From Janet Wickell,
Your Guide to Quilting.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

There are many ways to appliqué, and lots of variations for each method. We'll use fusible appliqué to make this small quilt.

The quilt finishes at 24-1/2" square, just right for a small wallhanging or throw pillow cover. You can also use the quilt as a center medallion for a larger quilt, adding borders and other components around it to increase the size.

What Is Fusible Appliqué?

Let's talk about traditional hand appliqué before we move on to (one version of) the fusible method. For hand appliqué, we cut individual shapes out of fabric as needed for a design -- like the floral arrangement in this quilt. The edges of the shapes are turned under and hand sewn to a background fabric.

For fusible appliqué, fabric is backed with thin fusible web, a paper-backed substance that becomes sticky when heated with an iron.

There's no need to turn under patch edges when you use this technique, and for wallhangings that will see little wear and tear (and hand washings) you don't have to finish the edges at all. If you're making a quilt that will actually be used, reinforce patch edges with some sort hand or machine stitching to keep them permanently in place.

Fabrics & Cutting Chart

Red Fabric(s)

• Three different reds, about 4" x 5" each
• Sixteen 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares, same or mixed

Green Fabric(s)

• Leaves: one piece, about 4-1/2" x 8"
• Eight 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares
• Stems & flower bases, about 5" x 11"
• Four 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" bars

Deep Wine

• Basket, one piece about 4" x 6-1/2"
• Eight 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares
• Four 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" bars

Neutral Background

• Four 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" squares
• Four 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" bars
• One 14-1/2" x 14-1/2" square

Other Materials

• Backing & Batting: About 28" x 28" each
• About 115 running inches of binding
• Packet of lightweight fusible web or 1 yard if purchased that way (provides extra)