Applique Embroidery with Mylar

Mylar adds wonderful sparkle to embroidery designs. Mylar, or foil gift wrap, is used as an applique in specially-created designs, and the result is a delightful shimmer and shine.

Supplies:

• Mylar material using gift wrap foil or mylar from party balloons (for applique)

• Small piece of fabric (for Mylar backing)

• Medium weight cutaway stabilizer.

• Temporary spray adhesive (such as Gunold KK100)

• Embroidery thread

• Scissors

When you download a Mylar applique design, you will find multiple files. One is an embroidery file, and the other are dieline file is 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 embroidery software. If you do not have embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.

First spray one side of a piece of Mylar with temporary spray adhesive. Smooth the Mylar onto the right side of a piece of fabric that matches the chosen fabric.

This fabric backing makes the Mylar easier to cut and place on the design.

Spray the back side of the printed paper dieline with temporary spray adhesive and place it on the back side of the backing fabric. Placing the paper dieline on the mylar.

Cut the dieline shape out of the adhered Mylar and fabric, then remove the paper dieline. If there are any remaining dieline pieces repeat placing the dieline and cutting them out.

Spray one side of a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary spray adhesive. Smooth the stabilizer onto the wrong side of the main chosen fabric.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer firmly. Make sure it is nice and tight with no wrinkles.

Attach the hoop onto the machine, and load the embroidery file (not the dieline files).

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be a dieline (or outline stitch). This marks the area on the fabric where the applique piece will be placed.

After the dieline has sewn, remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Spray the back side of the applique piece (wrong side of the backing fabric) with temporary spray adhesive. Smooth the fabric and Mylar piece onto the stabilizer inside of the sewn dieline.

Follow the color change sheet and embroider all inner details.

When all of the inner details have been embroidered, remove the hoop from the machine and unhoop the fabric.