Well, I keep hearing about the Bernina open toe foot so I looked online to see if there is one for Pfaff and bingo! so I ordered it. Funny I never saw one at the dealers but then I probably wasn't looking. Thank You again everyone.

Margarita, I say use whatever stitch you like and gives the result you want!!

Personally I love the blanket stitch for machine applique, but mostly use regular thread not mono with that. Perhaps the blind hem stitch is a better choice when using mono because with the blanket stitch there is overstitching and maybe that is not so good with mono. I don't use any special foot for blindhem stitch on my Bernina - I like an open toe foot so I can see the edge better.

Keep experimenting and find what works best for you.

Thank you Ladies! Now I know I am on to a good thing, lots of affirmation of how I think it should be. Renata, I had almost worked that out about when to change and funnily enough I can see the "invisible" thread without changing glasses but I do have one of those amazing bendy lights and I think that helps a lot. My machine doesn't let me move the needle for this stitch it only lets me change the length and width, weird eh? Very envious of your Bernina photo. Margo, your comment makes perfect sense and what is better I can now forget about the idea even of dealing with the roller thingy. I am going to try zig-zag right now on the inside of my shape made up of hexagons. Much easier than trying to use the mirror image of the blanket stitch. This morning I showed my first piece of machine applique to a friend who is a dedicated hand quilter and she was very impressed - like me!! Thank you so much for all the support, I really appreciate it so much down here on Planet Venezuela.

I used to use a blind hem stitch which is like ...^...^...^...^

until I took a class with Libby Lehmann who uses a narrow zig-zag stitch and now that's all I use.
Her reasoning is that with the blind hem stitch only every 4th stitch catches the edge of the applique, whereas with a zig-zag, every stitch catches the edge.
DUH!! Makes sense to me. More stitches have got to mean more secure appliques!

I use MonoPoly on the top and loosen the top tension down to less than 1, use a length of 1 to 1.5 and width of 1 to 1.5, depending on the thickness of the applique.
This zig-zag stitch is nowhere as visible as a satin stitch, which is a much smaller stitch length and larger width and usually done with a heavy thread so it will show.
I want my applique zig-zag to be nearly invisible.

Like Renata, I also use an open toe applique foot. For Berninas it is foot #20.

Good morning, Margarita!
I use an invisible applique stitch which is similar to what your manual recommends--a couple of straight stitches and one small stitch that goes in for a bite into the applique fabric. In my case, it actually looks like a couple of straight stitches and one zig-zag, then a couple of straight stitches again. I make my stitches very small because I go slowly and can actually take a teeny bite out of the applique fabric with that single zig-zag that goes inward.

I don't use a foot with a roller. I use what Bernina calls an open toe embroidery foot (#20) which comes standard with my machine. I move my needle all the way to the right so that the inner edge of the right prong of the foot is close to the applique and the needle will go into the background fabric right beside the applique. I know my explanation may not be clear. I'm attaching a photo but I could not get that to be totally clear so if anyone once to provide a clearer picture, I would welcome it.

For me, the key to a good applique stitch, besides not seeing the pokeys come through from the bobbin (a tension issue), and not that I'm any expert because I'm not, just picky about pretty stitches, is to make sure that the inside of your foot is always parallel to the applique fabric. When you have to stop, in the needle-down position to turn your fabric, I always do that when the stitch is doing one of the little straight stitches. I never turn the fabric when the needle is in the applique. If I did, then that bite of a stitch going into the applique will not look pretty.

And here is my not very good picture. Hope this helps!

I don't use the monopoly, but with thin silk thread I get a fairly invisible stitch on my Bernina using a zigzag with 1.5 width and 1.0 length. I could probably go smaller width, but that's been working well for me on the BOM. I just go slow and every once in a while I accidentally nip a thread on the edge of the applique, but when I go back later it isn't noticeable.

Nancy

Thank you, that is interesting. I actually have Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circles which I love for making berries etc. I shall put her DVD on my wish list and see if I can get it next time in the USA. I'm interested to know what actual stitch everyone is using with invisible thread? The book last night said NOT to use the blanket stitch with invisible thread (very categorical I thought!) but to use blind hem stitch. Another book recommends a zig zag stitch. Well, I always have trouble keeping zig zag right on the edge in the correct way. As for the hem stitch, you have to use a special little roller affair to keep it right on the edge, looks very complicated to me and I cannot see myself going round corners with this. My Pfaff has a blanket stitch which is 2 straight stitches and then 1 stitch up into the applique which they recommend in the manual and that is what I used, practicing only so far so still open to suggestions. So please take a moment to tell me which stitch if you can, thank you.

Margarita wrote:
Of course you can use the poly thread for machine applique. Last month I took an applique workshop with a WONDERFUL teacher, Karen Kay Buckley. She does both hand and machine applique. She has a DVD, "Hand and Machine Appliqué The Karen Kay Buckley Way," which details her techniques. I know that you are not in the US, so I don't know what the shipping charges, etc. would be.

Here is her website. http://www.karenkaybuckley.com/index.php

Okay, thank you - I will have to look up those needles but I expect any old big eye needle would be good because getting Mono Poly through the eye on the sewing machine needle wasn't hard as it is not so floppy as ordinary thread and certainly has no lint. Really I wonder about my brain - I have a book on machine applique so that's what I'm going to look through tonight just to make sure but I feel with all your help that I am on my way!

Margarita wrote:
If I want to tie off a thread and I can't pull it to the back, I use a "self-threading" or "easy threading" needle and quickly thread the needle with that thread and then push the needle through, pulling the thread with it. I prefer the spiral eye needles (you should be able to find them by doing a web search), but Clover also makes one that works.

Nancy

Margarita, I know exactly what you were talking about when you danced around joyously for having gotten your invisible applique' stitch to truuly become invisible! I had my moment like yours a few weeks ago... and until I joined this Forum, I had never heard of a DH even though I've been married to one for for over three decades! Very happy for you!

Yeh you've done it

I just snip it off but I'm not sure that would be ok if you are making something you want to keep washing

Thank you everyone! Renata I read about Mono Poly and your Bernina even though I have a Pfaff Quilt Expression, lucky Bernina users you have done their homework for them.
This afternoon I had a go, very funny really - I set everything up very carefully and then the masterpiece showed from below so I thought "Oh what a shame well that's that", but I telephoned Superior Threads anyway (from Venezuela) and they told me to drop the tension which worked a treat. I had diligently followed all the instructions on my machine supplied by the Info button but of course they were assuming I was using ordinary thread in the bobbin. I actually have the Superior Thread chart which tells you to use 1.5 to 3.0 tension. I tried two hexagons and the second is perfect, I am going to have to work out how to get around corners neatly but I am so impressed. Actually I ran around the house screaming, my husband (should I perhaps be saying DH? I keep seeing this on the Forum and think it means Dear Husband) anyway he was pretty understanding but a bit bewildered as I whizzed around joyfully. A real breakthrough for me and totally exciting. When you have a lot of colour changes as I do with these little hexagon thingies the idea of constantly changing thread colour was exhausting.
When I tried to pull the Mono Poly from the front to the back I couldn't so I just cut if off, I don't think it will unravel but would like to know what other quilters do?

If your pieces are very small then I find a dab of fabric glue stick in the middle stops it wandering. Test first with fabric though.

I've used the monopoly a lot and find it works with normal thread in the bobbin. I drop the top tension a little. I have also used it in top and bottom and have just had to slow down a bit. I tend to sew at full speed a lot.

Your quilt sounds really interesting