Can You Hand Stitch Raw Edge Applique?

Applique is such a fun way to make a quilt come to life. You can hand stitch and machine stitch raw applique. I do both as I add raw edge appliques to my quilts. There are two options when sewing on your raw edge applique. You can stuff your raw edge applique with polyester fiberfill or use low loft batting to give your raw edge applique more appeal. It gives your applique more depth and makes a bold statement on your quilt. Take a look at my process for hand and machine sewing raw edge appliques to your quilt.

Here are the steps to hand and machine stitch your raw edge applique to your quilt block.

• Cut out your applique.
• Decide where you want your applique to be sewn to your quilt block.
• Use thread that matches the applique and not the quilt block.
• Use a size 11 needle for hand sewing around your raw edge applique.
• Hand sew a loose running stitch around your applique attaching it to your quilt block leaving one side unsewn if you are going to stuff your applique with polyester fiberfill.
• If you decide to back your applique with some low loft batting instead of stuffing with fiberfill, cut out a piece of low loft batting to match your applique. Place it on your quilt block and then put your applique on top of it. Then hand sew all the way around your applique with a running stitch to prepare it for machine stitching around it.
• Once again use thread that matches your applique. Sew a zigzag or straight stitch around the edge or on the edge of your applique depending on the look you want with your applique.

Let me start by saying that there are so many ways to create raw edge appliques on your quilt blocks. I’m sharing the methods that worked for me. I wanted to put some raw edge appliques on a folk art quilt I was designing. I cut out some round small pieces of fabric to look like rocks. I wanted it to be 3 D and to have some depth to it. So I did what I always do when I quilt and design. I experimented. I give you full permission to do that (haha not that you need my permission to do anything but just trying to inspire you to have the confidence to experiment and try new things when appliquéing and quilting.) There is nothing wrong with you coming up with your own method of appliquéing and quilting. Back to the process, I took my random pieces of fabric rocks and one by one I hand sewed a running stitch around the edge of the rock. I left one side open for stuffing. Once I hand sewed my rocks on to my quilt block, I stuffed each with polyester fiber fill batting. Then I machine stitched with a straight stitch around the edge of my small rocks leaving some fabric beyond the edge where I sewed. So happy with how it turned out. It is definitely raw edge like it says but very charming and cute.

Cut Out Appliques

This first step of course makes perfect sense. Cut your applique out of your fabric. So your appliques are ready to be sewn on your quilt blocks. You can sew each applique one by one as you cut them out or cut out all of your appliques before sewing them so you can streamline sewing your appliques.

Secure Your Appliques

Decide where you want to attach your raw edge appliques. Grab your pins and put a pin in your applique to secure it while you get ready to sew it. Short pins I have found are smart to use to attach your raw edge applique to your quilt block temporarily. When I use long pins, my thread gets caught on the head of the pin. It takes longer to complete your applique when this happens. I know, I know, it only takes a moment to untangle your thread from the pin you just lassoed with your thread but I would rather keep sewing without this little annoyance.

Two Options For Stuffing Raw Edge Appliques

I keep giving you options to stuff or not to stuff. It all depends on the look you want your applique to have. I like to stuff my raw edge appliques. It makes them stand out so much more. It accents and gives your applique a 3D effect and it is pretty cool. I like to be extra creative with my quilts and sometimes whimsical. Stuffing my raw edge appliques does this for me.

You can stuff a raw edge applique two ways.

• One is to stuff your applique with polyester fiberfill. Just stuff it enough to give it a 3D look in the unsewn end of your applique.
• Or, cut out low loft batting the shape of your raw edge applique but a little smaller. Place it on your quilt block. Then put the applique on top of the batting. Pin with one pin in the middle.Now you are ready to sew. Technically it isn’t stuffing your applique but it gives it more weight and definition to your quilt block once it is appliqued on.

Hand Sew First

Once you put your applique where you want it to go, it is time to sew it on. Yay! Use thread that matches your applique and not your background (background meaning the color of your quilt block). Thread your size 11 needle and sew a running stitch around your applique. If you plan to stuff your applique with polyester fiberfill, leave one side unsewn. Until you stuff it with your batting. Then you will sew the opening closed with your sewing machine once you sew around your applique using your machine.

If you are going to add low loft batting to your applique, If you are backing your applique with low loft batting, here is the process. Place your cut out batting shape on your quilt block. Then lay your applique on top of the batting. Secure with a pin. Hand sew just inside the edge of your applique with a running stitch around the entire outside of your applique.

Machine Stitch Your Appliques Next

Now machine stitch around the edge or on the edge of your raw edge applique. Sometimes I use a straight stitch. Sometimes I use a zigzag stitch. For the polyester fiberfill stuffed rocks I used a straight stitch. I used a small zig zag stitch for my bunny. Choose the type of stitch you want and sew right on the edge of the applique or inside the outside edge of your applique. You have options and choices you can make when you sew around your raw edge applique. You can match the thread to your applique when machine stitching or use a contrasting thread. Rule of thumb is to match your thread but I chose to use white thread. I know sometimes I go against the grain for convenience sake or just for fun. Really in the end, I think it is up to you.

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