Yesterday we prepared our applique pieces with Banyan Batiks Floral Boxes. Today we applique!
The first step is to prepare a piece of backing fabric at 26″ square. The design is for a 24″ square ‘quiltlet’. Next, add a 26″ square of cotton batting. Finally add your background fabric, also measuring 26″ square. Smooth your quilt sandwich and ensure there are no folds or ripples on the backing.
Arranging your applique flower design
Next, create the complete arrangement on the backing. Take a photo to help you remember how you made your composition. I didn’t remember this and my final piece was composed slightly differently than the pattern picture but I encourage you to make this design your own and arrange the flowers and leaves as you please!
This is the order for your applique and your stitching.
A diagram of the order of applique
Once you’re happy with your composition and you’ve taken a photo, carefully remove the flowers and leaves. Pin the stems in place with a few pins. Leave the vase where it is as you pin the stems to make sure they do not shift out of the top of the vase.
When you have pinned the stems, you can remove the vase and set it aside with the flowers and leaves.
Next take your quilt to the ironing board and fuse the remainder of the applique in the following order:
- Large red flowers
- Vase
- Smaller blue flowers
- Leaves
- Yellow centers
Select a simple decorative stitch and thread your machine with a coordinating thread. I encourage you to test the stitch before working on your wallhanging.
This process allows you to quilt and applique your project at the same time. I chose a simple heirloom style pattern that looks like cross stitching.
Close up of the heirloom style cross stitch decorative stitching
Stitch each applique in the order listed above, i.e. the same order you added the appliques.
After stitching each applique, make sure to smooth and prepare the quilt top for the next round of stitching.
Take your time and enjoy the process. The Banyan Batiks Floral Boxes collection are starting to bloom with the addition of adorable applique stitches! Tomorrow we add some background quilting!
Applique is all done!
This is part 3 of 5 in this series.
Go back to part 2: Sowing the seeds of the quilted May Flowers wallhanging
Go to part 4: Let’s try modern machine quilting!
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