Tutorial for Needle Turn

This is how I do Needle Turn. I am not saying its the right way or the wrong way but it works for me and I get results that I am happy with.

You may be able to refine this method and improve on it but my main objective is to show you basically how its done.

First of all you need to get a good Glue.

I have used the wide stick ones and would get into a big mess and then I discovered this one with a pen like end which is great for applying the glue to the fabric. Make sure its for fabric as well as paper etc. The white part at the top is the pen like end.

Also you might find a stylus handy as it is good to use to push the fabric back.

I have discovered Floraini Stitch & Wash Fusible which irons onto the fabric.

Here is a couple of websites that you can source it out.

For places in Australia look here and for everywhere else look here I bought a whole roll and after using it I am pretty sure I will use the whole roll eventually. I got a 12" x 25 yard roll.

Trace the shapes onto the Floriani Stitch & Wash Fusible and cut out on the traced lines.

I find it best to number each shape and also number the shapes on the pattern sheet.

Iron the cut out shapes onto the wrong side of the fabric. Cut these out with about a 1/4 inch seam.

Place the glue around the edge onto the fabric. Turn the point back.

Then starting at this point fold over the edge on either side.

Using the stylus and holding down with your finger fold over all the way around the shape.

Leave to dry and place onto the background fabric where the drawn design is.

With threaded needle (knotted at the end) and starting from behind the fabric, bring the needle up at just past the point of the shape.

I am using dark thread so that it shows up for you to see. But normally you would use thread to match the shape you are sewing onto the background fabric. So I would have used a light purple colour.

Position the shape right next to the thread so that it is sitting just over the thread.

Push the needle under the shape and bring it up thru to just under the very edge about an 1/8th of an inch away from the point of bringing the thread up thru.

Pull the thread thru and push the needle into the background fabric under the edge so that it is not visible.

Do this all the way around the shape until you get back to the point.

Make sure you pull the thread tight after each time you bring it thru so that it is not loose, but not too tight either.

With the last stitch just before the point bring it up thru the shapes point and just under the point. As above picture.

Push the needle down under the point and take it thru the background fabric and making sure that the stitch is firm. Turn your work over and finish off the end securely. Lightly iron the shape and it should look like this.

The Floriani Stitch & Wash Fusible dissolves when the project is washed so no need to cut the back and pull it out. This is why it’s important not to get too much glue on it either as it will dissolve before you get to fold the fabric back onto it.

You can see here how it looks so lovely and is really quite easy.

Have a go and by sewing just under the edges it hides the stitches.

Have fun and hugs to all…..Vicki