Quilting By Design

“Freezer paper to appliqué”, you ask? You bet!

     The word Appliqué is the French term meaning ‘to apply’ and is a beautiful and creative expression in which fabric shapes are stitched to a background.
     There are several different ways to use freezer paper for appliqué. The technique presented here is useful for simple shapes and fairly large appliqué pieces, making it the perfect method for beginners to learn how to appliqué.
     Freezer paper can be usually be found in the paper products area of your local supermarket or discount store. It is plastic coated and comes in a box similar to aluminum foil (and will probably be in the same section). Because of the plastic coating, one side of the paper is shiny, while the other side appears dull. It is the shiny side of the paper that will iron onto fabric, and also easily peel off. The ability of the freezer paper to peel off is extremely helpful when you have need of making multiple appliqué pieces that are identical because the freezer paper template piece is reusable (usually between 3-6 times).

     Items you will need:

1. Marking tool (permanent pen works well),
2. Scissors (both paper, to cut the freezer paper, and fabric),
3. Fabric pieces,
4. Appliqué pattern(s),
5. Silk pins (or a pin with a flat head),
6. Glue stick or an iron to press creases,
7. Needle & thread, if you hand-appliqué; Sewing machine if you don’t,
8. Thimble (if you use one to appliqué),
9. Tweezers (optional),
10. Freezer paper (duh)!

BASIC STEPS!
     To begin with, examine your appliqué pattern. Is it symmetrical (in other words, can you visually cut the pattern in half and each half be a mirror image of the other)? If so, then you can simply place a piece of freezer paper, waxy side down, on the pattern and trace the pattern onto the dull side of the freezer paper. If the pattern is asymmetrical (each half is NOT a mirror image to the other), then you will have to first trace the pattern onto tracing paper, then turn the tracing paper over and retrace it onto the dull side of the freezer paper. If you do not do this for asymmetrical patterns, the pattern will end up reversed on the fabric.
     As you trace your patterns onto the freezer paper, make sure to place them close to one another, but be sure to leave enough room between the tracings to cut them apart easily. You DO NOT add a turn-under seam allowance to the freezer paper patterns. Carefully cut out the freezer paper patterns on the traced line. Be sure to cut smoothly and not leave any jagged edges because these jagged edges may show up when you fold the fabric over the edge to appliqué it. NOTE: I always use my ‘paper-cutting’ scissors for this job. I never use any of my ‘good’ scissors to cut paper. TIP: To make multiple templates of the same shape, fold the freezer paper several times and cut through all of the layers at one time.
     Place the freezer paper patterns waxy side down on the WRONG side of the fabric and press them with a dry iron on a medium setting until they adhere to the fabric. Be sure to place them far enough apart that you can cut a ¼” turn-under allowance for each pattern. You can ‘eyeball’ this measurement. As long as you’re close (without going over), it’s fine. I actually prefer a 3/16″ turn-under allowance.
     If you have any patches with curves (like hearts), carefully clip the fabric up to within 2 or 3 threads of the freezer paper. This does two things: 1) Gives you enough fabric to keep it from fraying, and 2) Gives you enough fabric to anchor your stitches when you appliqué it on.
     Use a dry iron to press the turn-under allowances up and over the edge of the freezer paper. It is not necessary to baste the seam allowances. *IF* I am feeling particularly lazy and I am sitting in my recliner all comfy-like, and do not want to get up to go press these at this point, I use a glue stick along the seam allowance only on the fabric and fold the fabricover and allow the glue to adhere the fabric to the edges of the freezer paper. Then I finger press them into place (this is the best time to smooth edges, especially curves). One major drawback to using a glue stick, rather than pressing the fabric over onto the freezer paper: If you wait long enough before you appliqué the piece on and the glue dries, it’s a little bit harder to remove the freezer paper. You just have to be more careful in the removal.
     At this point, pin the fabric patches to your background fabric. Now, you can either appliqué the fabric patches to the background fabric by hand or by machine. If using a machine, use a very fine nylon thread (practically invisible) in the top and a cotton thread in the bobbin. Select the blind stitch (which takes a couple of straight stitches, then zigzags to the left once, then repeats the process). Make sure that the straight part of the blind stitch follows the outside edge of the fabric patch. Also, reduce the stitch width so that the zigzag part only catches a couple of threads in the appliqué. More appliqué tips are given on this same Web site.
     After the fabric patch has been sewn into place, turn it over and carefully cut away the background fabric from the underneath side. Try to leave approximately ¼” seam allowance.
     At this point, the freezer paper is visible. Remove it carefully. I usually remove mine by hand, however, using tweezers works very well, also.

CONCLUSIONS:
     The freezer paper method is my favorite way to appliqué. I throw all of my fabric patches (with the freezer paper ironed to them) into a small plastic bag, then put it into a larger plastic bag along with my scissors, needle, thread, etc., and away I go. Portable appliqué.
     Freezer paper is also an excellent resource for paper-piecing! Watch for articles regarding paper-piecing here in the near future.
     Two final thoughts: 1) I’ve found that appliqué is like a lot of other things in life: The more you practice, the better you become. And if I go for several months without appliquéing, I find that I have to get back into the swing of things again in order for the appearance to get back to what I like it to be, and 2) Freezer paper can also be used in needle-turn appliqué! Instead of pressing the freezer paper template to the wrong side of the fabric, press it to the right side. You would then still cut the piece out, leaving approximately 1/4″ for the seam allowance. Once cut out, place the pattern piece (with the freezer paper still on it) onto your project, pin (or tack it with washable glue) it in place somewhere in the middle of the piece, then use the edge of the freezer paper as your guide to turning the edges under as you appliqué the piece in place. Remove the freezer paper when finished and store it. It is reusable!
     Good luck and happy appliquéing with freezer paper!

NOTE: This original article first written by Quilting Passion and is copyrighted.

OTHER RESOURCES: Quilting Passion, Quilt Geek, CD Designs, Horizon Quilt Patterns, QuiltBus

applique, quilting, freezer paper