Personalize your
embroidery with favorite fabrics, prints, and
patterns through a process called "applique
embroidery."
Click on the image to the right to watch a free
video tutorial demonstrating this process. Or, look
below for written instructions.
Video is viewed best in Internet Explorer with
a high-speed connection, and Windows Media
Player. |
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Click on image
above to watch
the free video tutorial! |
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When you download an
applique design, you'll find two files: a dieline
(which begins with the letters DL) and the full
embroidery file (which begins with the numbers 25).
You'll use the dieline file to cut the applique
fabric to the exact shape for the embroidery. You
won't sew the DL file on a garment - you'll just use
it to cut the fabric.
Begin by opening the dieline file in your embroidery
software, and printing it. |
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If you don't have
embroidery software, or cannot print from it, then
you can sew the dieline file to make a template.
To do this, hoop a piece of paper. |
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Load the dieline
file into the embroidery machine and embroider that
file. You can use an unthreaded needle, and the
needle will perforate the paper. For the example to
the left, there is thread in the needle.
A dieline is a simple running stitch outline, so it
only takes a moment or two to sew. |
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Once the dieline
file has finished sewing, set the paper aside and
prepare your applique fabric.
You can use almost any fabric for applique. We're using a
lightweight cotton, so we are backing the fabric
with one piece of cutaway stabilizer.
Spray the stabilizer lightly with adhesive.
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| Smooth the applique
fabric on top. |
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| Spray a bit of
adhesive on the backside of the paper template, and
smooth that on top of the applique fabric and
stabilizer. |
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| Then, cut the shape
from the fabric and stabilizer "sandwich." |
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| Remove the paper
template from the fabric and stabilizer (sandwich).
If you are planning on using the applique design
again, you can store that paper template with the
color change sheet for a future use. |
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| Next, back the
garment with stabilizer. |
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| Hoop both fabric and
stabilizer firmly. |
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Begin embroidering
the design - the full embroidery file, the one that
begins with the numbers "25." This file consists of
three main parts. The first part is the dieline.
This running stitch outline traces the shape of the
applique fabric. |
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| Once the dieline has
finished sewing, spray the backside of the fabric
and stabilizer "sandwich" with adhesive. |
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| Place the applique
piece in the sewn dieline. |
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| Continue
embroidering the design. The next thing to sew is
the tackdown stitch. This is a zig-zag stitch which
binds the applique fabric to the garment. |
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| You'll also see a
satin stitch border sew. This gives the applique
fabric a nice, smooth seal. |
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| The applique design
might have other elements that embroider, too. This
bunny has ears, eyes, nose, and a tail. You'll find
the color change sheet is helpful when embroidering,
as the fields are labeled with convenient
descriptions. |
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Applique embroidery
is a wonderful way to add your favorite fabrics and
patterns to your embroidery. Let your imagination
run wild!
(note: you can choose almost any fabric for
applique embroidery. If you're working with a
high-pile fleece or fur, it may be necessary to trim
the nap at an angle (angling inward) after the shape
has been cut to avoid fuzz peeking through the satin
stitch border). |
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Click here to go to the Applique designs at the Embroidery
Library
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Click
here for a printable version of these project
instructions.
You�ll need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed
on your computer.
If you don't have it, you can download a free copy by
clicking on the icon below.
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