Stitching heart and circle shapes to a quilted background | Applique

Yesterday, I showed you how to position and fuse all the shapes for the Valentine wall quilt using my Oliso PRO TG1600 Pro Plus Smart Iron. Today, we start stitching the shapes in place.

I used a SCHMETZ Microtex (Sharp) needle (size 10) for my stitching because I was using a very lightweight thread. If you use a heavier-weight thread, you may need to use a larger size needle. These Microtex needles have a very thin, sharp point that helps you create beautiful topstitching and perfectly straight stitches for quilt piecing.

Ready to stitch!

I used a straight stitch (size 2.0) for my stitching, but feel free to try some other decorative or zigzag stitching if you like. I also put the straight stitch needle plate on my machine. This, along with using the SCHMETZ Microtex (Sharp) needle, helps create a very even, straight stitch.

I also used an open-toe foot on my machine so I could see the stitching area better.

Stitch close to the edge of shapes.

When all the stitching is done, square up the edges to the desired size, using your favorite Komfort KUT Rotary Cutter. My quilt was 21″ x 25″ when finished.

Square up quilt to desired size.

Sew on the binding and a hanging sleeve (if you’re making a wall quilt), and you’ll have your own unique Valentine’s Day quilt!

How to make a hanging sleeve

If you’re going to add a hanging sleeve to the back of your quilt, sew it on before the final hand-stitching of the binding.

• Cut 1 strip of fabric 6″ wide and 1″ shorter than the width of the wall hanging.
• Sew a narrow, double-fold hem on the 2 shorter ends of the hanging sleeve strip.
• Fold the strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Press.
• Using a walking foot, machine-baste the hanging sleeve in place on the back of the quilt, having the raw edges even across the top.
• When the binding is hand-stitched in place, all the raw edges will be covered.
• Hand-stitch the bottom edge of the hanging sleeve in place.

Hanging sleeve basted in place.

And here’s my finished quilt!

Finished quilt

Using SCHMETZ Microtex (Sharp) needle really makes a difference when it comes to beautiful topstitching and perfectly straight stitches.

Tomorrow, I’ll show you how to make 2 quick projects using the leftover fabric and applique shapes from the Valentine wall quilt. I hope you come back and join us!

This is part 4 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 3: Applying applique shapes to a quilted background

Go to part 5: Small quilting projects to make with bits and pieces of leftover fabric

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