Questions and Answers

Thank You for all your interest and questions. I will post questions you ask here, for

everyone to read.

Q. What brand of iron-on adhesive do you use for your projects? Mary

A. Mary, I have tried all of the brands and they all work well. Just make sure to read and follow the directions for the brand you are using, because they are all different.

The light ones I use on baby and bed quilts for the softness, but make sure to finish the edge of the appliquéd pieces with a zigzag or satin stitch to keep the edges from fraying when you wash the quilt.

When I make wall hanging that will not be washed often, I use the heavier adhesives. They adhere with a stronger bond so I don’t worry about finishing all the edges of the appliquéd pieces. When I go to quilt the project, I quilt using a small meander stitch, catching all of the pieces as much as possible. If you ever need to wash this kind of project, wash it gently by hand, following the washing directions on the brand of iron-on adhesive you used. When you give these projects as gifts it is always nice to give the washing instructions along with the gift so they will know how to care for it.

I do like to use the brand Steam-a-Seam (regular) for projects that have a lot of pieces in them like # 133 Rocky Mountain Barn. The reason is that, when ironed to the back of your appliqué pieces, it has a tackiness to it that I like, I can pin up the background fabric on my design board and arrange my appliqué pieces onto it and they will stick to the background fabric with out pinning each piece. This gives me an opportunity to step back and look at my design. Once I have all the pieces arranged where I want them, I can carefully unpin the background fabric and take the whole piece to the ironing board and iron all the appliqué pieces down, without the pieces moving.

Q. I recently purchased one of your Rocky Mountain Barn designs for iron-on appliqué. Should the material be pre-washed before beginning the pattern? Marla

A. Marla, that is up to you and what makes you comfortable. I usually buy good quality fabric and don’t pre-wash my fabric for projects that will not be washed often, like wall hangings. If you are concerned about any fabric that might bleed then I would test it before using it. I like the stiffness of the unwashed fabric for projects with a lot of pieces like the Rocky Mountain barn. As I have said in the previous Q&A above, if you are giving it as a gift, make sure to include washing instructions with it.

Q. I love your patterns and have bought several of your wildlife patterns, but I’m hesitant to start making them because I don’t know how to cut out the small areas. Can you give me some advice? Leah

A. Leah, that is a very good question and it is usually the first one asked when I teach a class. I use a sharp pointed embroidery scissors to cut out the whole project. The blades are small enough for those small areas and they are easier to maneuver around the tight spots. I fold the fabric and nip a small hole with my scissors inside the small area, then insert the scissor point into the nip and carefully cut it out. I was at a quilt retreat this last fall and one of the ladies there was making my “Free Spirit” pattern. She was using an Excel #1 Light Duty Knife to cut out the design and said it worked great for the small areas. When I got home I went and bought one for under $2 at the local art and craft store and tried it out on my next project. It worked very well, but make sure the blade is very sharp and that you use a surface like your cutting mat to protect your cutting surface when you start cutting out. I found it easier to cut out the small areas first, before cutting out anything else, because the fabric seemed to be more stable for cutting.