How To Craft Quilts With Freezer Paper

How to Craft Quilts with Freezer Paper

No you are not going to craft a quilt with freezer paper, unless you know something I don’t, but you are going to use freezer paper to perform the steps in basic appliqué. The process is simple, and makes quilting easy.

How to freeze your paper:
Appliqué is the process of taking fabric pieces and sewing it onto prime fabric, which the shaped pieces are sewn onto a foundation to form patterns and designs. To start with, the steps in freezer paper cut your appliqué out and leave seam allowances. Next, use graph paper or similar products to trace on your wax-free paper, tracing the patterns of your appliqué. Do not trace seam allowances. Now, cut out your patterns and center the shapes on your paper so that it is on the left side. Place the pattern on to your waxy outside layer and bring it to the fabric. You will need to press (NOT IRON) your fabric, as well as the freezer paper. Press the paper so that it is on the fabric of your appliqué. The wax will melt. Once you see the results, cut the curvatures and the points of your appliqué. Use needle and thread that matches your design and run a stitch about the allowances of your seams. Slightly pull your thread to collect with the allowances about your appliqué shape. Make a knot in your thread at one end, and collect your stitches. With the freezer paper inside still, use your iron and press your appliqué.

You can also prepare to work the appliquéd style by using glue sticks. Ultimately, you can sew by hand to form the appliqué. In addition, you can use your machine to create a pattern of appliqué. It’s your choice.

To use the glue stick method, you perform the same actions, as you would in the freezer paper, only you use copier paper. You can use paper that you use in your printer to complete your steps also. Use your glue stick and fasten the seams. Leave out the wax coating and perform the same steps as you did in the freezer. On the backside of your paper, and at the middle, add a bit of glue. Press on the left side and turn your seam under. Around the shape of your paper, add another row of glue. Add the glue in a row down the shape of your edges. You want to glue the seam allowances to lock them in and to start you appliqué.

Once you complete the steps, you can start stitching the pieces of fabric into your backdrop fabric.

If you choose to hand stitch, start with arranging your appliqué, preparing it to fit the background. You will need pins to hold it in place, and use basting steps or else the glue stick to hold them in tact. Perform your actions moving front and then to the back, and appliqué the pieces that lie beneath the other. Overlap pieces should also be appliqué.

Next, get your needle and thread together, matching the thread with your initial appliqué. Stitch in a ladder motion, or else a tacking motion about the appliqué edges. Use glue to create ¾-inch appliqué shapes around the beginning tip, or point. You can complete your stitching, once you remove the glue.

In addition to the hand appliqué, you can also use the blind-stitch method, or the machine method to create your quilt. Another option is the zigzag method, or the fusible machine method. Various other methods are optional as well. To learn more about quilting visit your local library.