Frequently Asked Questions

What size needle do you use to stitch wool applique?

For many years we have successfully used a size 22 or 24 Chenille needles. The eye is big enough to thread the Valdani or Eleganza size 8 perle cotton, the shaft is not too big, and the point of the needle is sharp. We like the Chenille needles also because the eye is slightly larger for our aging eyes.

What thread do you use to stitch your wool applique?

Most of the time we use Valdani size 8 perle cotton thread. We like the way it shows up on the wool. It is a little larger than the size 12. Once in awhile if the pieces are smaller we will use either Valdani size 12 perle cotton or Valdani  3-strand floss. We also really like Eleganza perle cotton threads.  They are a 2-ply, size 8, but stitch more like a size 12, as they are double-gassed and mercerized, resulting in a wonderfully smooth and lustrous surface that allows the thread to glide beautifully through all types of fabrics.  Our philosophy is—if we’re going to put the time in hand stitching, we want to be able to see the thread.

What fusible web do you use for wool applique?

We like and use Heat N Bond Lite to trace our shapes onto for wool applique. It only takes about 5 seconds to fuse it to the back of the wool. After cutting out the shapes and peeling off the paper backing, we switch to steam to help the heat penetrate the wool. We hover the iron just over the wool for about 15 seconds before pressing down. This helps prevent scorching too.