running stitch applique

This is a detail shot of "Liberty Blooms." This flower is a bit over 4" across.

Running stitch applique isn't raw edge. The edge is rolled under in the same way as needle turn applique (or you could baste it down if you wanted to be picky and precise, which surely you wouldn't, maverick quilter), but instead of taking those "invisible" stitches, you do a running stitch. That's the same stitch as you use to quilt. The stitches you see here are applique stitches, with the exception of the quilted swirl in the middle of the flower. I also quilted around each of the shapes, but for the most part that isn't visible.

No, the edges aren't completely smooth and certainly the shape isn't a perfect circle, but that's kind of the point. I want it to look like it's made by hand. This is a wonderful technique for liberated appliquers who still like the traditional look of edges-turned-under, non-fused, hand-done (is that a word?) applique but without being fussy about it.

We got a new camera, which took this great detail shot. It's a wee Canon SD400 and takes better photos than my bigger camera, which just chokes on detail shots.