Choosing Thread

Before you begin stitching, you need to select thread. Aurifil’s wool thread is a 50% acrylic / 50% wool blend, and it is our first choice when appliquéing felted wool. When we don’t have the right color of wool thread, our next favorite thread is Presencia Finca Perlé Cotton thread in size 16 or 12.

If you want the stitches to be less visible, choose thread that is a close match to the appliqué fabric in both color and value.

If you want the stitches to show, choose a thread that contrasts in color with the appliqué fabric, use thicker threads, or combine different kinds of threads such as embroidery floss, metallic thread, sock yarn, thin silk ribbon, and more.

You can also add embellishments that suit your project, such as beads, buttons, sequins, and more. Use a thread that blends so as not to detract from the embellishments.

Embellishments are best added after quilting so that they are not in the way as you quilt. It is a good idea to sew heavy embellishments to the quilt through all of the layers.

Add embellishments that suit the project after quilting.

Refer to Felted Wool Preparation.

For less visible stitches, sew with thread that matches appliqué fabric.

For more visible stitches, sew with contrasting thread or threads.

The Blanket Stitch

We use a blanket stitch to stitch felted wool appliqué pieces in place. It holds the edges of the felted wool securely in place. Practice this stitch to see how far you want to bring the needle up, inside the edge. The bigger the stitch, the more visible it will be.

Choose the flattest spot to begin stitching on shapes that you sew all the way around. Do not begin sewing at either an inner or an outer point.

1.Bring the needle up from underneath the background fabric, at the edge of the appliqué, at 1.

Bring needle up at 1.

2.Move to the left about ¼˝ and down (away from the edge of the appliqué) about ¼˝. Push the needle through the appliqué and the background at 2 so that it comes up through the background at the edge of the appliqué at 3. Hold the thread next to the block so that the tip of the needle comes up, over the thread.

Push needle through at 2 and come back up, over thread, at 3.

3.Pull the stitches until they are snug against the edge of the appliqué, but do not pull them so tight that they cause the fabric to pucker. Continue sewing, making stitches that are the same size and are evenly spaced.

Keep enough tension on the thread to pull the stitches into place against the edge of the appliqué. The stitches will look better if you pull the thread away from the edge of the appliqué.

Continue sewing, making stitches that are evenly spaced.

Stitch Length

Each blanket stitch is L-shaped. Each leg of the L should be the same length. In the instructions above, the stitch is ¼˝. This length is appropriate in some spots—along the side of a large leaf, for example.

A smaller stitch is called for as shapes become smaller, pointed, round, or more intricate.

4.To end a line of stitches, push the needle over the corner of the last loop, at the edge of the appliqué and take the needle to the back. Turn the block over and take 3 backstitches to secure the thread.

When One Piece Is Over Another

Due to the thickness of felted wool, when you are sewing one appliqué piece on top of another, it is important that each stitch go all the way through to the block background. You may need to pull the needle and thread to the back of the block in areas that have lots of stacked pieces.

Embellish with a Stem Stitch

The stem stitch is a good choice when you want to embroider lines, such as leaf veins.

1.Bring the needle up from underneath the background fabric, at the beginning of the line of stitches, at 1.

Bring needle up at 1.

2.Move to the right about ¼˝ and push the needle through the fabric at 2. Do not pull the needle to the back of the block. Instead, turn the needle so that it comes up midway between 1 and 2, at 3. Hold the thread below the line, making sure the needle is above the stitch.

Push needle through at 2 and come back up at 3 (between 1 and 2).

3.Pull the needle and thread through the fabric to tighten the stitch so that it lies flat but does not cause the fabric to pucker.

4.Move to the right about ¼˝ from 3 (which is ⅛˝ from 2) and push the needle through the fabric at 4. Turn the needle and come up at 2 in the hole in the fabric formed by the last stitch.

Be sure to hold the thread so that it drapes over the previous stitch as you make each new stitch.

Push needle through at 4 and come back up at 2, at end of previous stitch.

5.Continue in this manner, keeping the stitches uniform in length and tension.

Keep stitches uniform in length and tension.

Look at the Back

If you turn over the block, the stitches should form a line from end to end.

Stitches on back should be in line from end to end.