Raw Edge Applique Quilting

Raw edge applique is one of the easiest way for a scrapbook-er or painter to jump into the quilting field.

Clearly if you like quilting, you love fabric and desire to collect and create it into your own masterpiece.

Raw edge applique can be tried for small wall hangings or throw pillows and is a great project to test the waters into quilting.

You need to collect your fabrics and decide what art picture you want to create.  An easy way to get started is by someone else’s pattern, such as this one on Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/589713633/raw-edge-applique-pattern-self-portrait?ref=shop_home_active_24

The pattern will tell you how much fabric and materials you need, but assume you don’t have the pattern.

Consider a face or self portrait quilt.  1 fat quarter of quilter’s cotton for the front, one for the back of the quilt and an art size package of batting.  I like 14″ for the face, 15″ for the batting and 16″ for the backing so you can sandwich your raw edge art quilt.   You will also need a yard of light iron on paper backed adhesive.  There are many kinds.  You can buy all materials in any quilt store, most craft stores or even most Walmart’s have these items.

You will need two pair of scissors, one for the paper and one strictly for fabric as paper dulls the blade and makes cutting fabric much more difficult.

For the face (or any design you desire) I like to have at least 8 scraps of fabrics and matching threads.  I like buying pre-cut  packs of fabric so I can take advantage of multiple colors and shades of colors.

You will also need your iron, ironing board, sewing machine and normal sewing supplies.

Now you are ready to begin.  Lay out your “iron on adhesive” paper side down.  Rough side up.  Lay your fabrics out on your material face side up.  Try to cover all spaces, leaving none of the iron on adhesive showing.

Use a presser sheet or wax paper if you have it to keep your iron clean.  Slowly iron your fabrics face side up, by touching down, raising and touching down in a different spot until you believe all the iron on adhesive has been secured to the fabric, then you can gently iron using the directions on your adhesive paper.

Let cool.  When completely cool, you can turn your fabric over to have your paper side face up.  Draw your designs on the appropriate colors you have selected.

Cut out your design.

Turn your pieces back paper side up, use your scissors, wide open, to make a small cut as if touching a knife to the paper to barely cut through the paper.  This can also be done with a needle to start a spot in the center of your design to then pull the paper from your fabric.  Throw your paper away.

Audition your cut outs on your 14 inch fabric.

When you like it, walk away, come back a minute later and make sure you are happy with it’s appearance.  If yes, iron it down, by gently touching and lifting, touching and lifting the iron.  Once the pieces are secure you can iron normally.

Take your piece to your sewing machine.  I like to use freezer paper or your batting with your top fabric design together before sewing.

I like to use a zig zag stitch width at a 5 to create a “satin” stitch.    You can experiment between a 2.5 and 5.5 for the stitch length depending on the size of your fabric pieces.

Zig zag stitch in the appropriate color around every single piece on your art quilt.

Congratulations!  You are an artist.