Machine Embroidery Designs at Embroidery Library!

Classic Applique Embroidery

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.

Project Needs & Notes - 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 For this tutorial, I use the Apple (Applique) design. Find even more applique designs in the Applique category here. This project was featured in the following: 12 Top-Trending Embroidery Styles Lookbook

Free project instructions for machine embroidery applique

All applique designs from Embroidery Library come with a dieline file.

Download the applique design and unzip it. Extract the files, and look for the file marked with the letters "DL." That is the dieline.

Dielines are used to cut applique fabric to the right shape and size.

Dielines are embroidery designs. Open the dieline with embroidery software and print it.

In this example, the fabric piece will form the apple.

If you do not have embroidery software, Wilcom's TrueSizer is a free program that can print templates.

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.

In the above step, the applique fabric is backed with cutaway stabilizer. The towel needs stabilizer, too.

Cutaway stabilizer is the best choice for a kitchen towel. Hoop the towel with one piece of medium-weight (2.5 ounce) 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. In this example, the leaf and stem of the apple are stitched with thread.

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.

This project is featured on the Embroidery Library Pinterest page.

Pin it yourself using the "Pin It" button on this page.

To find applique designs, visit the Applique category at Embroidery Library!

Questions or comments? Let us know! Send an email to us; the address is stitch@emblibrary.com.

Products used in this Project:

Fluffy Polar Bear (Applique)	$2.99 - $3.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
8.91" x 6.89" \| 7.61" x 5.89" \| 6.28" x 4.86"

Seeking Wise Men (Applique)	$4.99 - $5.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
9.60" x 6.84" \| 7.80" x 5.56" \| 6.82" x 4.86"

Delicate Details Pumpkin (Applique)	$1.99 - $2.99
Available in 4 Sizes:
7.68" x 6.88" \| 6.53" x 5.85" \| 5.42" x 4.85" \| 3.85" x 3.45"

Fancy Fish (Applique)	$3.99 - $4.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
9.33" x 6.83" \| 7.78" x 5.70" \| 6.65" x 4.88"

Fluffy Lamb (Applique)	$3.99 - $4.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
7.81" x 6.67" \| 6.86" x 5.86" \| 5.70" x 4.86"

A Sweet Safari (Applique) Design Pack	$12.97
Available in 3 Sizes:
5.87" x 8.76" \| 4.87" x 4.89" \| 3.87" x 3.87"

Fuzzy Woodland Bunny (Applique)	$4.99 - $5.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
6.75" x 7.81" \| 5.86" x 6.78" \| 4.86" x 5.62"

Fuzzy Woodland Squirrel (Applique)	$4.99 - $5.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
7.25" x 6.86" \| 6.19" x 5.86" \| 5.13" x 4.86"

Fuzzy Woodland Bear (Applique)	$3.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
8.11" x 5.76" \| 7.05" x 5.01" \| 6.01" x 4.27"

Delicate Details Bird (Applique)	$1.99 - $3.99
Available in 5 Sizes:
7.76" x 7.55" \| 7.05" x 6.87" \| 6.00" x 5.85" \| 4.94" x 4.82" \| 3.85" x 3.77"

Delicate Details Chick (Applique)	$1.99 - $2.99
Available in 5 Sizes:
7.38" x 7.75" \| 6.56" x 6.89" \| 5.57" x 5.85" \| 4.61" x 4.85" \| 3.66" x 3.85"

Delicate Details Bunny (Applique)	$1.99 - $3.99
Available in 4 Sizes:
7.52" x 6.89" \| 6.39" x 5.85" \| 5.29" x 4.85" \| 3.88" x 3.56"

Snowbirds at Sunset (Applique)	$4.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
9.31" x 6.89" \| 7.79" x 5.76" \| 6.56" x 4.86"

Golden Harvest Pumpkin (Applique)	$3.99 - $4.99
Available in 4 Sizes:
7.83" x 6.66" \| 6.92" x 5.89" \| 5.71" x 4.86" \| 3.88" x 3.31"

A Summer Fruit Design Pack	$15.97
Available in 1 Size:
3.48" x 3.93"

A Baby Animals Design Pack	$7.97
Available in 1 Size:
3.82" x 3.89"

A Feathered Family (Applique) Design Pack	$27.97
Available in 2 Sizes:
4.84" x 5.98" \| 3.94" x 3.94"

A Winter Animal Applique Design Pack	$11.97
Available in 2 Sizes:
3.90" x 3.90" \| 3.39" x 3.39"

A Country Time (Applique) Design Pack	$19.97
Available in 2 Sizes:
3.90" x 3.90" \| 3.39" x 3.39"

A Graceful Geisha (Applique) Design Pack	$13.97
Available in 1 Size:
3.39" x 3.87"

A Striking Samurai (Applique) Design Pack	$13.97
Available in 1 Size:
3.74" x 3.88"

A Good Night, Sleep Tight (Applique) Dsg Design Pack	$11.97
Available in 2 Sizes:
4.87" x 6.77" \| 3.87" x 3.85"

A Dino-Mite Dinosaur (Applique) Design Pack	$17.97
Available in 2 Sizes:
3.87" x 3.87" \| 3.37" x 3.37"

A Sea Life Applique Design Pack	$11.97
Available in 1 Size:
3.82" x 3.88"

A Nautical Design Pack	$9.97
Available in 1 Size:
3.85" x 3.93"

A Pretty Petals (Applique) Design Pack	$11.97
Available in 2 Sizes:
4.88" x 6.30" \| 3.86" x 3.86"

A Flowers Bouquet Design Pack	$20.97
Available in 1 Size:
3.48" x 3.93"

A Autumn Shimmer (Applique) Design Pack	$12.97
Available in 3 Sizes:
5.85" x 8.27" \| 4.93" x 6.84" \| 3.88" x 3.87"

A State Outlines (Applique) Design Pack	$32.97
Available in 3 Sizes:
5.87" x 8.14" \| 4.89" x 6.79" \| 3.89" x 3.90"

A Canadian Outlines (Applique) Design Pack	$10.97
Available in 3 Sizes:
5.83" x 7.13" \| 4.86" x 5.94" \| 3.87" x 3.86"

Teapot In Bloom (Applique)	$5.99 - $6.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
7.23" x 6.90" \| 6.15" x 5.88" \| 5.09" x 4.87"

Teacup In Bloom (Applique)	$5.99 - $6.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
6.89" x 7.07" \| 5.86" x 6.02" \| 4.85" x 4.99"

Teapot Bouquet (Applique)	$5.99 - $6.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
6.89" x 7.35" \| 5.86" x 6.26" \| 4.86" x 5.19"

Teacup Bouquet (Applique)	$5.99 - $6.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
6.95" x 6.91" \| 5.91" x 5.88" \| 4.91" x 4.88"

Country Apple (Applique)	$1.49 - $1.99
Available in 2 Sizes:
2.15" x 3.87" \| 1.86" x 3.37"

Silhouette Snowflake (Applique)	$2.99 - $3.99
Available in 4 Sizes:
7.53" x 7.71" \| 6.86" x 7.01" \| 5.86" x 5.99" \| 4.86" x 4.97"

Silhouette Deer (Applique)	$2.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
6.42" x 7.81" \| 5.86" x 7.14" \| 4.85" x 5.91"

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Products used in this Project: