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How to Applique Embroidery Designs

An embroidery is appliqued onto a fabric or garment when the fabric the embroidery is on is important to the design. Often in children's wear and the juniors market, a contrast or coordinating fabric will be introduced in an applique. In addition, the fabric surrounding the embroidery can be cut to an interesting shape, such as a heart, an animal or a word. The embroidery could be a design or a piece of the overall design included in the applique.

Things You'll Need

Embroidered piece of fabric
Pencil
Scissors
Garment or fabric to applique
Pins
Sewing machine
Thread

Instructions

- 1
  Lay the embroidered piece of fabric on a table or other flat surface.
- 2
  Use the pencil to draw the desired shape of the applique on the piece of fabric, outside the lines of the embroidery. Leave at least one-half inch of fabric between the embroidery edge and the fabric edge.
- 3
  Follow the pencil line to cut out the shape.
- 4
  Place the applique on your garment or fabric in the desired location, face up, and pin into place.
- 5
  Place your sewing machine foot's left edge on the edge of the applique. The fabric edge should match up with the foot edge.
- 6
  Sew around the applique using the machine's zig-zag stitch, keeping your foot matched up with the edge of the fabric.
- 7
  Clip any loose threads, releasing the fabric from the machine.
- 8
  Remove all the pins from the applique.

Sewing