing onto the fusible.
Read your pattern carefully before tracing. Most patterns today include templates that are at 100% and already reversed for use. However, you may run across a pattern where you have to enlarge the template on a copier or reverse it before use.
When tracing the shapes, make sure to leave enough space to cut them out outside the drawn lines by a bit. (left photo, below) I don’t like to cut the fusible shapes out right on the line because I use that line later when cutting the wool shapes out after fusing. If you have several shapes that are traced from the same piece of wool, you can trace them closer together and cut them out in a group. (right photo, below) Then follow the lines to cut out the individual pieces, like the leaves below. It’s a good idea to do this because wool is expensive and you don’t want to waste it!
Here are all the template shapes for my project traced onto the fusible, cut out and ready to fuse to the pieces of wool designated in the pattern:
Preparing the Background
Now that you have all the templates traced and cut from the fusible, it’s time to get your background fabric prepared. Here are the steps:
Step 1: I like to reinforce the edges of the block with Fray Check. This is an optional step that you can skip if you like. I do it to prevent the edges of the background from fraying into the seam allowance from all the handling while stitching.
Step 2: Next, define your stitching space. I like to measure in 1/2″ from all sides and draw a line. The space inside those lines is where the design will be laid out and stitched.
By defining the space ahead of time, you won’t accidently stitch some of your design into the seam allowance where it will be cut off when you sew the blocks together. I do 1/2″ on all sides so it keeps the design 1/4″ away from the seam allowance.
Step 3: Finally, I like to draw lines or make fold lines in the background to act as a guide for laying out my appliqué motif.
If you don’t want to fold and do creases, use a ruler and a fabric marking pencil and lightly draw those quadrant lines. I also placed a “dot” in the center of the block as a point of reference.
My mini video series on wool appliqué that covers some of the things I talked about in this post appears at the end of this post for those of you who are more visual learners like me.
That is all for this week and part 1 of wool appliqué tips for beginners. Leave me a comment or ask me questions below and be entered into a drawing for two of my newest mini wool appliqué patterns, Snugg-let Winter Friends and Snugg-let Sew with Friends.
The drawing will be at the end of this series on Monday, November 13th. So, you have 3 weeks to enter! **We have a winner! Congrats, Diana DeWitt!**
Happy Quilting & Stitching!
Deanne
Thanks for all the great info. I have been quilting for a long time but am new to using wool for applique. I love the look, now to give it a try!
Thanks again for sharing your expertise. I really enjoy your visuals and mini tutorials. Makes it so easy to understand. Working with wool, you benefit from using fray check. I have used fray check on smaller and med size pieces I have purchased to prevent loosing any usable wool for my project due to fraying.
I have collected wool and finished 2 small projects, but this makes me want to start something new!
Very cute patterns and good information
I love working with wool. It’s comforting. Thanks for your tips & tutorial.
Great tips for working with wool!!
Thank you for sharing your talent and expertise!
I’m looking forward to learning more 🙂
Felted wool is great to work with. Great tutorial, thanks.
I have done appliqué but not with wool. Always wanted to try, so looking forward to the rest of your blog series. I always learn something new from your posts.
really like the creative possibilities of “wooling” on cotton or quilt. makes it sound so much more “doable” and way less expensive !! thanks for the inspiration.
So glad you are showing tutorials and giving information about wool applique. Have never jumped into this technique, but would love to learn!
Good timing, I want to start wool applique, so these tips are Great!!
I’ve wanted to try wool applique and will be watching your tutorials with great interest. Thanks for including beginners in your lessons.
Do you starch your background fabric if using something other than wool on wool?
Hi! I do not starch my background fabric. I only do the fray check on the edges so there is minimal fraying of the fabric.
Your patterns so pretty. Thanks for continuing to share such valuable information.
I love appliqueing with wool on cotton. My sister is a rug hooker so occasionally, if I’m good, she gives me some of her scaps.
Thanks for all the wonderful advice.
I love wool applique and always learn something new from your posts. Thank you.
Deanne, do you do the same prep work for machine as you do for hand stitching?
I only do my wool appliqué by hand. However, I think this preparation would work with machine appliqué as well.
Love wool appliqué… So many great tips! Thank you!
Thank you, Deanne, for sharing your methods. I love the folding idea and will use it to find the center and four quads from now on!
Such great tips for wool applique. I also like doing my applique on fabric And I will serge the edges of my background to keep it from fraying.
I love wool applique! I have LOTS of patterns and yours are some of my favorites! Not enough time in the day to get them all done😊 Thanks for the great tips.
This info is very clear and understandable.
I really enjoy wool appliqué and always looking for better techniques. Your patterns are really cute.
That was great! I never considered using card stock for my templates.
Great tips, even for an experienced appliquer like me.
I appreciate the recommendation of the fusible! Thank you for being so clear with each step. Perfect for a beginner!
Adorable patterns.
This info is very clear and understandable.
I really enjoy wool appliqué and always looking for better techniques. Your patterns are really cute.
Thank you, this is wonderful! I am so looking forward to part 2 and 3.
Do you put another fabric under your background fabric to hide any traveling threads?
I do not use another fabric under my project because once I am done, I will sandwich them like a normal quilt with batting and backing. Then I do a large primitive hand quilting stitch to finish.
LOVE wool applique! No worries about edges fraying or turning under. Enjoy the “thrill of the hunt” at Goodwills or thrift stores for wool. I never buy new wool. Thank you for the tutorial. Can always learn something new!
I love wool appliqué! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Always open to learn new or different techniques. Your video was very clear and easy to understand. Looking forward to Part 2.
Wonderful information for newbies and we can always pick up a new technique. Love wool applique.
Thank you for sharing your talent with us. Wool applique is one of my favorite crafts as I find it relaxing and, when finished with a project, not only do I feel a sense of accompishment but it makes me happy.
Love the Snugg-let patterns! Enjoyed the tutorial – it’s fun to Learn new techniques. Thanks for sharing with us!
Thank you for your video, and sharing of your talents. I love your patterns and enjoy making them. Always brings happiness to me.
This is one of the best explanation of how to do wool appliqué. Photos and descriptions are fantastic. I love that you go step by step. Love the 2 projects you are offering. My daughter collects lambs. Would be a perfect gift to get her to join me in wool appliqué.
What are your thoughts on the window pane fusible method if your pattern requires multiple layers of wool? I have made many wool quilts and always learning new tips. Thank you.
The window pane method actually works great if you have a motif with several layers of wool. It does relieve some of the bulk.
These patterns are adorable! I l❤️ patterns with sheep done in wool appliqué.
I absolutely love your work.
Love wool applique..tutitoral is very good!
Thank you! I have a couple patterns and wool to make them but haven’t had the nerve to make them yet. This points me in the right direction 😁
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful tutorial! I have a question, how do you know which pattern piece is which? Do you number them, do you alphabetize them, and do you write the name of the piece and the pattern on each of the pattern pieces? I do this for my quilts, and I was interested if you do it for your wool quilt patterns. And, do you keep them together in the zip loc bags with the pattern instructions? Sometimes it seems like a lot of work, until you have a couple of on going projects, and if you have a cat, well, sometimes you need this information on the pattern pieces. Thank you again for such a wonderful tutorial.
When I make the templates for a project, I label each with the color of wool and the amount that needs to be traced for that project. I also label whether there needs to be any traced in reverse. If the template pieces are small, I put them in the pattern bag with the pattern. If the pieces are bigger, I get a larger zip loc to put the templates in and then slip the pattern into that bag. Hope that helps!
Wonderful information! I’m just beginning to do wool applique. Love, love, love sheep! Your patterns are too cute, I may have to try them.
I don’t quilt, yet, only work with wool and stitchery. I often hang out with my mom and her quilting friends and go on road trips to different quilt shops. Your name sounded familiar so I had to check you out. I am in love with your patterns! I’m pleased for this feature! Thank you!
Thanks! Glad you like my patterns. 😁
Hi, enjoyed your wool applique tutorial. Even though I have been loving wool applique for quite a while, there is always something new to learn. Now I have learned to use Fray Check on my background fabric. Thank you for tutorials and designs.
Love wool applique! Your tips will be very helpful on my next project. Thank you!