Applique Tutorial: Curves
August 11, 2011
One of the most asked questions on my blog is about how I applique curves. So when I was making the baby blocks I snapped a few pictures of how I do the curves. I hope this helps those who were wondering!
My first tutorial on applique. This font can be found here.
First, there are 2 kinds of curves, inside and outside.
Inside:
Outside:
And for a tip: when I do all applique, I put my hands right on top of the project and use my fingers to maintain full control over it while I stitch. And go slowly while you sew!!
To do OUTSIDE curves I leave the needle down in the applique and lift my presser foot and make tiny adjustments. I make them every stitch or two, depending on how big of a curve I’m sewing. Go slow!
Leave the needle down in the applique,
make tiny adjustment
then sew one stitch and do it again.
Leave the needle down in the applique,
and make the tiny adjustment.
It’s the exact same principle for INSIDE curves, except this time you leave the needle down in the fabric and make the adjustments.
Leave the needle down,
and make the little adjustment to straighten your stitch.
Sew one zigzag stitch, leave the needle down in the fabric,
and lift the presser foot and make the little adjustment.
If you look closely you can see what I’m talking about. See how the stitches are farther apart on this side:
and closer together on this side:
from the little adjustments you made?
It comes out neat and clean and even.
I hope that helps! Please ask questions if it still doesn’t make sense!
Posted in
August 11th, 2011 at 9:17 AM
thank you! I was going to do an applique today and this helps. now my item will look more ‘professional’
August 11th, 2011 at 9:29 AM
Thank you!! I think this will definitely help me on a quilt i’m working on! Thanks for the great photos…definitely a visual learner here.
August 11th, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Maybe you have answered this question before, but how do you cut out your letters? They look so nice.
August 11th, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Thank you! I was wondering how to do this!
August 11th, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Thanks for this! I think my mistake was not adjusting every stitch…I would sometimes wait 3 or 4 and it was just off. BUT, I also used a closer zigzag.
August 11th, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Thank You! I started a project for my nephew a few weeks back that required appliqued letters, and I gave up on it after the first letter came out looking awful! After reading this I realize I was trying to go too fast and not adjusting often enough. Thanks!!
August 11th, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Cheryl, I cut them out by hand. I use small pointy scissors to make it easier to get in the little spaces (like inside and “e” or “a”).
August 11th, 2011 at 10:09 PM
Thank you! You’ve save me and my seam ripper a lot of work. I’m always having to re-do the tricky parts.
August 12th, 2011 at 7:29 PM
When the item is washed does it fray? I am so worried about giving a gift and it fraying when they wash it.
August 19th, 2011 at 5:52 PM
I love all your tutorials! What font do you use to create your letters? I’ve noticed you traced them off your computer and I am always looking for a font that will be bold enough once it is cut out. Thanks!
September 9th, 2011 at 2:47 PM
Thank you so much! I was going way too fast apparently and not adjusting after each stitch. I need to be more patient.
Angie, it won’t fray after you wash, as long as you’ve got it down good with your heat & bond light. I’ve washed things several times and they still look good. Check out her applique tutorial if you haven’t! It’s great.
October 9th, 2011 at 9:36 PM
I have attempted a couple of applique projects on my own….wish I would have seen them a couple of weeks earlier. That being said I love them. You make it seem so easy. I was wondering if you had a favorite font that seems to work well? Thanks again!
October 16th, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Wow you are so good at that!
October 28th, 2011 at 10:07 AM
[...] (for more information, see my applique tutorial, and the one on appliqueing curves) [...]
November 1st, 2011 at 4:11 PM
Wonderful new technique to learn and fabulous instructions and pictures. Thank you!
November 4th, 2011 at 6:35 AM
[...] should also tell you that I used this applique tutorial to sew on the turkey. There’s a reason I didn’t show a close up of the shirt. But [...]
November 8th, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Great tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
November 8th, 2011 at 8:14 PM
Great tutorial. Thank you so much for sharing!!! I hope it’s as easy as you made it look.
November 9th, 2011 at 1:46 AM
That’s really helpful, thank you! Came here via Pinterest and I’ll be looking around your site! (I’m esp excited about DIY maternity clothes since I’m 21 weeks.)
November 9th, 2011 at 1:56 AM
Perfection! I have been wanting to do some appliques for a long time but always get too intimidated. I might just have to give this a try this week!
Thanks so much for sharing!!
November 10th, 2011 at 8:13 PM
This is a great tutorial. I guess I am in just a big hurry. It always pays to take your time and these wonderful instructions sure proves that to be true. I do a lot of zig-zag stitching and sure will remember these great tips. TFS
November 15th, 2011 at 1:16 AM
Glory and hallelujah. This has been the driving me nuts for longer than i care to think about. Bless you.
November 16th, 2011 at 7:56 AM
you have such beautifully stitched applique…what a good job you do here….just found your blog through Pinterest so i will come back later for more looking…
November 28th, 2011 at 5:42 PM
Funny that I find this now~~~~~a week after I figured it out doing applique for a great-great niece, lol!!!
December 6th, 2011 at 2:44 PM
I have tried to fnd this font everywhere to do my applique can you please tel me where you found it or what is it called?! Thanks!
December 30th, 2011 at 1:57 PM
I would like to see answers to ‘does it fray’ and ‘how do you cut you letters’ and ‘where did you get the font’ if you have time. The tutorial was great.
Thank you, Tana Steward
January 25th, 2012 at 10:03 AM
[...] tips and information see my Applique and Applique Curves [...]
February 6th, 2012 at 2:07 AM
You’re so much more patient than I am and the difference is vast!
What do you do to start and finish your stitching so the threads are secure?
February 6th, 2012 at 4:31 PM
Eleanor, check out my other applique tutorial for that kind of information!
February 15th, 2012 at 9:55 PM
THIS WAS THE BEST TUTORIAL EVER!!! Sorry to be obnoxious with the all caps but I’m SO excited! thank you, thank you!!!
February 16th, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Thank you SO SO much! I’ve always wanted to do applique. Your tutorials are very helpful.
March 1st, 2012 at 6:46 PM
[...] starting to sew the letters on, I read through Melissa’s (of the blog Sew Like My Mom) applique tutorial on curves. She stresses that you must go slowly. I sometimes have a hard time going slow and suddenly [...]
March 19th, 2012 at 6:46 AM
Great tip for the curves. I always struggle with curves!
April 4th, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Thank you.
I can’t believe how simple the instruction is yet I hadn’t been able to find directions for this.
June 3rd, 2012 at 12:46 AM
Your explanation sounds so easy to follow but I’m now very sure that I don’t have the patience to go that slowly.
June 29th, 2012 at 6:00 PM
[...] I mean it! I started by appliqueing Hello Kitty onto a shirt. See my applique tutorials here and here for more [...]
July 11th, 2012 at 7:07 AM
[...] you feel a little more confident you can move onto sewing appliques, corners and even [...]
September 3rd, 2012 at 11:33 AM
dica simples que ajuda muito!valeu!!
October 2nd, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Thank you for this! I’ve been trying to find a tutorial on how to do this and all I could find were no-sew versions. Maybe I’m picky, but I wanted to sew the applique on!
October 11th, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Thanks for this, I always struggle on really small sections!
October 20th, 2012 at 1:05 AM
Great, simple tut! Outside, in. Inside, out. Awesome & easy to remember. Thanks!
November 5th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
what font is this? gladysmueller@ hotmail .com
November 26th, 2012 at 3:46 AM
Thank you for taking the time to share this. Much appreciated! Blessings…S
January 3rd, 2013 at 10:14 PM
Nicely photographed!
January 4th, 2013 at 12:21 AM
[...] http://sewlikemymom.com/applique-tutorial-curves/ [...]
January 18th, 2013 at 8:14 PM
Thank you – I’ve been working on this this week, and knew there had to be a trick.
January 27th, 2013 at 7:54 PM
what kind of thread do u use ?? Any heavier than general all purpose thread ??
January 27th, 2013 at 11:45 PM
No, I use regular thread in a matching color. There’s nothing special about the fabric, thread, or needles I use to applique. It’s all just the regular, basic stuff everyone has on hand!
February 16th, 2013 at 9:04 AM
Thank you for this tip. I just started appliqueing have been sewing for 45 yrs and knew about the first step with the outside curves did not know the tip on the inside curves!!!
February 22nd, 2013 at 12:49 AM
I love, love, love this tutorial, and will be trying to applique again, since the first time (before tut) didn’t come out good. do you ever need to use stabilizer? thanks
February 22nd, 2013 at 10:46 AM
I’ve never used stabilizer and haven’t had any problems!
February 25th, 2013 at 2:37 PM
What a great tutorial! Thank you. I’m definitely pinning this for future reference.
March 1st, 2013 at 11:48 AM
[...] the current quilt I am working on! Let me first say thank you to Stitching Grandma for suggesting this tutorial to help me with my appliqué. Let me just say it worked! Here are the [...]
March 17th, 2013 at 2:04 PM
Hi,
I loved your detailed tutorial on how to applique curved edges. I have one doubt though.
I am planning to make a bunting with “happy birthday” sign on them. Can I applique over the raw edges or do I have to make a small fold over the edges of the letters?
Thank you.
Rajyalaxmi.
March 17th, 2013 at 8:43 PM
Can you explain the difference between IN THE APPLIQUE and IN THE FABRIC, it sort of means the same thing to me (the novice). Thanks!
March 18th, 2013 at 6:28 PM
No, leave the raw edges. You’ll sew over them and they won’t fray.
March 18th, 2013 at 6:29 PM
It means just that–either you’re leaving your needle in the down position in the applique you’re sewing on, or in the fabric of your project.
March 21st, 2013 at 11:43 AM
[...] out this tutorial for sewing around the curves of your [...]