This is my version of Raw Edge Starch Applique.
Materials needed:
Iron (yes, that's my awesome $5 Wal-mart iron)
Fautless Heavy Starch (less than $1 @ Wal-mart)
Bathroom towel
Material to be used in the applique, I will be using white for my background and red for my applique pieces.
Lay your bathroom towel over your ironing board. I do this because when you are using lots of starch the towel soaks up the starch very well and then I can just wash it out!
Take your background material and press it. After you press it the starching will begin. Spray the starch very heavily all over your background material. Make sure that the starch has soaked in, meaning you don't want to see any white starch on your material, it should just look wet. Then iron. Now, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat and repeat. Nope, that was not a typo, I will starch and iron each piece of material five or six times. When you're done starching you want your material to feel like paper. STIFF!
Now set your background material aside.
Now take the material to be used in your applique pieces and you will repeat the same process. Make sure that you have not cut anything out yet.
Remember that the more starch you use the better your result will be!
This shows that the starch will sometimes, after many layers of starch appear white. When it does simply use your fingers and rub the starch in before pressing. This will prevent the starch from flaking. Also, apply the starch to the back side of the material. I'm just happier with the end result when starching the back side of the material.
Now (after starching) trace your shape to be appliqued onto the red (applique piece) material.
Cut out around the applique piece.
Pin your applique piece onto the background material. They should feel like you are pinning two pieces of paper together. VERY STIFF.
I like to use three basic stitches on my machine for the applique.
First:
A blanket stitch.
With a coordinating thread (my favorite is So Fine by John Flynn for
Superior Threads).
I use a simple blanket stitch and stitch all the way around the applique piece.
Sometimes I wan my applique to stand out so I use a contrasting thread for the applique.
Second:
Tight Zig Zag
Using a coordinating thread I set my zig zag very tight and stitch around my applique piece. This stitch can be very forgiving.
Third:
Strait stitch.
The straight stitch will frey up when washed and is great if you're just learning or if you don't have a blanket stitch on your machine.
When I do the straight stitch I will stitch about 1/4" from the edge of my applique piece using a coordinating thread.
Walla, there's your applique!
Okay, now I know that everybody is wondering why I don't use fusible. Well, I have a few reasons:
1- I love that starch will wash out of everything. I hate how fusible stays stiff in my quilt after being washed.
2- I am a long arm quilter and I have found that quilting over fusible doesn't always give me the look I want.
3-If you are dong the applique by hand I have found that the starch is easier to stitch through.
Now, you're wondering if all your applique has to be raw. Well nope. I also do a turned under method of Starch Applique and turn it under. We will tackle that another day!
Leave a comment, we'd love to hear from you.
~Natalia
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