Learning a Better Way to Applique

I was not satisfied with my leaves yesterday, using fusible interfacing. The leaves were small and by the time I turned them right-side out, they had stretched and all were somewhat miss shapen. Live and learn. The method worked just fine for the larger bird and the pineapple.

This time I redid the leaves and red flowers using a heat resistant plastic template, with starch swiped over the seam allowance of the fabric, and pressed the seam allowance over the template. The result is much better, and neater with only one burned thumb. Also, you only need one template for all the leaves.

Why do we resist trying new things? I've wasted more time RESISTING, than actually TRYING this method that works wonderfully! Yep Mom, you were right - I can hear you now. 8-))

By the way, acrylic nail tips work well for this process! Your fingertips are close to that iron.

The photo shows 13 leaves done, with 6 more ready to prepare. This took me about 45 minutes ??? to make that bunch of leaves and flowers.

On the right is my pile of discarded leaves. Also, on the RIGHT, there are two yucky red flowers made the same fusible interfacing way - didn't like them either, so I remade them (left) with better results. It's still fiddly getting into the 'V' neatly.

I'll bet you 'real' applique'ers are laughing at my amateurishness. 8-)))

A solution

Thanks for all your most welcome suggestions in answer to my whining about, "what shall I do with this bargello border?"
I used chalk to find the center (lengthwise) of the border - that is my guideline (allow for binding). Then I used a plate (note tick marks on plate) to start an even winding vine, starting from the corner. Decided to go 3/5 or 2/3 up from one corner and about 1/3 from the same corner going the other way. I'll do the opposite corner the same way.

The first two vines looked like SNAKES, especially after reading about a snake at a blogger's home! Narrowing the vine solved the problem. I then used a plastic pressing bar, then blind-stitched the bias vine in place. IMHO, the leaves should be all the same size and shape, repeating, rhythm, etc., because the bargello was so repetitious, but it needed some curves to soften the strong pattern. My one leaf template was used right side up and up-side down, resulting in a bit of variety.

And then, not being one to leave well enough alone, a divided leaf came to mind, and then why stop with just two greens? It began to show promise! The best use of fabric and easiest method was to make a strata with many greens, and fuse the entire piece, then cut them out, all at one time, rather that fiddle with a few at a time. I'm using Steam-a-Seam Lite (I think there's a "2" in the brand name somewhere - very confusing!). It worked very well.
I eventually rounded the outer tips of the leaves, knowing a point would be difficult to machine stitch. I'm hoping to use a stitch that resembles rough edges -- we'll see what happens with that, but "practice first" is necessary.
More fiddling with color, placement, 1 leaf or two, what about the ends? etc.
The greens are just enough 'not matching' to please me. And I deliberately placed leaves into and over the inner border, to give it more depth.

If you have not messed with fusible applique, give it a try. (I must admit fusible scared and confused me for a long time.) Also, don't throw the fused scraps away - save them in a plastic bag - they are good for a long time, and you never know when you'll need just a bit.

BTW, this was my UFO that I had dragged out of a dusty corner -- a corner I cleaned out as we were expecting company. What's in YOUR corner?