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How to Make Iron on Applique Look Hand Stitched

When applique patches are hand-sewn onto a garment, they look rustic and charming, and this is part of the appeal of applique work. A cheat's way to achieve the same look -- but without either the time consuming effort or the sewing skill involved in hand-stitching -- is to use an iron-on applique and a fabric marker to simulate embroidery stitches. Choose a marker that's specifically designed for use on fabric, and with as fine a tip as you can find.

Things You'll Need

Fine tip fabric marker

Instructions

- 1
  Draw a thin outline around the outside edge of the applique patch.
- 2
  Draw small lines inward from the line around the outside, leading in toward the center of the patch. Make the lines 1/4 inch apart on small patches, up to 1/2 inch apart on larger patches. These lines, along with the line around the outside edge, resemble blanket stitch.
- 3
  Draw a dashed line around any layers on the applique patch. For instance, around eyes and wings on animals and birds, or around any extra surface detail that might have been hand-sewn onto the surface of the applique. The small dashed lines resemble running stitches.

Sewing