definitely use an oversized piece and trim down after the placement line sews over it. I have done a few with an iron on to the base material, and after washing many times, they tend to look more faded, since it is stiffer and other fabrics in the washer rub on it.
Jo
When I do applique in the hoop - I will do as dlonnahawkins (Beth) has said, too.
I like to use firm, starched little pieces of fabric for applique. I stitch the applique down and skip the placement lines.Snip very carefully and close to the line.I use paper tear away hooped with the base fabric.
My top hoop has pieces of magic tape (sticky both sides) then small pieces of cut away stuck to that, this makes a less slippery hoop. It lasts a long time too.
Happy applique!
From Bev
I stich the placement line and the base fabric, then add the fabric, do the next stitch, and then cut the fabric. I prefer this method. I do not use backing on mine, for I use 505 when I am doing applique. I do try to be economical with the fabric, but most of the time it usually calls for small amounts. I have found that if I am doing something that will be washed, I use a wash away/tear away - then I don't have to worry about any shrinkage.
I do your #1. I found that some of the stabilizers shrink when heat is applied. Try to iron just a plain piece of stabilizer. Both my black and my white cut-a-way shrink when I iron them.
What I do is iron the stabilizer before I hoop anything, that way it doesn't shrink when you wash it, and distort the design. I do a lot of full back designs on hoodies and jackets, so I shrink it before I hoop them.
I do this too for my shrinky stabilizer, I hate to try to stretch iron the dezigns after.Steam also makes it shrink. I wish they warned us about this and made stuff that did not do this
this is quite interesting. I recentily did some ts for my nephew washed the ts first. My sister told me the design went funny and puckered I found this odd as I had used heavy cutaway to avoid this. Will now try shriking the cut away to see if this helps. thanks Ladies