Make It With Marcus

World Tour 2001

APPLIQUÉ USING THE OVERLAY METHOD (Optional):

I make a transparent overlay for all my appliqué designs - this is a helpful method for quick and accurate placement of the appliqué pieces. You can purchase transparency sheets that will feed through your printer from your local office supply store. Print the 2 sections of the design sheet onto the transparencies and tape them together.


HOW TO USE THE OVERLAY:

  1. Place background fabric RS up on ironing or pressing board.
  2. Center overlay onto background fabric and push a straight pin into each top corner - through overlay, fabric and into pressing board.
  3. Raise overlay slightly to place appliqué pattern piece. As overlay is lowered, align pattern piece with design on overlay. Keep finger on appliqué piece to keep it from shifting when positioning.

After appliqué piece is positioned accurately, raise overlay to fuse piece in place - do not iron directly on overlay - it will melt! Continue in this manner until all appliqué pieces are positioned.


TRIMMING YOUR BLOCK USING THE OVERLAY:

  1. Remove overlay after all appliqué pieces are positioned and fused. Finish around all edges of appliqué piece using a machine satin stitch or blanket stitch. Add any embroidery or other embellishments.
  2. Place appliqué quilt block on cutting mat and realign overlay on appliquéd top.
  3. Overlay has 2 outside borders. Inside borderline is the measuring line and outside borderline is the trim line. Place 1/4" mark of see-thru-ruler along an inside measuring line - edge of ruler will be along outside trim line.

With rotary cutter, trim edge. Rotate quilt, continue in same manner until all four edges are trimmed. Quilt is a perfect square and ready for borders or binding.