How to Applique Small Fabric Pieces for Quilting and Sewing Projects

Working with Small Pieces in Appliqué

As an avid quilter and sewist for over 20 years, I’ve done my fair share of appliqué work. And let me tell you, working with tiny appliqué pieces can be tricky! From my experience, the key is having the right supplies and techniques to make even the smallest details shine.

Choosing Fabrics for Small Appliqués

When I first started appliquéing small pieces, I often chose fabrics with busy prints or strong patterns. However, I learned that these make it harder to cut out and position tiny shapes accurately. Here’s what works better:

• Solids or tone-on-tone prints in lighter values – these showcase intricate details beautifully.
• Tightly woven fabrics without loose threads – this prevents fraying and gives clean edges.
• Light to medium weight fabrics – easier to handle than stiff upholstery fabrics or drapey silks.

I have a collection of solid fabrics in coordinating colors that I use specifically for tiny appliqués. I add to it whenever I find the perfect hues. This preparedness has been a game changer for me. No more wasting time digging through fabric stashes!

Tools for Precision Cutting

Have you ever tried cutting a 1⁄4 inch shape with regular scissors? Kind of impossible! The right tools are everything:

1. Small, sharp embroidery scissors – I swear by the 4 inch scissors by Gingher. The short, pointed blades allow superb control and sharpness.
2. A self-healing mat – This lets you rotate the fabric easily as you cut out the shapes. No slipping around like on a glass mat!
3. Good lighting – I use an Ott light clamped right to my workspace so I can clearly see every intricacy I’m cutting. Game changer!
4. A steady hand! – Easier said than done sometimes. But breathing slowly helps me focus when I’m cutting itsy-bitsy angles or curves.

Sure the right supplies are spendy. But they’re worth it for the amazing accuracy and details you can achieve in appliqué!

Foolproof Needle Turning for Tiny Pieces

Here comes the fun part – nestling those tiny cuts of fabric into your background fabric perfectly. This is where having smaller pieces pays off through greater precision.

The key is needle turning – loosely basting down the appliqué shape first, then using just your needle to flip and push the fabric edge into place. It takes some practice, but allows superb control compared to other appliqué methods.

My tips for flawless needle turning with small pieces:

• Use a micro serrated appliqué pressing bar to set those tiny folds perfectly.
• Invest in an appliqué pressing sheet – it sits on your iron so no messy fusibles gunk it up.
• Play with light vs darker backgrounds. Sometimes a lighter background fabric lets intricate dark pieces pop more.
• Know when to give up and cheat! If a fold absolutely won’t set right, I carefully use tiny drops of fabric glue in hidden areas for an invisible effect.

Over the years I’ve embraced the magic combo of quality supplies, patience, and practice. This makes even the most delicate appliqué shapes something I can handle confidently. Tiny dragonfly wings or daisy petals – bring them on!

Inspiration for Sewing Small Scale Appliqués

Once you’ve built your tiny appliqué confidence, the fun begins – choosing captivating designs to showcase your new skills! Here are some ways I find inspiration:

Artwork and Photos

Botanical drawings, landscape paintings, animal photos…art is filled with visual treasures waiting to be appliquéd! Here are some of my favorite sources:

• Vintage seed catalogs – brimming with charming fruits, flowers, and foliage.
• Children’s books – these often have sweet, simple nature images ideal for appliqué.
• Mandalas and henna designs – great for abstract floral motifs.
• Your camera! Taking close up shots of leaves, flowers, etc in your own garden captures realistic detail.

Tip: When working from photos or artwork, be respectful of copyright and credit the artist/photographer whenever publicly sharing your finished project.

Fabric Collections

Many fabric designers take inspiration from nature, gardens and landscapes too. Next time you’re fabric shopping, browse collections with these gorgeous themes:

• Floral fabrics like Tula Pink’s flower prints
• Kathy Schmitz’s landscapes with nostalgic vintage appeal
• Elizabeth Hartman’s charming forest animals that could appliqué up sweetly
• Ink & Arrow’s cool cactus and boho prints

Using fabrics from a collection together makes for a cohesive yet interesting look. I love seeing the variety of scale between big statement prints and delectable smaller motifs.

Other Quilters

Connecting with other appliqué enthusiasts is such a treat – when I admire the works of talented artists like the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild members, for example, I’m overwhelmed with ideas I can’t wait to try!

Social media makes it easy to see what appliqué patterns, techniques and motifs are inspiring today’s quilters. It’s like having the whole creative community at your fingertips 24/7.

So next time you feel in a creative slump, open Pinterest or Flickr and let the talent of others rekindle that appliqué spark!

Final Thoughts

There’s really something magical about appliquéing tiny, intricate motifs. Taking the time to perfectly cut and position captivating curves, angles and details is incredibly rewarding. And having the right tools and techniques makes the journey so much smoother.

So don’t be intimidated to try small scale appliqués! With some deliberate fabric choices, specialized scissors and needles, and lots of patience, you’ll be astonished at what you can create. Who knows – maybe even dragonfly wings and daisy petals aren’t out of reach!

From precise seed catalogue blooms to colorful henna patterns to your unique garden close-ups, let artwork, fabric designs and fellow quilters ignite ideas that your appliqué skills can make shine. The world of tiny fabrics treasures awaits – go explore!

FAQ

What are some tips for appliqueing small pieces?

1. Use a lightweight, sheer fusible interfacing on the back of your fabrics. This will give the pieces more stability and prevent fraying on the edges.
2. Invest in good quality applique scissors with micro-serrated blades. These will give you clean and precise cuts on the small pieces.
3. Use a glue stick when positioning the pieces. The tacky glue will hold things in place temporarily before you sew the edges down.

My small applique pieces aren’t turning out cleanly. What am I doing wrong?

Some common issues when working with small applique pieces include:

1. If the edges are fraying, try crisping the edges first with a product like Fray Check. This seals the fabric.
2. Make sure your thread tension isn’t too tight. This can cause fabric to pucker around the edges.
3. Use a small stitch length (1.5mm or less). Longer stitches are more likely to catch on the edges of the fabric.

What needles work best for applique?

Applique needles like number 11 straw or milliners needles are a good choice. Their slender shape makes it easy to maneuver around curved edges and points, with very small stitch holes.

Any tips for getting sharp points and corners on small applique pieces?

1. Clip or notch into the seam allowance, just shy of your stitching line. This allows the fabric to spread open nicely at the points.
2. Use an awl or stiletto tool to precisely push out points and crease folds after turning the piece right side out.