This is a great little tool.  I got it out recently and thought again how useful it really is.  It’s called the Easy Edge Appliqué Tool, by Heidizine Products, and I use it primarily for glue-basting seam allowances to freezer paper.

Soft Tip

It measures a little under 5 ½” in length, fitting comfortably in your hand.  One end has a soft 45-degree angled tip, ¼” in diameter.  The soft tip grips the fabric for turning over the seam allowance and sticking it to the freezer paper.  But the best part is that it keeps the glue from sticking to your fingers!

The other end tapers to form a thin 45-degree angled edge.  This part of the tool is useful for lifting, repositioning, smoothing out edges, and creasing outside points.  It can also be used for spreading glue in hard to reach places or for removing excess glue.  My favorite use for this end is for turning over stray threads at inside points and making sure they stay adhered to the freezer paper.

Thin Tapered Tip

It is true that I prefer to appliqué by hand using the needle-turn method.  One of the main reasons for this has to do with the preparation work involved.  Needle-turn appliqué eliminates the time-consuming process of basting the patches to freezer paper.

However, there are times when the speed of machine appliqué is appealing.  And these are the times when basting to freezer paper makes sense.  The time taken at the basting stage is made up for at the stitching stage.  And I wouldn’t be without my Easy Edge Appliqué Tool when it comes to glue-basting to freezer paper, because I hate sticky fingers!