Not exactly a title that makes you go “oooh I MUST read this!”, but having the right tools for hand applique can make a huge impact on how well you succeed.

Hand applique is not an expensive sport. Why do you think we major award winning hand applique-rs have no celebrity even with heavy hitter award resumes? Our materials are, say it with me people, I-N-E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E. We don’t sell product! The most expensive tool in our toolbox is……(drum-roll please)….The scissors. This is usually where you hear a dull “clunk” of a cow bell.

Don't they look like the crown jewels??? yes, I am swooning

Now more than ever, in today’s economy, applique (from now on when I say applique, I am referring to hand work) makes great sense to keep your quilting affordable. I have yet to use up an entire 200 yd. spool of thread, I do not need yards of relatively expensive fusible (need I mention what these do to your iron???), one little pink box of applique pins have lasted me my whole quilting career and a glass vial of Roxanne needles will last me multiple years. Although I should be using new ones more often. Consider my hand slapped. But I digress….

Where was I? Oh yes, scissors. I have two high quality working pairs of 3.5″ to 4″ nice embroidery scissors. One pair for cutting the applique pieces, and brace yourself, one pair for cutting my freezer paper templates. Have you picked yourself up off the ground? Take a breath and calm yourself. Those scissors have never become dull from cutting paper and still cut sharply and precisely after years of use.

Why? If you have any garment sewing experience you know that the more precise you cut out your pattern pieces, the more precise your seaming will be. The same holds true when you cut out your applique pieces and templates. The truer your cut, the more precise edges your applique will have and the turning process will go much smoother. One slight bump or wiggle in the cut line of your template will cause you to create an inaccurate edge no matter how perfect your stitching may be and give you trouble when you are turning under the seam allowance.

I have two different finishes so I can tell paper from fabric

I have a love affair with scissors (an insane love affair) and I won’t deny it. My favorite workhorse applique scissors? No doubt about it I use only Dovos. The most precise scissors known to the modern world. The difference between driving an old clunker or driving a Bentley. The difference between “good enough” and sheer “Perfection”. The difference between….OK you get my point.

Yes, in applique, the scissors you use for each task matter that much.  Put your money in your scissors and you won’t be disappointed you did.  And please, please (I am on my knees begging) don’t use children’s scissors.  You will always be frustrated.  I want you to fall in LOVE with applique!

© 2009 Sandra Leichner  http://www.sandraleichner.com