How to Hand Applique - Quilting Basic Tutorial for Beginners with Leah Day

Learn how to hand applique in this quilting tutorial designed for beginning quilters with Leah Day.
Welcome to the Machine Quilting Block Party, an interactive quilt along where you can learn how to make your first quilt one block at a time!
Each month Leah will release a new block pattern for you to follow along piecing and quilting. The patterns include both piecing AND machine quilting designs and templates for you to mark your quilt blocks. You'll also find new quilting video tutorials to guide you every step of the way.
At the end of the year we'll trim down our blocks and bind them together to create a beautiful Flower Festival quilt! This Quilt-as-you-Go technique is perfect for beginner level quilters with small home sewing machines.
Leah teaches quilting online through free KZbin videos uploaded weekly. Subscribe to our channel so you don't miss out on any of the new videos on patchwork and machine quilting uploaded weekly: / lcvday
Learn more about the Machine Quilting Block Party and find patterns for each monthy block right here: leahday.com/pr...
Find tools and supplies, plus video workshops to guide you through all the steps to creating beautiful quilts on Leah's website: leahday.com/
Join the Machine Quilting Block Party Facebook Group so you can easily post photos and ask questions about this project: / quiltingblockparty

[@YomeidaGarza-ku4dx]

I have had such a hard time With these UT you have help me so much thank you

[@LeahDay]

I'm so glad you found it helpful!

[@zoegladstone1008]

So happy to have found a hand sewing tutorial from a lefty! Really helpful for me as left-hander.

[@LeahDay]

LOL! Lefties rock!

[@mamabear4009]

I use that invisible stitch when I sew down the back side of the binding...never tried applique before.

[@heathermitchell9498]

I really enjoyed watching your video, it was very clear and a great tutorial of how to do applique, thank you for sharing.

[@carmenbailey1560]

Beautiful needle work 👍 thanks for sharing 👍❤️😊

[@LeahDay]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@dottiepusl8386]

Thank you for a great video.

[@nanlee3980]

Thanks Leah, it's so nice to get Left handed instructions! Those folks that teach right handed make me dizzy. Great tutorial

[@LeahDay]

Lol! We definitely do live in a right handed world!

[@donnasanchez63]

Nan Lee hahahaha same here.

[@zehramutlu6361]

You're a great teacher, Leah!

[@LeahDay]

Thank you!

[@giannadelucci2239]

Beautiful, thank you so much! Edit: I had to go order one of those superbob donuts lol

[@LeahDay]

LOL! I love my donuts!

[@theresmore2learn516]

Thank u Leah. I never learned the ticking under, but basically always did a blanket stitch. Do u have a video showing cutting out pieces and how much seam allowance is needed? Thank you.

[@LeahDay]

Yep! You can find an easy hand piecing tutorial here - mallythemaker.com/blogs/news/how-to-hand-piece-a-four-patch-quilt-block

[@hensojen]

Thanks so much for the invisible stitch!

[@LeahDay]

Isn't that nice?! I love how clean and simple hand applique looks. I just wish it didn't take so much time!

[@sharonc1282]

Beautiful hand work! You made it look effortless. Thank you for a great demonstration, I am going to try this method.

[@LeahDay]

Excellent! It's definitely worth a try!

[@PaulDGreen-bu4iz]

I would have poked my finger I don't know how many times once the needle pushed thru. LOL! Thanks for sharing!

[@lynnaltmayer7982]

Excellent tutorial! You really teach well.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you Lynn! That is a wonderful compliment!

[@miacrow2]

How do you knot the thread when you reach the end of the pink section/how do you hide the knot?

[@LeahDay]

Great question! I take one last stitch to secure the edge of the appliques in place, then pull the needle back through to the back of the block. On the back I tie an overhand knot and clip off the thread tails. Keep in mind, this is being hand appliqued before the block is basted with batting and backing fabric so it's fine to knot off your thread on the back at this time.

[@markkoester5020]

Do you ever use "invisible" monofilament thread (I use it for machine applique.), and if you do, do you advise doubling that thread also?

[@LeahDay]

Nope. I really don't like monofilament thread at all. It has a plasticy, scratchy feeling that just doesn't work for me. As for doubling it, you really just need to play with it and see what works best for you.

[@netty062]

Would this be the same for sewing the binding down on the back of a quilt?

[@LeahDay]

Yep, exactly the same stitch!

[@foggymtn]

Do you ever do needle-turn appliqué? Its quite a bit different from this method but a lot of fun, I think.

[@LeahDay]

I don't like needle turn because it's unstable and I like a solid, secure, smooth curve edge. When I've played with needle turn, the applique had a real tendency to shift out of shape and out of position. I like turning the edge with freezer paper and then gluing it down so it doesn't go anywhere!

[@foggymtn]

If you have a chance, you might want to check out Pacific Rim Quilt Company. Nancy Lee Chong teaches hand-turn appliqué in a very easy doable way. It does involve hand-basting to make everything stable. Her speciality is Hawaiian quilts, and she also has many designs she calls 2-Fabric Appliqué. If I could add a photo to this comment I would show you the Tree Frog quilt I made about 3 years ago, all with needle-turn appliqué.

[@jenniferj.mckinney1651]

How do you get the applique to stay put on the background while you are stitching? Your applique didn't move.

[@54gravi]

Jennifer McKinney I was wondering the same thing.

[@deborahhunsaker971]

Jennifer McKinney in a previous video she talks about how to glue baste the Dresden to the background

[@LeahDay]

I have glued it down with fabric glue. It's very lightweight, you can stitch through it, but it holds the appliques in place so they don't shift as you work. Here's a video on how I created the block - kzbin.info/www/bejne/h52po6RpoLuBjpI

[@jenniferj.mckinney1651]

Awesome! Thanks Leah! :)

[@pj-qy2vj]

Leah Day n

[@HWolfe]

I DONT 'run' the thread as you do. My hands aren't nimble enough.lol

[@rebawasswass3716]

How did you fold/turn the edges over of your design. It seems it would be difficult to get such a small fold and difficult to make it stay folded while you applique. Also, someone told me to applique onto your quilt face after it's been quilted but I've seen others do it before. I"m very confused! And why do the folded edge when others just applique the raw edge?

[@LeahDay]

I have another video on preparing the applique and turning the edge using starch and freezer paper which you can find here: freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/2017/02/quilting-basics-12-turned-edge-applique.html As for your confusion - how many different ways are there to make spaghetti? How many ways to make bread? Please consider just how many options there are with cooking and apply that to every technique for quilting. There isn't one way to applique - there are hundreds. Which way is best? The way that makes the most sense to you, fits the amount of time you have to work in, and the style of quilts you wish to create.

[@gloriacolvin7061]

Hey Leah I would like buy the Super Bobs Donut can to send me a link. thanks.

[@LeahDay]

I believe I found mine on the Superior Threads website - Superiorthreads.com

[@TeylaDex]

I am not a native speaker and even after rewinding 5 times i sadly still do not understand the name of the thread brand....

[@LeahDay]

The thread you use does not really matter. 100% cotton thread that is thin and matches with the fabric color is best for hand applique. Use what you can find in your local area.

[@TeylaDex]

@@LeahDay oh wow thank you for your prompt answer ^^