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Fusible applique is so fast and easy and fun!

I’ve already got a video showing the basics of using fusible adhesive. In a nutshell. . .

• Trace the mirror image of the shape you want onto the paper side of the adhesive.
• Fuse to the back of the fabric.
• Cut out the piece.
• Peel off the paper.
• Fuse in in place.
• Secure the edges with stitching.

You can watch the video here.

In that video I mentioned (repeatedly) that fusible adhesive can feel stiff.

I also talked about how the satin stitching that’s usually recommended around the raw edges often looks kind of clunky and heavy to me.

But then did a test of some new fusible adhesives I found – a test where I really liked the results! You can read that here.

Those results led me to give fusible adhesive another try in a real quilt – and I spent some time refining my technique (and the way I design my patterns) to suit these awesome new products.

So here are some much more detailed instructions showing how I applique with fusible adhesive. I’m so in love with this technique – especially when combined with Quilt As You Go – that I use it now for all my quilts.

All the images you see here are from the Cuddly Cats quilt pattern.

Update!

In 2020 I changed the way I design my templates, to make my patterns easier to use for people with electric cutting machines. That means a little change in how I do things.

I’m in the process of updating all my patterns to the new method, but right now there’s a mix.

If your pattern does NOT include an SVG file for use with cutting machines, use the method below. You can tell at a glance by looking at your reversed and exploded template pieces. If any of the exterior lines are dotted lines, that’s an older pattern. Use the method below.

If your pattern includes an SVG file, and all the pattern templates are bounded by solid lines, with dotted lines only inside a solid boundary – that’s a newer pattern format. Use the instructions here.

So here’s how to do it – in all the detail.

Step 1 – Trace (or Print)

Trace the pattern onto the paper side of the fusible adhesive.  I use Heat & Bond Lite printable fusible adhesive so I just print out the page. Easy peasy.

Let me just pause here for a second and tell you how much this one thing – printable fusible adhesive – has changed the way I feel about my quilting. I despise tracing (I believe I’ve mentioned that here before – ahem) so being able to simply print out the page with all the pieces on it (and labelled, too!) is an absolute joy. I know the printable sheets are expensive and I just don’t care. I’ll never go back.

Make sure you’re tracing the mirror image of the pattern. It should be clearly stated on the pattern. If it hasn’t been reversed for you, you’ll need to put it face down in a window and trace off the back side so you get a mirror image.

All of my patterns are already reversed for fusible applique – and each page says that.

If you’re tracing, be sure to trace the face too. You’ll need that there for Step 5.

Step 2 – Rough Cut

Rough cut around each shape. Leave a little bit extra all the way around – with a little extra extra (at least 1/4 inch) where there’s a dotted line.

On my patterns I use a dotted line to show you where a piece tucks behind another piece (like the ears tucking behind the head on this cat). That’s why you leave a little extra there.

Step 3 – Fuse to Fabric

Fuse each pattern piece to the wrong side of the fabric. Follow the instructions on whatever brand adhesive you’re using – they all vary in temperature used, with or without steam, and how long it should take

Step 4 – Cut

Cut around each piece. Cut directly on the solid lines.

Leave a little seam allowance past the dotted lines – remember – those bits will tuck under another piece.

Here’s a close up of the cut ears so you can see better. The bit below the dotted line is the bit that will tuck behind the head.

Step 5 – Trace Details

Remember when I told you to make sure you traced the face in Step 1? Now you’re going to use that. Hold the face up to a window so the light shines through it. You’ll be able to see the facial features through all but the darkest fabrics, and the adhesive and backing will stabilize the fabric so you can trace on it without it crinkling up.

I trace just inside the eyes and nose, right on the lines for the mouth and whiskers.

If I were going to embroider the eyes and nose I’d trace right on those lines too.

Of course – you can trace the whole face in a good quality fabric marker and be done with it. It’s durable and easy and the quilt police will not come and arrest you if you “cheat” and draw on your quilt.

Step 6 – Quilt Block (optional)

If you’re doing Quilt As You Go (I did) then you can quilt your block before adding the applique. So easy!

Layer the block with a piece of 100% cotton batting. Quilt any pattern you like!  Find all the Quilt As You Go tutorials here.

You can also find color-coordinated fabric squares with the quilting lines printed right on the fabric here.

If you’d rather do the quilting later, simply skip this step.

Step 7 – Fuse to Block

Peel off the paper backing and arrange the pieces on your background block. Tuck the ears behind the head. (Remember – all the dotted lines indicate where pieces tuck behind other pieces.)

Fuse the pieces in place, following the instructions on whatever brand of fusible adhesive you’re using.

This is why they call it fusible applique. So easy!

Step 8 – Stitch

Stitch around all the pieces. Satin stitch is pretty common – and that’s what I demonstrated in this video. But I think it’s often too heavy and looks clunky. I much prefer the simple straight stitch I did here – nothing fancy.

I get a LOT of questions about how durable the simple straight stitch is. So many that I wrote a whole blog post about it, complete with photos of a quilt after it had been in constant use for over a year! You can read that here.

I especially like it in black thread. I love the cartoony effect. 🙂 I stitched around the eyes and nose too. I tried to edit the photo so you could see that black on black stitching more clearly – but you might need to click on the photo to see it bigger.

To get a slightly thicker line for the mouth and whiskers, I stitched over those lines three times. There’s a post here with tips for this kind of sketchy outlining.

You could opt to use thicker thread instead. I demonstrated sewing with different thread weights here.

Done! Now just make a bunch of them and you have a quilt. 🙂

Easy and playful and fun! That’s my kind of quilting! Fusible applique makes all the difference!

Here are links to all the posts showing how to applique with fusible adhesive – my favorite method. It’s fast and easy and (with the right materials) it holds up beautifully to rough use and repeated washing.

• How to Applique with Fusible Adhesive – a very basic intro
• How Durable is Applique with Fusible Adhesive?
• Fusible Applique the Easy Way – the way I currently work – use with any of my patterns that include SVG files
• How to Use a Light Box to Layer Your Applique – perfect placement every time
• How to Applique with Fusible Adhesive – photo tutorial – use with any of my patterns that do not include SVG files
• How to Applique with Fusible Adhesive – video tutorial – use with any of my patterns that do not include SVG files

Here are links to special posts about eyes.

• Easy Eye Options for Applique
• Using Fabric Markers and Paints for Small Eyes
• Free Embroidery Machine Files for Machine-Stitched Eyes
• How to Machine Stitch Eyes without an Embroidery Machine
• How to Minimize Show-Through on White Eyes
• How to Applique Dark Eyes on Dark Faces
• How to Add Catchlights to Eyes

Here are links to some extra fun things you can do with your applique.

• How to Add a Baby Animal to Any Block
• How to Squish Two Animals into One Block
• How to Add Playful 3D Bits to Your Applique
• How to Add Soft 3D Pieces to your Quilt Block
• How to Add a Door (that Opens!) to Your Quilt Block
• How to Give Your Monster an Underbite
• Fake Trapunto (Stuffed) Applique
• Broderie Perse Applique

Other Applique Methods

• How to Applique with Freezer Paper
• How to Do Needle Turn Applique

Finished with this topic?

Return to the Let’s Make a Quilt main Table of Contents.

Move on to the lessons about outline stitching.