Quick and Pretty 3D Applique'...

Here's a little tutorial for adding quick dimensional elements to your quilt.
Like this...

"Spring!" block featured in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks vol 10

                                                    Or this ↓↓

Or these:

Blossoms & Beyond

I seem to have a thing for butterflies:

Hexagarden Wall Hanging (PATTERN)

Here's how to make your own dimensional applique' pieces ~
Supplies:
               Heat n Bond ULTRAHOLD fusible web
                            (best results are with this heavy-duty "no-sew" fusible product)
               Regular Cotton fabric (batiks, solids, prints)
                            Remember, it's going to be double-sided, so double the fabric needed.

1)  Line the ironing board with a sheet of parchment paper or mylar to protect the surface.

2)  Follow manufacturers' instructions and PRESS to apply Ultrahold fusible web to the wrong side of fabric.  Use a hot, dry iron.  Hold in place for up to 8 seconds per section, overlapping iron until the fusible is adhered to the fabric piece.

Allow to cool, then peel off paper backing.

3)  PRESS two fused sides together.   Here I just folded my fused strips together.  It basically "plasticizes" the fabric, but leaves it soft and pliable to use in a quilt.  Another bonus - no raveling!

4)  CUT out shapes with sharp scissors... or die cutting machine.   Love my AccuQuilt Go! Cutter!

This creates a soft, pliable, double-sided, non-raveling piece of fabric.

For added dimension, PRESS to heat shapes through with an iron, and roll or form as desired, HOLD in place for a few seconds until cool, and the pieces will keep their shape!  I rolled the butterfly wings around my finger.  

In the example below, the larger flower pieces were formed around a dime to give them shape and stand out from the quilt block.  Then I formed the small flower centers around my fingertip, and just bent back the leaves a little on each side.  If you want to change the shape, simply re-heat and re-shape. A-dorable!!

Stitch the dimensional elements into place by hand or by machine.  All of the examples above were machine-stitched.  To embroider through the dimensional applique' pieces, a larger needle is helpful, and if you are doing a lot of machine-stitching, you may need to occasionally clean off the needle with rubbing alcohol. I think it's worth the effort!

Happy Quilting!

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