How to Machine Quilt Applique Blocks

How to Quilt Applique Blocks

Today’s Topic:  How to Machine Quilt Applique Blocks

Welcome to Week Twenty Three of The Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.

Find all of the previous Lessons HERE.

Sign up for emails of the class HERE.

Join the private Quilting with LKQ Facebook Group HERE

Happy New Year, Quilters!

While 2020 was a difficult year for many of us, it was not without bright spots.

For me, launching my book, 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting and working through the lessons in our 25 week quilt-a-long–was certainly a bright spot.

I’d hoped to complete our lessons last year, but it wasn’t meant to be.

And now I’m grateful that we have a few more lessons to begin 2021.

The Lesson Plan for 2021

We will begin with Lesson 23 (page 112) on How to Machine Quilt Applique Blocks and then we’ll continue with the Lessons on Design Tips, and Custom Quilting.

The final three lessons have big projects…some of my favorite projects ever!

Then we will circle back to a few of the old lessons–where I’d like to dig in a bit more.

And a big finish with a round up of all the projects.

After…I have a HUGE project I’d like to share with you…something I’m equally thrilled and terrified by…and hope YOU will help ME!

Without further ado…

How to Machine Quilt Applique Blocks

When you take the time to qpplique quilt blocks, be sure to show them off with quilting that enhances the shapes–(From 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting)

This is the essence of machine quilting applique blocks–the applique is the the star of the show.

The machine quilting plays a supporting role. 

The machine quilting should make the applique shine.

Dense quilting around applique lifts the shapes
Applique Summer Flowers
Five Ways to Machine Quilt Around Applique
Density contrast

Whenever lightly quilted areas are surrounded by high density quilting, the area with lower density “pops”–it becomes a more visible focal point.  This is especially noticeable when using high loft batting. The low density quilted area is physically lifted higher than the more densely quilted area–creating even more “pop”.   We can use this to our advantage when quilting applique.  Quilt lightly (or not at all) on the applique shape, and then quilt heavily around it.  POP! As simple as that–the applique becomes the focal point!

Echo stitch the shapes

Use thread to match the background fabric
echo stitching

To achieve a very crisp line around the applique, closely echo stitch around each shape. This anchors the applique edge in the batting and helps lift the applique shape. I usually prefer to quilt on the “well” side of the applique-in the background fabric rather than on the applique shape.

Add rows of echo stitching around the shape to further outline the design.

Echo stitch, then add details and motifs

Echo stitch the applique and echo stitch the new motifs

Densely quilt around the applique shapes to create POP
embellish with motifs

After closely echo stitching the shape one or more times, add other motifs to enhance the design.

Applique flowers repeated within the quilting-Negative Space Designs

Repeat heart shape leaves–with contrasting and matching thread
negative space designs

Another way to support the applique design is to repeat the applique motifs within the quilting design. For example, repeat the flower shapes in the quilting.  This helps bring the eye back to the applique shape.

Stitch on and off the design for raw edge applique
raw edge applique

Machine quilting can also be used to stabilize fabric when creating raw edge applique.

Quilt on and off the edge of the shape to embellish while stabilizing.

Add details within the applique shapes
add stitched details

If the applique shape is large enough, add simple details, like veins in leaves or spirals in flowers, to support the design.

Remember to keep the quilting light within the shape for more pop.

One Thing to Avoid Machine When Quilting  Applique Blocks

One thing that is not pleasing to my eye–though this is personal–is overall motifs quilted on top of applique.  For example, I have seen quilters stipple or meander on top of elaborate applique designs–even Baltimore album blocks.  IMHO there is always a better way to quilt applique designs.

YOUR Homework

Do YOU have an applique block in your collection?

If so, use your vinyl overlay to practice a machine quilted design.

Later this week we will be designing a raw edge block.  Think about shapes you would like to include in your design.

Choose a color scheme and add fusible web to a few scraps of fabric.  (More details to follow or review chapter 23, pages 114, 115 of 25 Days to Better Machine Quilitng.)

Here’s to quilting with POP in 2021

Cheers!

Lori

Please Join Me!

I will be teaching Easy Machine Quilting at Road to California (Zoom Event)  on Saturday, January 23.

Join me as we discuss the Four Skills of Machine Quilting!

Find the Class HERE

Road to California HERE

(Refer to the “Road at Home” Link)

 

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ.  For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com.  Thank you!

Visit my Etsy shop: LoriKennedyShop for all of my books!  They are ALL bestsellers!

34 responses to “How to Machine Quilt Applique Blocks”

    1. Lori, do you sell the pattern for the beautiful red, green, gold floral Applique? Is it done in wool? Thanks!

  2. Happy New Year. So happy to see your email today! Many blessings to you and your family.

  5. Nice to see you back. I started quilting some vintage Dresden’s a year ago. I’m definitely going to rethink the quilting I had planned…… Thank you for the inspiration.

  7. The flowers in photos today are so gorgeous, I may have to go to the cardiologist, my heart is pitterpattering so hard !!! This is right down my fave alley as far as design is concerned… wowow! Thank you SO much. Can’t wait to finish checking email and go to my sewing room…!!

  9. Happy New Year to you and all. Praying for a much better year ahead. Thank you for all your beautiful designs and helping to understand free motion. Look forward to more inspiration from you.

  10. Welcome back, Lori. Know that you were missed! Your lessons were a bright spot in the crazy year we have all been though. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and talents with us.

  11. So happy to have you back & your new work is amazing. You are a truly bright
    light in a still gray world. Hoping your family is well and looking forward to 2021.
    Sending you love & light.

  12. Curious how you came to the conclusion that “echo stitching in the background … anchors the applique edge in the batting” – does not compute! The rest is very informative and thanks for that!

  14. Thank you for this list of suggestions. I just completed piecing a quilt top with large appliqué collage flowers. I really questioned the pattern direction to simply quilt grid lines over all, including the appliqués! I will absolutely rethink the quilting plan to reflect your suggestions to make the flowers pop.

  15. Lori, Happy New Year and so very timely — I’m getting ready to put my first project on the longarm and it’s an applique quilt. Time for me to get out my plastic overlay and colored markers to choose a design — after reading your blog — you’ve inspired me to get started. Will revisit the chapter in the book also. Cheers to you and your family and to a much more blessed and uplifting year ahead.

  17. You’re so generous to provide us quilters with your amazing store of information. I don’t know how you manage it all! Thank you SO much!

  18. I consider myself a beginner to FMQ. Almost all of my projects have been applique quilts. This post is full of very useful tips with which I agree completely. I have not done any dense quilting yet, but with your help, I think I know how to tackle that skill.

  19. Lori, thank you so much for this informative and inspirational post! I love to hand applique, but have been shaking in my boots at the thought of trying to machine quilt an applique quilt. I’m not very good at machine quilting, but I so love following along with your instructions. You always make it look so easy 🙂

  20. Yes, welcome back Lori! Have missed you. Here is to a better year for us all! Nice to read your comments about applique…I have been doing some applique projects and have only been happy with the cross hatch backgrounds I have done…the FMQ ones are very so-so. I wonder if I like the cross hatch better because they are straight lines against the curvy applique? And have been planning to not even outline the applique, but just cross hatch up to it. So not sure what to do! Maybe the vinyl overlay will help! Thanks again! L

  22. Oh it’s good to see your email pop up! 6 months since rotator cuff surgery and you’ve just inspired me to get out my doodling stuff and get going. So here’s to a great time FMQ for all of us with Lori in the lead, whether we’re ready for lesson 23 or lesson 3.

  23. Happy New Year Lori, so glad you are back! Missed you here in your spot. Hope you are coping, things sure have a way of getting out of hand quickly. Of course I didn’t get caught up, but hopefully soon if you keep the videos for this great book! Stay strong, stay safe! cathyB

  24. Lori so happy to hear from you. Have a blessed New Year. Your work is beautiful and an inspiration. Hope to get started again on doing some FMQ. Thanks for all the great tips.

  25. Hi Lori,
    Hope you are doing well and I wish you great happiness and success in 2021.

    So glad we are back! Love this topic.
    Blessings, Linda

  27. Lori,

    This question doesn’t have to do with appliqué quilting, which by the way is very beautiful. I am curious if it would pull the fabric (to make it appear bowed) if I were to quilt top to bottom in one direction, stitch in the ditch to the next column and the travel the opposite direction. I hope this makes sense. I don’t normally start at the top edge of the quilt top to do the quilting design, but nevertheless was curious about what might happen.

    Thanks for the wonderful teaching emails based on your book. I have enjoyed both. Peace to you and your family in 2021.

    Sherry

    1. Hi Sherry,
      I think it is better to cut the thread at the bottom of the row and begin at the top of the next row.
      It is okay to rotate the quilt at the halfway mark–to reduce the bulk.
      There is too much chance of skewing the fabric layers–I think–by going back and forth in opposite directions.

      1. Thank you. This is what I thought, but wanted an expert’s opinion. You do such beautiful work!

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