Applique is a fun way to add shapes and designs to fabric using fabric pieces instead of just stitches. You can use your embroidery machine to make beautiful applique easily. This story will tell you everything you need to know to start stitching applique with your machine. It works well for clothes, bags, home things, and more. Get ready to make amazing projects!
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Gathering Your Materials
You need a few things before you start. Having everything ready makes your project go smoothly.
Your Embroidery Machine and Hoop
You need an embroidery machine. It should be able to sew designs from a file. You also need the right hoop. The design file will tell you what size hoop you need. Make sure your machine works well and is threaded right.
Applique Fabric and Background Fabric
You need two main types of fabric.
* Background Fabric: This is the fabric you will sew onto. It could be a t-shirt, a towel, or a piece of cotton for a quilt block.
* Applique Fabric: These are the smaller pieces you will cut into shapes. They will sit on top of your background fabric.
Think about the colors and patterns. They should look good together.
You need to get your applique fabric ready. This step is called applique fabric preparation. It is important. You should wash and press both your background fabric and your applique fabric before you start. This helps stop them from shrinking later. It also makes them smooth and easy to work with. Using clean, smooth fabric is a big help.
Stabilizer
Stabilizer is very important for machine embroidery applique. It helps your fabric stay flat and keeps stitches from pulling. It stops your fabric from stretching while the machine sews. You put it under your background fabric in the hoop.
There are different kinds of stabilizer for applique embroidery.
* Cut-away: You cut away the extra after sewing. Good for stretchy fabrics like t-shirts. It stays with the fabric forever. It gives support for a long time.
* Tear-away: You can tear it away after sewing. Good for stable fabrics like cotton. It is easier to remove.
* Wash-away: It dissolves in water. Good for fabrics where you don’t want stabilizer left. Like lace or light fabrics.
The design you use and the fabric you sew on help you choose the best stabilizer for applique embroidery. Sometimes the design instructions tell you which kind to use. Using the right stabilizer makes a big difference. It helps your stitches look neat.
Thread and Needles
You need embroidery thread. You will need two colors usually. One for the outline stitches and one for the final border stitch. Pick colors that match or stand out, depending on your design. Use the same color thread in your bobbin as your top thread for the border stitch.
Use an embroidery needle. These needles are made for machine embroidery. They are strong and slide through fabric easily. Use a new needle for each project or often. A sharp needle makes cleaner stitches.
Fusible Web
Fusible web for machine applique is a great helper. It is a thin material that has glue on both sides. It is usually on a paper backing. You iron it onto the back of your applique fabric. When the machine sews the outline stitch, you iron the applique fabric piece onto the background fabric using the fusible web. This holds the applique fabric in place before the machine sews the final border stitch.
Using fusible web for machine applique makes trimming much easier. It keeps the applique fabric from moving. It also helps seal the edges a little. This can help stop edges from fraying, especially with raw edge applique.
Tools for Trimming
You will need tools for trimming applique fabric. This is the part where you cut away extra fabric.
* Small, Sharp Scissors: Duckbill scissors are best. They have one blade that is wider. This wide blade helps you cut close to the stitches without cutting the fabric underneath. Very sharp, pointed scissors also work well.
* Tweezers: These can help you pull away small pieces of trimmed fabric.
Good tools for trimming applique fabric make this step fast and clean. Taking your time when trimming is important.
The Applique Design File
You need an applique design file. This file tells your embroidery machine what to sew. Applique embroidery design steps are built into this file. The file has different steps or ‘stops’ for your machine.
Here are the basic applique embroidery design steps in a file:
1. Placement Stitch: The machine sews an outline on your background fabric. This shows you where to place your applique fabric piece.
2. Material Stop: The machine stops sewing. This is your sign to place your applique fabric over the placement stitch.
3. Tack-Down Stitch: The machine sews again. It sews a line of stitches just inside the placement line. This holds your applique fabric down.
4. Trimming Stop: The machine stops again. Now you trim the extra applique fabric away from the tack-down stitches.
5. Finishing Stitch: The machine sews the final border stitch. This covers the raw edges and makes the design look finished. This is often a satin stitch or other decorative stitch.
Knowing these applique embroidery design steps helps you follow along. You know when to add fabric or trim.
Preparing Your Fabrics and Hoop
Getting your fabrics ready is a simple but key step. It helps make your project look good.
Prepping the Background Fabric
Your background fabric should be washed and pressed. Make sure it is larger than your hoop size. This gives you room to work. If you are sewing on a t-shirt or towel, make sure that part of the item fits flat in the hoop area.
Prepping the Applique Fabric
Wash and press all your applique fabrics too. If you are using fusible web for machine applique, iron it onto the back of your applique fabrics now. Follow the directions that came with the fusible web. Usually, you iron the sticky side to the back of the fabric. Make sure the fabric cools before you cut the paper backing off. You can cut your applique fabric into a piece slightly larger than the shape needed for the design. You don’t need to cut the exact shape yet. The machine will show you the shape with the placement stitch.
Hooping the Background Fabric and Stabilizer
Put your background fabric and stabilizer into the embroidery hoop. The stabilizer goes on the back of the fabric. Make sure the fabric is smooth and tight in the hoop. It should be like a drum. But do not stretch the fabric when you hoop it. This is very important, especially with stretchy fabrics.
Use the right amount of stabilizer. For medium cotton, one layer of tear-away might work. For a t-shirt, you might need two layers of cut-away. Sometimes the design creator will suggest the stabilizer type.
Sewing the Applique
This is where your embroidery machine does the work. You follow the applique embroidery design steps as the machine tells you.
Loading the Design
Put the correct design file into your embroidery machine. Select the design on your machine’s screen. Make sure the design is positioned where you want it on your hooped fabric. Most machines let you move the design around on the screen. Find the center point of your hooped fabric and match it to the center of the design if needed.
The Placement Stitch
Start the machine. The first color or step the machine sews is usually the placement stitch. It will sew an outline directly onto your background fabric. This outline shows you the shape of the applique piece and where it should go. It is the first step in the machine embroidery applique tutorial.
Once the machine finishes this first outline stitch, it will stop. This is your cue to place your applique fabric.
Placing the Applique Fabric
Take your hooped fabric off the machine. Do not unhoop it. Look at the outline stitch the machine just sewed. This is where your applique fabric goes.
Take the piece of applique fabric you prepared. If you used fusible web for machine applique, you might have cut the paper backing off already. If not, peel it off now. Place the applique fabric on top of your background fabric, completely covering the placement stitch outline. Make sure the applique fabric piece is big enough to go outside the placement line a little bit on all sides. This gives the next stitch something to grab onto.
If you used fusible web, you can iron the applique fabric piece onto the background fabric now. A small craft iron works well for this while the fabric is still in the hoop. Just press for a few seconds following the fusible web directions. This makes the fabric stick down well. If you didn’t use fusible web, you might use a little spray adhesive or just hold the fabric carefully. Fusible web is easier.
The Tack-Down Stitch
Put your hoop back onto the embroidery machine. Make sure it is seated correctly. Start the machine again. The machine will now sew the tack-down stitch. This stitch line is usually just inside the placement stitch line. It sews through your applique fabric and the background fabric. It permanently attaches the applique fabric piece to the background fabric.
This stitch holds the applique fabric firmly in place for the next step. It’s usually a simple straight stitch or a zigzag stitch.
Trimming the Applique Fabric
When the machine finishes the tack-down stitch, it will stop again. This is the trimming step. Take the hoop off the machine again. Do not unhoop your fabric.
Now you need your sharp scissors for trimming applique fabric. You will cut away the extra applique fabric that is outside the tack-down stitch line. Be very careful not to cut the background fabric or the stitches. Cut as close as you can to the tack-down stitches without cutting them. The tack-down stitch acts as your guide.
If you used fusible web, the fabric stays put better, which makes trimming applique fabric much easier and more accurate. Pull away all the trimmed fabric pieces. Make sure no little bits are left near the stitches. This makes the final stitch look clean.
The Finishing Stitch
Put your hoop back on the machine. Start the machine one last time. The machine will now sew the finishing stitch. This stitch goes along the edge where you just trimmed. It covers the raw edge of the applique fabric. This stitch makes the design look complete and neat.
The finishing stitch is a key part of the machine embroidery applique tutorial. There are different stitches you can use. The design file usually has a specific stitch programmed in.
Exploring Stitch Styles
The finishing stitch gives the applique its final look. There are two main styles. Knowing the best stitch for machine applique depends on the look you want.
Creating Smooth Edges with Satin Stitch
A satin stitch applique machine embroidery design uses a satin stitch border. A satin stitch is a series of stitches placed very close together. They go back and forth across the edge of the applique fabric. This creates a thick, smooth, shiny border that completely covers the raw edge.
Satin stitch applique machine embroidery gives a classic, clean look. It is very durable because the dense stitches lock the fabric edge down well. It is a very popular type of finish for applique. Make sure your tension is good when sewing satin stitch. You want the top thread to pull just a tiny bit to the back. This makes the stitches lay flat and smooth on top.
Embracing the Raw Edge Look
Raw edge applique embroidery machine designs use a different kind of finishing stitch. Instead of a dense satin stitch, they use a looser stitch. This stitch goes just along or slightly inside the edge of the applique fabric. A common stitch is a zigzag stitch or a straight stitch.
With raw edge applique embroidery machine designs, the edge of the fabric is not completely covered. The fabric edge might fray slightly over time, which gives it a soft, informal look. This style works well for things like quilts or rustic projects. The stitch holds the fabric down and stops it from fraying too much.
Other Border Options
The best stitch for machine applique is often satin or raw edge. But some designs use other stitches:
* Blanket Stitch: This stitch looks like hand stitching. It loops over the edge.
* E-stitch: This is a wide stitch that looks like the letter “E”. It is often used in commercial applique.
* Decorative Stitches: Some designs use fancy stitches for the border.
The design file tells the machine which stitch to use. The best stitch for machine applique depends on the design and your personal taste.
Tips For Great Applique
Here are some tips for machine applique to help you get good results every time.
Practice Makes Perfect
If you are new to applique, start with simple shapes. Use scrap fabric to practice. Get a feel for placing the fabric and trimming. The more you do it, the better you get. Trying out tips for machine applique on practice pieces is a good idea.
Choosing the Right Stabilizer
Using the correct stabilizer for applique embroidery is key. If your fabric is stretching or your stitches are wavy, you might need a different or extra layer of stabilizer. For knits or t-shirts, use cut-away. For woven cotton, tear-away often works. When in doubt, use a cut-away. It gives the most support.
Working with Different Fabrics
Some fabrics are harder to work with than others. Slippery fabrics like satin can be tricky. Using a spray adhesive or extra fusible web can help hold them down. Thick fabrics might need a longer stitch length or a different needle. Thin fabrics might need more stabilizer.
Fixing Little Issues
If you trim too close and cut a stitch, don’t worry. You can often use a little fabric glue to hold that spot down. If a stitch looks bad, you can carefully snip the threads and re-sew that part if your machine allows. Sometimes starting over on a practice piece is best if things go wrong.
Following Your Applique Design
Understanding how the applique embroidery design steps are saved in the file helps you.
Looking at the Stitch Sequence
Embroidery design software lets you see the order the machine will sew things. For applique, you will always see the steps in this order: placement, tack-down, final border. There might be other decorative stitches added too, but the applique steps are clear.
Colors and Stops
Each step in an embroidery design is saved as a different ‘color’ or ‘stop’. Even if you use the same thread color for two steps, they are separate in the file. This is how the machine knows to stop.
* Color 1: Placement stitch (Machine stops)
* Color 2: Tack-down stitch (Machine stops)
* Color 3: Final Border stitch (Machine stops when done)
* Other Colors: Any other embroidery stitches that are part of the design. These usually sew after the applique part is finished.
Watching the machine and knowing these stops helps you do your part at the right time in the machine embroidery applique tutorial.
Why Try Machine Applique?
Machine applique is a great technique. There are many reasons to use it.
It’s Quick and Easy
Compared to hand applique or even machine applique without an embroidery machine, this method is very fast. Your machine does the hard work of sewing perfect edges. Once you learn the basic steps, you can finish projects quickly.
It Looks Great
Embroidery machines make very precise stitches. Satin stitches are smooth and even. Your applique will look professional. You can get results that are hard to get by hand or with a regular sewing machine.
It Saves on Stitches
Applique uses fabric to fill a large area instead of stitches. This means the design needs fewer stitches than if the whole area was filled with embroidery thread. Fewer stitches mean less time sewing. It also means the design is lighter on your fabric. This is good for things like clothing where you don’t want a stiff, heavy design.
Ideas for Using Applique
You can use machine applique on many things.
Clothing and Accessories
Add a fun shape to a t-shirt, sweatshirt, or jacket. Put a monogram with an applique letter on a polo shirt. Decorate a tote bag or a child’s backpack. Applique is great for making clothes unique.
Home Decor Items
Make a pillow with a bold applique design. Decorate tea towels or placemats. Create quilt blocks with shapes like stars, animals, or flowers. Applique adds color and texture to items for your home.
Gifts
Personalize items for friends and family. Add an applique name or picture to a baby blanket, a apron, or a holiday stocking. Handmade items with applique make special gifts.
Taking Care of Applique Projects
Once you make something with machine applique, you want it to last.
Washing Instructions
Most items with machine applique can be washed. Turn clothes inside out before washing. Use a gentle cycle and cool water. Using a mild soap is best. Hot water can sometimes make fusible web less sticky over time. It can also cause shrinkage if your fabric wasn’t pre-washed well.
Ironing
You can iron over machine applique. Place a pressing cloth over the design first. Iron on a medium heat setting. Do not use very high heat, especially if you used fusible web. High heat can also flatten satin stitches a little.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions about machine applique.
Q: Can I use any fabric for applique?
A: Most fabrics work well. Cotton, felt, and flannel are easy to start with. Thicker fabrics or very thin/slippery ones might need more care or different stabilizer. Make sure your applique fabric doesn’t fray too much, especially for raw edge applique.
Q: Do I have to use fusible web?
A: No, but it makes the process much easier, especially trimming. You can use spray adhesive or even temporary fabric glue sticks to hold the fabric in place for the tack-down stitch. But fusible web holds it more securely for trimming.
Q: My satin stitch isn’t covering the edge. What’s wrong?
A: This could be a few things.
1. You might not have trimmed close enough. Extra fabric sticking out won’t be covered.
2. The satin stitch might be too narrow for the edge. You might need to edit the design if your machine allows.
3. Your fabric or stabilizer might be stretching or not hooped correctly. This makes the stitch uneven.
4. Your tension might be off.
Q: My applique fabric shifted before the tack-down stitch. How can I stop this?
A: Make sure your applique fabric piece is large enough to fully cover the placement line with extra around the edges. Use fusible web and iron it down well. If not using fusible web, use a temporary spray adhesive on the back of the applique fabric. Place it carefully and smooth it down before putting the hoop back on the machine.
Q: What’s the difference between applique and reverse applique?
A: In regular applique (what this tutorial is about), you add a piece of fabric on top of your background fabric. In reverse applique, you place the applique fabric under your background fabric. The machine sews an outline on the top fabric, then you cut away the top fabric inside the outline to show the fabric underneath.
Q: How do I find applique designs?
A: Many online shops sell machine embroidery designs. Look for designs that say “applique.” They will usually show the steps and tell you what hoop size is needed. Some embroidery machine companies also sell designs.
Q: Is machine applique hard?
A: No! Once you learn the basic steps – placement, tack-down, trim, finishing – it is quite simple. The machine does most of the sewing perfectly. The hardest part for some people is the trimming, but with sharp scissors and practice, it gets easy.
Making applique with your embroidery machine is a rewarding skill. It lets you add colorful shapes and designs to almost anything fabric. With simple steps, the right tools, and a little practice, you will be making beautiful applique projects in no time. Have fun sewing!