How to Make Frayed Applique

Wash and dry the fabrics to prevent the finished applique from shrinking.

Iron the fabrics smooth with the clothing iron.

Place the sheet of iron-on adhesive on a flat surface with the paper-coated side facing up. Draw or trace the desired applique design onto the paper side of the adhesive.

Use the scissors to cut roughly around the pencil-drawn design, being careful to leave a border of approximately 1/2-inch surrounding the design.

Lay the applique fabric right-side down on the ironing board. Place the cut piece of iron-on adhesive with the paper side facing up on top of the applique fabric.

Set the iron̵7;s heat level according to the iron-on adhesive manufacturer̵7;s directions.
Press the iron on top of the iron-on adhesive and the applique fabric to fuse the two pieces together. Allow the fabric to cool.

Cut the design out of the joined iron-on adhesive and applique fabric, leaving a 1/4-inch border surrounding the pencil-drawn design. Set the applique design aside.

Place the fabric onto which you wish to place the applique right-side up on the ironing board.

Pick up the applique design and peel the paper backing off the iron-on adhesive. Place the applique design with the adhesive facing down on top of the fabric on the ironing board. Press the iron on top of the applique design to join it to the other piece of fabric. Allow the fabric to cool.

Cut a piece of wash away stabilizer that is at least 1-inch larger on all sides than the applique design. Place the wash away stabilizer on the wrong side of the fabric and centered behind the applique design. Pin the wash away stabilizer in place with straight pins.

Place the fabric on the sewing machine with the applique design facing up. Use a straight stitch to sew along the perimeter of the applique design, leaving a 1/4-inch allowance from the edge of the applique design.

Lift the presser foot and pivot the fabric as you encounter corners and curves in the applique design. When you return to the beginning point of your stitches, backstitch to secure the stitches and cut the thread. Remove the fabric from the sewing machine.

Remove straight pins from the fabric.

Machine wash and dry the fabric. The edges of the applique will fray up to the stitching line and the wash away stabilizer will dissolve.