A number of my EPP patterns call for the completed EPP blocks to be appliquéd to a background square.

When you have finished appliquéing your EPP (especially if you chose to appliqué by hand), the finished quilt block might be a bit crumpled and wrinkled from handling. Before you can use it in your quilt project, you will want to press it nice and flat.

But just how do you press an appliquéd quilt block properly?

It is important when pressing blocks that have turned edge appliqués on that you do not “squash” your appliqués or press any wrinkles into them. You want to preserve the raised appearance of your appliqué. 

To do this, the pressing requirements for appliqué blocks are a bit different to “normal” patchwork blocks.

You will need:

• A Hard, Flat pressing surface ( I use a piece of OSB board covered in cotton batting and fabric)
• Soft Towel (pref. white or cream) (I use a soft fluffy bathmat that is ONLY used for pressing my appliqué)
• A clean (preferably white) cotton t-shirt
• (optional) Pressing cloth or clean tea towel
• Steam iron (set to cotton setting with steam turned ON)
• Your finished appliquéd EPP quilt block

In Summary:

1. Lay the soft towel over your pressing surface and then layer the t-shirt on top of this. Smooth out any wrinkles.
2. Place your appliqué block RIGHT SIDE DOWN on top of the pressing surface. 
3. Optional – lay a tea towel or pressing cloth over the back (WRONG SIDE) of the block.
4. Press your block with steam– starting in the centre and gently pressing out towards the edges – don’t move your iron back and forth as you may press a wrinkle or two into your block!
5. The steam from the iron will help to release any puckers or wrinkles from your block. 
6. Allow the block to cool and then proceed to layer it up ready for quilting!

Watch below how I pressed one of my English Country Garden blocks using this method