A Beginner's Guide to Freezer Paper Appliqué

Freezer paper is one of my must‑have supplies in the quilting room. It’s perfect for cutting crisp, accurate shapes and incredibly helpful for turning the edges of appliqué pieces before machine stitching. If you’re new to this method or just curious about how it works, let’s dive into this simple, beginner‑friendly technique.

What You’ll Need

• Plastic‑coated freezer paper (found in most grocery stores near plastic wrap and foil)
• Spray starch (any brand works; I like Quilter’s Starch Savvy by June Tailor) 
• No starch? A tiny bit of vodka works in a pinch
  
• Small container for holding starch
• Pencil for tracing
• Paintbrush (I use a flat‑top Scruffy Brush by Donna Dewberry)
• Fabric adhesive / basting glue (Liquid Stitch works well)
• Paper scissors for cutting freezer‑paper templates
• Fabric scissors for cutting appliqué pieces
• Iron (dry heat, no steam)
• Fabric & pattern
• Thread and needle (I use Aurifil 50wt with an Embroidery 75/11 needle)
• Sewing machine with utility or decorative stitches
  

Step 1: Trace and Cut Your Templates

Trace your pattern pieces onto the dull side of the freezer paper (shiny side down). The paper is slightly translucent, making it easy to see your pattern lines.

Cut out the templates with paper scissors, keeping edges smooth and corners crisp.

Place the templates shiny side down on the wrong side of your fabric and press with a hot, dry iron. The shiny coating lightly adheres to the fabric... just be careful not to touch it to your iron.

Step 2: Cut the Fabric Pieces

Cut around each template, leaving about ¼″ seam allowance. This doesn’t need to be exact.

• Clip concave curves and inner corners to help the fabric turn smoothly
• Do not clip convex curves (they don’t need notches)

Step 3: Starch and Press the Edges

Spray a little starch into a small container. Using your paintbrush, apply starch to the seam allowance a few inches at a time.

Wrap the damp edges over the template and press with a hot, dry iron. Work slowly so you don’t bend the template; this keeps your appliqué shape crisp and accurate.

Once the entire edge is pressed, gently remove the freezer‑paper template and give the edges one more quick press.

Save your templates... they can be reused many times!

Step 4: Glue‑Baste the Appliqué

Position your appliqué on the background fabric. Add small dots of fabric glue along the folded edges on the wrong side, pressing the piece into place as you go.

Let the glue dry completely before stitching. (It’s always a good idea to test your glue on a scrap first.)

Step 5: Stitch the Appliqué

Choose a thread color that blends with your appliqué and stitch around the edges using your preferred machine stitch. Try a few samples to find the look you like best:

• Hem stitch
• Zigzag
• Blanket stitch
• Satin stitch
• Decorative stitches

This tutorial features images from Josefina and Jeffery Elephant Pillow pattern.