Sew a Reverse Applique Fleece Quilt
The “Curiosity Comics” Quilt by Kathryn Sturges
I know fleece isn’t an environmentally friendly fabric, but I’m loving fleece for quilts these days! I decided to try out some fleece for this quilt. I wanted to make a Christmas gift for my friend, and I tend to make quilts for my favorite people. Sewing fleece is just plain fun! Fleece doesn’t fray, which makes it an excellent candidate for reverse applique. The one tricky aspect to fleece is that it is really thick. Sewing through three layers of fleece just isn’t doable by some sewing machines. So you have to plan your quilt accordingly.
What makes fleece perfect for gifting is it is super soft, and JoAnn’s has it in lots of really cool prints. So you can choose a print that suits the person you are making the quilt for. I know that is possible regardless of the fabric you choose, however the patterns on fleece are so much fun! My friend is a fisherman by trade, so the backing fabric has these super cool sharks all over it.
How to Sew a Reverse Applique Fleece Quilt
Gather your fabric. I got three different fleece fabrics, two yards each. Make sure the fabrics contrast well, so the design stands out. I mixed in the checkerboard fabric I already had to add an element to the design.
Plan your design! Basic shapes work well for this. I tried to add text, however you have to draw everything in reverse on the back of the quilt.
Choose a fabric to be the middle layer. A solid works well for this. Then, cut out two large rectangles, one of the top fabric and one of the middle contrasting fabric. Sew them together along the edges with a long straight stitch or narrow zig zag.
Using a sharpie marker, draw your design on the back of the fabric stack. You will be drawing on the solid contrasting fabric. Remember it has to be in reverse, because it will show up opposite on the front. If you are doing lettering, draw the letters backwards! It might take a little practice on a piece of paper.
Sew along the lines with a narrow zig zag stitch. Make sure you use a thread that contrasts with the quilt top, so you can see it when you flip the quilt stack over. Then, using a pair of embroidery scissors, cut out the design. You will want to cut close to the sewn lines. Take your time with this step. It helps to gently feel the fabric first and pinch it to separate the two layers of fabric. Then make a small snip, and carefully trim away the top layer.
Finish your quilt however you wish! Add some patchwork, make it marvelous!
Once the quilt top is done, trim the quilt top to fit the backing fabric, so they are approximately the same size. Then sew the quilt top to the backing. And you are done!
I had so much fun making this quilt, I got some fabric to make one for my husband next! If you try this, post it on Instagram and tag me @art.kat.sews so I can see your creation!
