If you love the classic look and durability of turned-edge appliqué, but hand sewing doesn’t always fit your schedule – or your hands – my latest quilting tutorial is for you.
I’ll share some of my favorite quilting tips and show you how to appliqué by machine, creating soft, durable turned-edge appliqué using the interfacing method. Then, we’ll compare five different machine stitches you can use to secure your appliqué: a straight stitch, 3 different decorative stitches, and an “invisible” zigzag stitch.
Stitching up a batch of beautiful, appliquéd hearts will also help you practice straight edges, curves, points, and inner notches – so you’ll be able to approach other shapes confidently in the future.
Watch the video here:
This tutorial is beginner-friendly, approachable, and especially helpful if hand sewing doesn’t fit your schedule – or if you’re looking for a machine appliqué method that’s both beautiful and long-lasting.
Links mentioned in the video are listed below:
👉 Quilting Friends Membership info
👉 Prewash or Don’t? Make This Decision With Confidence!
👉 Missouri Star Quilt Co. template (NOT an affiliate link)
👉 Pellon Featherweight Fusible Interfacing (wider than what I had – affiliate link)
If you’re already very comfortable with the interfacing method, feel free to skip around using the timestamps/chapter markers:
- 00:00 – Introduction: Turned-Edge Appliqué by Machine Why machine appliqué can be a beautiful, durable option—without hand sewing
- 00:51 – Why a Heart Block Is a Great Learning Shape Straight edges, curves, a point, and an inner notch—all in one block
- 01:08 – Heart Size & Template Options Recommended heart size, drawing your own shape, and template alternatives
- 02:02 – Fabric & Interfacing Choices Fabric selection tips and why I’m using fusible featherweight interfacing
- 02:58 – Prewashing & Interfacing Tips Why prewashing matters and following manufacturer recommendations
- 03:21 – Tracing, Cutting & Preparing the Hearts Spacing, seam allowance, slits for turning, and setup for sewing
- 04:56 – Stitching the Heart Shape Where to start, how to handle curves, points, and the inner notch 06:15 – Trimming, Clipping & Turning the Heart Reducing bulk, clipping curves, and turning the heart right side out
- 07:08 – Shaping & Pressing for Smooth Edges Refining the shape and fusing the heart to the background block
- 09:26 – Choosing Stitches & Threads for Machine Appliqué Why there’s no single “right” answer—and how to choose what works for you
- 11:11 – Using a Straight Stitch to Appliqué
- 11:24 – Decorative Stitch Option #1 Stitch demo, thread choice, and machine settings
- 12:26 – Decorative Stitch Option #2 Stitch demo, thread choice, and machine settings
- 12:45 – Decorative Stitch Option #3 Stitch demo, thread choice, and machine settings
- 12:52 – Managing Fabric While Stitching What to do if fabric starts to bunch or distort
- 13:31 – My Favorite “Invisible” Appliqué Stitch Using a fine zigzag for a subtle, hand-sewn look
- 14:46 – Additional Resources
Happy Quilting!
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