Are you looking for a unique way to personalize a blanket or your next quilt project? Applique designs are a great way to add a special touch, and the applique process is a relatively simple DIY project. Keep reading to learn how to applique a blanket at home.
Quilting With Applique
Applique is a quilting technique where fabric is applied to the surface of a quilt top to create designs. There are many different ways to applique, but the most common is to use a needle and thread to sew the fabric onto the quilt top. There are two basic methods for appliqueing fabric to a quilt: Free-motion or precise.
With free-motion applique, you simply sew the fabrics together with your machine using a stitching technique that you feel looks best. This gives your quilt an irregular, hand-sewn look. Precise applique involves drawing or tracing the design on paper first, then cutting out the pieces of fabric and sewing them onto the quilt top in order. This gives your quilt a more polished look.
No matter which method you choose, there are a few things you'll need to do before starting.
Choosing the Right Applique Design for Your Blanket
When it comes to applique, there are a few things you need to consider before starting your project. You'll need to choose the right applique designs for your blanket, select the right fabrics, and then determine the placement of your design.
The first step is to select an applique pattern. There are a variety of designs available online or in print form, so take your time and find one that fits the style of blanket you want to create. Once you've selected a pattern, trace it onto tracing paper or lightweight interfacing.
Next, select the fabrics you want to use for your applique. Appliqueing is a great way to use up scraps of fabric! You'll need one or two fabrics for the background and then several different fabrics for the design itself. Make sure all of your fabrics are washable and colorfast. The best option is usually something with some stretch, like jersey knit fabric.
Once you have your pattern and fabrics selected, it's time to determine placement. Most patterns include guidelines on where they should be placed on the fabric panel. Generally, it's best to place them in the center of each panel or near the edge if space allows. For precise applique, it's also helpful to have an ironed-on stabilizer like Vilene or interfacing on hand; this will help keep everything in place while you're sewing it down.
Sewing the Applique Design to Your Blanket
Next, you will need to sew the applique designs to your blanket. After determining placement, pin your fabric pieces in place on the quilt top and sew them down using either a zigzag stitch or a straight stitch set on medium length and tension (this will vary depending on your machine). If you're using free-motion applique, just go slowly and carefully so that your stitches match up evenly across both fabrics. Don't forget to backstitch at both ends of each seam!
Turning the applique inside out and pressing it flat will help to create a cleaner finished edge. This is especially important when working with a thin fabric like cotton or nylon. It will also help to prevent the edges of the applique designs from fraying.
Finally, sew around each applique piece. Make sure not to overlap any seams and leave enough room at the edges for hemming later on. Once all of the pieces are sewn in place, trim away any excess fabric and finish off the edges with a hemmed binding tape or bias binding strip
Overall, learning how to applique a blanket is a very useful skill. It can be used to add extra decoration to a blanket or to fix a hole or tear with applique designs. It is a relatively simple process and can be completed with basic materials.
