Applique Tutorial for Machine Embroidery

1. Of course, the first thing to do is load your applique design into your embroidery machine.
2. Next hoop the material your finished design will be on. Be sure to stabilize it just as you would for any kind of machine embroidery.
3. When you push the 'Start' button the outline of the applique stitches first. Because it's going to be covered later you can use any thread color you want but it's a good habit to select a thread color close to the fabric color.
4. Once the outline is complete your machine will stop. Place a piece of your applique fabric over the outline. Make it large enough to adequately cover the outline but not so large as to be cumbersome. You can safely remove the hoop from your machine if you want to position your fabric but don't unhoop!
   You'll need to hold the fabric in place over the outline so it doesn't pucker or bunch up on you. You can try using double-stick tape but usually it's just as easy to hold it down. Watch your fingers!
5. Now the tacking stitch will sew, tacking the applique fabric down.
6. Then remove the hoop from the machine but once again, don't unhoop yet! Cut away the excess applique fabric from around the tacking stitch. Get close to the tacking stitches but take your time and try not to cut too many of them.
7. After most of the fabric is cut away it's easy to trim off the stray pieces.
8. Put the hoop back in the machine and push the button one more time.
9. Your machine will now run another tacking stitch around the pattern. It's usually a V stitch or an E stitch and is like a double check in case you cut a stitch or two while trimming your fabric.
10. When the second tacking stitch is complete your machine will apply the final outline stitch, usually a satin stitch, putting the finishing touch on your applique.
11. You're done already! Now unhoop it, admire your creativity, and do another one using a different fabric and create something entirely different. See how darned additive machine embroidered appliques are?

» left by connie

from jacksboro, tn 4 years 73 days ago.

the instructions are good but when i do mine i get alot of fuzz around the outside. is there a way to get rid of all the little fuzzy's?

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» left by Anonymous 4 years 71 days ago.

its easy but if we can see a picture for every instruction i think it would be much better and easy for beginners

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» left by Elizabeth

3 years 277 days ago.

Sometimes the fabric I use seems to pull away from the final stitch, kind of unraveling, then the fabric is left hanging there unattached and looks bad, plus some of the edges haven't come off yet, but look like, in a good washing or two they could! Is there some kind of liquid I could put on the edges to keep them from pulling or to tack down the pieces that have come disconnected?

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» left by Deb Schneider from Windstar Embroidery 3 years 277 days ago.

Hi Elizabeth, As you may know there are probably many ways to create or digitize an applique. You just need to find one that works best for you so you're not doing a lot of extra work to "clean up" after you're done. But I have found my favorite digitizing technique to create one is to use two tack down stitches. The first tack down stitch allows you to trim the fabric very, very close; in fact you may even accidentally snip a few of the stitches. I just use a running stitch for this with a very narrow pitch. Once trimmed a second zig-zag tack down is applied. This might be a wide zig-zag or a V stitch. This can help in two ways. It will tack down the fabric again making it more secure so that it cannot pull away so easily and it will also tend to catch many of the threads or frays that are on the edge of the fabric and tuck them in more securely. Plus, if you snipped a little close on the first tack down it will re-secure the applique. Last I make sure that the final satin stitch is wide enough to completely cover the edge of the fabric. If the appliques are constructed this way, then you won't need any type of material glue to secure them.

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» left by Ellen Goertzen

from Snowflake, Mb, Canada 1 year 80 days ago.

yes it was very helpful, thank you so much!!!!

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