Applique embroidery uses fabric pieces to fill in parts of a design and finishes with a smooth satin stitch. This tutorial demonstrates how to stitch a design that uses one piece of fabric as well as how to use a dieline to cut the applique fabric to the proper shape and size.
Supplies & Materials:
Project Materials or Supplies
- Applique fabric (good-quality and tightly-woven quilter's cotton, denim, felt, canvas, twill, etc.)
- Medium-weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer
- Base fabric (in this example, a kitchen towel)
- Temporary spray adhesive
Designs Used in This Tutorial
Gather Materials:
When you download the design, you will find multiple files. Some are embroidery files, and others are dieline files marked with the letters "DL". Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape and size. Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.
We also recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link. We may earn commission on purchases made with this link.)
To prepare the applique piece, spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive.
Smooth the applique fabric on top. Then, place the printed dieline on top, and cut out the shape.
Some applique fabric, like the lace in this Delicate Details Bunny (Applique) design, does not need stabilizer. Simply proceed with the next steps and skip adding a layer of stabilizer to your applique fabric.
When using faux fur fabric as applique, as in this Fuzzy Woodland Squirrel (Applique) design, you can use a water-soluble stabilizer such as Sulky Ultra Solvy as a topping. This will keep the stitching looking crisp on top of the fabric.
Simply lay the topping over the design after adding the faux fur fabric, then continue embroidering. After the design is complete, tear away as much of the topping as possible, then remove the rest according to the manufacturer's instructions. See the tutorial Embroidering on Faux Fur for more information.
Start Embroidering:
Hoop fabric with medium weight cutaway stabilizer.
Load the full embroidery design (not the dieline) to the machine.
The color change sheet shows the stitching order. The first thing to embroider is a dieline that traces the shape for the applique piece.
Spray the back of the applique fabric and stabilizer piece with a bit of temporary adhesive.
Place it in the outline on the towel.
Continue embroidering the design.
A tackdown stitch, also called a zigzag stitch, is next. That binds the applique fabric to the base fabric.
The satin stitch border is the finishing touch.
Trim the excess stabilizer away from the back of the towel. Leave about 1/2" around the design.
Applique designs are a wonderful way to use favorite fabric prints and patterns to bring a unique and custom look to your embroidery.
