How applique silk/satin to poplin without scrunching???

Question

Am making new regalia and want to applique satin flames to a poplin base. Never have appliqued before and am a bit nervous as to how to do it without it crunching and looking like a two year old sewed it. It's for a very formal occasion and it has to look really nice. Anyone help??????????????

Answer 1

If you are machine applique-ing, iron your satin onto an interfacing and then cut the flames. If you are hand applique-ing, you can cut your flames from the interfacing, iron it on, and then cut your satin with a quarter inch seam allowance all around. Does not have to be precise because you are folding it under. Try this and your satin will behave.
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Answer 2

Make a sandwich of poplin, silk/satin & tissue pattern, pinned profusely. Neatly baste the major outline and details by hand or machine. Tear away the tissue pattern. By hand or machine closely *couch* matching cord or perle cotton or contrasting metallic of similar weight along the outline. Trim the the silk/satin close to the couching. Then by hand or machine closely *couch* cord or perle cotton to match the base fabric and cover the cut edge of the appliqué.

This is old-fashioned appliqué, as in medieval and renaissance. In my personal experience, when properly executed, it holds up fine to machine laundering.

Do it one stitch at a time. It's not complicated. It's just tedious.

Answer 3

If you're looking to just bond it I recommend Misty Fuse, although you would need a pressing sheet, otherwise follow Kacky's instructions. (Misty Fuse is a very light webbing that lets material fold and flow)