Thank you, Nancy. I think I will try your technique.

florence wrote:
I take the templates out just after I iron them, before they are stitched to the background fabric. I hold the applique in place with just a touch of glue stick.

Nancy are you taking the templates out after you iron down the edges, or are you cutting it out from the back after?

Florence

Why not try the best of both?
You can use needleturn with machine applique, and without fusible--no raw edges, no stiff fusible, and quicker than hand applique. To do this, use freezer paper templates, starch to iron under raw edges, a washable glue stick hold your template in place, and free motion machine stitch the applique to your backing fabric. You can use either a straight stitch or decorative stitch to attach your applique, since you have no raw edges.

Check out this interactive project ---> http://www.flickr.com/photos/sykossa/sets/72157602282539312/ It uses raw edges, but inspired me to develop the technique I described above, because I don't like raw edges and like to avoid using fusible.

Eileen, it's not a problem if you use the fusible stuff only around the edges of each shape.

Personally I wouldn't comtemplate hand appliqué (and I love all sorts of embroidery) if there is a lot of it on a large bed quilt. It would be a question of time for me. Whichever way you look at it, machine appliqué is quicker.

Talking about 'stiff appliqué shapes': I have always wanted to make a set of small, identical pieces, using all the different fusibles on the market and compare afterwards how they feel, handle, wash, and wear........ Ah well, I'll look into that when I retire in 2016.

Lorchen

I would think fusible could be very stiff in places, plus if you don't anchor it properly, it will fray when washed.
eileenkny

I have a hand applique quilt on my queen-size bed. I made it 3 or 4 years ago. It's been washed a number of times, slept on, slept under, and it has held up really well. I remember, when I was doing the applique, telling myself "Small even stitches...small even stitches".

Which works best for a bed quilt: needle-turn applique? or fusible machine applique? I'm an applique novice, and I'm imagining that machine applique would be much faster for a quilt that size. But would it wear as well as a hand-appliqued quilt? Or would it even make a difference?
Thanks.

Kay