Applique Tutorial: Curves August 11, 2011 – Posted in: Sewing, Tutorials

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!